Giants Meet Bush, Wounded Soldiers

Photograph of President Bush and members of the Giants organization by Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

Before being feted at the White House, the New York Giants visited the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and met soldiers wounded in Iraq. Coach Tom Coughlin said to one 31-year-old U.S. Marine whose lost both his legs in Falluja, "You are the real heroes."

One soldier, Michael Cain, who lost his right leg five years ago and is a big Green Bay fan, was appreciative of the Giants' visit, "This means the world to me...They could be doing anything today, but they took the time to come here and thank the troops.” Giants tackle Kareem McKenzie felt it was hard to see such grave injuries:

To see the circumstances under which they’ve been injured and to realize that some of the people here that are hurt are younger than me or the same age, it’s difficult. We have a privileged life to a certain extent to be able to enjoy the freedoms and liberties that we have here. To have people make the choice to join the armed forces and to go overseas and fight speaks to their character and their loyalty. It’s amazing.

And at the White House, the Giants presented President Bush with a jersey (#43, of course). Bush praised the Giants' underdog Super Bowl win over the Patriots and also joked that perhaps a certain blond starlet distracted the Dallas Cowboys' Tony Romo, "We're going to send Jessica Simpson to the Democratic National Convention."

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By Jen Chung in News on May 1, 2008 2:01 PM

Comments [rss]

berniegoetz

Maybe Michael Strahan's lawyers can figure out a way to get us out of Iraq and to pay over half of our GDP to Iraqi citizens.

robingee

"You are the real heroes."

Hey that's real big of ya, Coach Tom. Way to take a stand.

Guest

NO! It was his predecesor, Chester Arthur. /shakes fist

JenChungsBaby

Yeah, I vaguely remember that. Wasn't Grover Cleveland in office the last time dem Cows won a post-season game?

nycbiker

god, is this ahole still president???

Guest

You're right, JCB, but the Cowboys got a date with a much better President in 93, 94, and 96.

interlard

Why 43? Bush has killed way more people than that. At least it was blood red.

JenChungsBaby

How 'bout dem Cowboys!!!!! Having 13 Pro Bowlers doesn't get you a date with the President.

maatthias

I stand corrected.

bxbrian

"You are the real heroes."

Phew! I bet that made the devastating injury totally worth it now...

JenChungsBaby

The New York Football Giants is their official name. It's still on the team letterhead, a leftover from when the New York Giants played baseball here at the same time.

But look behind Eli Manning in the picture! That's General Manager Jerry Reese sticking his tongue out at Bush! I like Reese more and more every day.