America Supports You: NBA Star O’Neal Joins Effort Thanking Military Kids

America Supports You ^ | Courtney Reddington

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 2007 – NBA star Shaquille O’Neal will soon play a part in thanking children of deployed servicemembers for their sacrifices.

O’Neal, a military “brat” himself, will represent USA Basketball as he joins Kids Serve Too, a program of Salute Our Services, in sending thank-you letters to military children.

USA Basketball, which includes the NBA, and Salute Our Services are both members of the Defense Department’s America Supports You program. The program showcases the ways Americans support the nation’s servicemembers.

Kat Lanigan, 16, and her sister, Clare, 14, co-chairs of the Kids Serve Too national kids’ advisory board, announced last week that O’Neal will join them in their program’s “A Thousand Thanks to Military Children” project.

The Lanigan girls are the daughters of Army Reserve Maj. Kevin Lanigan, who has served in Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq, so they know the stress children go through during deployments.

"Our goal is to help make sure that kids who have a parent or loved one deployed know that they are appreciated and to say thank you to them for their sacrifices,” said Clare, a ninth-grader at Westfield High School in Herndon, Va. “We are so excited to have Shaq’s help.”

“My dad has missed my last three birthdays because of deployments,” Kat, a 10th-grader, added. “To know that Shaq and the NBA cares about kids like us is amazing.”

O’Neal knows from first-hand experience what it’s like to be the child of someone serving in the military. Kids Serve Too will send a thank-you letter with Shaq’s photo and signature to military children at the request of a deployed servicemember or a loved one on the home front.

Other sports figures, including drag racer Tony Schumacher, driver of the U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster, also are participating in the program.

As co-chairs of the national kid’s advisory board for Kids Serve Too, a nonprofit group created by military families for military families, the Lanigan girls help increase awareness about deployment issues.

Kids Serve Too has awarded financial grants to children of deployed servicemembers across the nation so they can continue their extracurricular activities during the deployment. It also hosts free events for military children and provides educational materials to non-military schools about the stresses of deployments on children.

“I know what my dad does is important, but what we do is important, too,” Clare said. “My dad needs to know that I am safe and sound when he is away so he can concentrate on doing his job.”

Related Sites:
America Supports You
Salute Our Services

[SandRat]

They also serve who wait and worry.

[stm]

Shaq is a class act, I have always liked him. If kids want a positive role model, he's a good choice.

I do admit though I did get a kick out of Charles Barkley's bad boy image, especially in the commercials!

[Radio_Silence]

I think Shaq is doing a good thing but I don't know if I'd call him a role model for kids.

[luvie]

Amen, Sandy. You have that right!

[stm]

If they are going to look up to athletes I would prefer they pick someone like him.

[avacado]

"Shaq is a class act,..."

100% agree! The guy has always been straight up!

[Radio_Silence]

That's a fair point.

Funny thing is that I just tried to think up a list of star athletes that I would consider role models and couldn't think of one.

About the best I can do is to think of some of the guys on the PGA tour but I'm pretty sure that most golfers don't appeal to youngsters.

[FNG]

Reggie White, Troy Aikman, Avery Johnson, Kurt Warner.

[appleharvey]

I think Shaq is doing a good thing but I don't know if I'd call him a role model for kids.

Nor would I, but compared to the rest of the NBA, he's a downright Saint.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Absolutely AWESOME!!!!!!!!

[merry10]

He does a lot of volunteer things with police departments. He was an honorary member of the Oxnard, Calif PD. Oxnard is a gang haven. Moving to Miami, he also became a volunteer police officer there. He received his Master's from the University of Laverne and actually went to the graduation.

[Radio_Silence]

I guess so. But one of those guys is dead, two are retired, and Warner is trying to find a job. I doubt too many kids have posters of these guys on their walls.

I was thinking through the list of active sports superstars - guys like Kobe Bryant, Ray Lewis etc.

There are probably a few good ones out there but not many. Woods and Manning seem alright.

[FNG]

The new LT seems like a good choice, much better than the original LT (good linebacker, though).

[BW2221]

"Shaq is a class act,"

I agree, but still "hate" him when he plays against the Pistons.

[JockoManning]

Ping to ya.

jm

[Kimmers]

Yes, compared to the rest of the NBA he is a saint. I really have little interest in the NBA right now or at least my home state team (Pacers)...anyway I have always liked Shaq and I really appreciate what he is doing and has done.

[art_rocks]

Shaq is a good choice for a few reasons.

1. He is a army brat so can relate to these kids.

2. He tries to be a good role model.


I didn't realize an athlete had to be as pure as Jesus to be a role model.

People make mistakes in their lives but he is trying to do something positive.

How many of us could be a good role model for our children if all our past mistakes are counted against us.

[jmaroneps37]

Shaq = one guy who gets it.