Mary Tillman, mother of former professional football player Pat Tillman, who voluntarily left the Arizona Cardinals to enlist in the U.S. Army in 2002 and died two years later in Afghanistan, will be the guest speaker July 10 at the Rotary Club of Morgan Hill.
A nation mourned the American soldier’s death, initially reported by the Army as death by enemy fire. The pentagon eventually ruled the cause of Tillman’s death was actually due to friendly fire.
The event is open to the public for a $20 fee and includes lunch. Reservations are not required but strongly recommended by July 5. For reservations, please contact Barry Haaser, bh*****@gm***.com.
Mary Tillman will talk about her son’s documentary, entitled “The Pat Tillman Story,” after lunch at the Morgan Hill Community Center Hiram Morgan Hill Room at 17000 Monterey St. in Morgan Hill. Lunch will be served from noon to 12:45 p.m. and Mary Tillman will speak at approximately 12:55 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. There will be an opportunity for questions.
Pat Tillman, the promising National Football League linebacker who prepped at Leland High School in San Jose and played collegiately at Arizona State University, joined the Army Rangers in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks. He served several tours in combat before he was caught in friendly fire and died from his wounds in the mountains of Afghanistan.
In 2010, Amir Bar-Lev directed the documentary, which was released in theaters. The film examines how the U.S. government covered up Pat Tillman’s death and the persistence by his mother and family which led to the discovery of how and why the government covered up his death.
The Rotary Club will show a brief trailer about the film, which was produced and distributed about Pat’s life and death.
