Jeremy Reaves helps unveil new National Military Monument that yields tribute to millions of military members both past and present
Jeremy Reaves’ background led him to partner up with USAA for a very unique experience he’ll remember forever.
Sacrifices are part of life, but some have to relinquish more than others.
That’s certainly true for military members. The brave men and women in service sacrifice something everyday for the greater good. And the key aspect is they are willing to do it, without hesitation.
It’s why Washington Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves’ latest experience with USAA is not just substantial, but unique. Reaves was given the opportunity to attend the unveiling of the National Military Monument earlier in the week. The National Military Monument is “a first-of-its-kind immersive experience at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to honor the 41 million people who have served our country during its 250-year anniversary”, per USAA.
“It was just something that kind of just worked out for both parties,” Reaves told A to Z Sports when asked how everything came together. “You know, my military background, my parents. Their service, and so many people that I also know outside of my parents that served and currently do serve. It just seemed like the right thing to do, and something that was very interesting for me, just because I’m a history nerd. I love history.”
Jeremy Reaves’ mother and father both served, the latter in the Army and the former in the Air Force. They both taught Reaves how sacrifice and dedication matters and those lessons have shaped who he is today. Said lessons have also been crucial in guiding his football career, which has involved plenty of sacrifice in itself.
“It taught me how to structure my life around the things that matter,” said Reaves. “Understanding that for me, for instance, my parents obviously is totally different wiring, but the the gist of it for me was learning that I have to sacrifice the things that I want to do as a young kid, as a young man. I might want to hang out with my friends, or I might want to do whatever it might be. But instead, I need to get up on this Saturday to go work out, or go run this hill, or do whatever it takes to give me that next step.
“And so, those sacrifices for me is is what got me to where I am. It’s the things that have shaped my life, made me understand that to get anywhere, you have to be willing to give up something, and that’s kind of the same premise that my parents, you know, had instilled in them, and then they instilled in me.”
The monument itself is designed to fit right in next to the Lincoln Memorial. Even though it is literally just days old, it’s built to look like it’s been there since the start. Per USAA’s website, “screens emulating stone carry the names of the more than 41 million U.S. service members who have answered the call across America’s 250‑year history.”
“I mean, it’s like next level,” said Reaves. You really can’t tell that it hasn’t been there. … They matched everything from the the stone that they put on there. They matched it to the Lincoln Memorial. So if you’re looking at it from Lincoln and out towards the Capitol, it looks all in unison. … And at first, I thought it was like stone, like I thought it was etched, and then you walk up a little bit closer, and you realize it’s not animatronic, but like the the animation of it is, it looks like it’s actually stone-carved…
“… Then it starts off from George Washington, who was really the first military commander or military person in general, and then it goes from him on. They put each name in each period of war that they served in, and it just shuffles through. I mean, it’s just, dude. Like, I can’t do it justice talking about it. You have to see it to like really like appreciate it.”
Whether it’s real life or on the football field, Jeremy Reaves understands the true meaning of sacrifice, as well as the 41 million names on the National Military Monument. It’s exactly why he was the perfect partner for the debut and it’s easy to see why it was a success.
