PRINCE Harry said he “respects” the mother of a war hero in a speech – after she criticized the “privileged” prince.
The Duke of Sussex received an award honoring war hero Pat Tillman at a ceremony in Los Angeles last night.
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Former NFL star Tillman abandoned his sports career after 9/11 to enlist in the US Army.
He was killed while serving in Afghanistan in 2004 and was honored with the Pat Tillman Award for Excellence.
Tillman’s mother, Mary, criticized the news that Harry would be this year’s prize winner – saying she was not consulted.
But in his speech, Harry said: “I would like to thank the Tillman family, especially Mary Tillman, Pat’s mother.
“Your defense of Pat’s legacy is deeply personal and I respect it.
“The bond between mother and child is eternal and transcends even the greatest losses.”
Last month, Mary said: “I am shocked at why they chose such a controversial and controversial individual to receive the award.
“There are individuals working in the veteran community doing incredible things to help veterans.
“These individuals do not have the money, resources, connections or privileges that Prince Harry has.”
She added, “I feel like these types of individuals should be recognized.”
Harry and his wife Meghan Markle were all smiles as tennis star and friend Serena Williams presented her award last night.
The pair skipped the red carpet ahead of the event following Harry’s negative reaction to receiving the prestigious award.
He won the gong for his work at the Invictus Games at the star-studded Los Angeles party.
In his speech, Harry said: “The truth is that I am here not as Prince Harry, winner of the Pat Tillman Award, but rather as a voice on behalf of the Invictus Game Foundation.
“Thousands of veterans and military personnel from more than 20 nations made the Invictus Games a reality – this award belongs to them, not me.
“It is of great importance to me to highlight these incredible allies and their families for their achievements, their spirit and their courage at every opportunity.
“Especially on nights like this in front of people like you. Moments like these help us reach the people who need Invictus most.
“And reduce the number of more than 20 veterans a day who take their own lives in this country alone.”
How Pat Tillman went from NFL star to war hero betrayed by his comrades
PAT Tillman first rose to fame as a linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL.
But after 9/11, the football star turned down a three-year, $3.6 million contract to join the U.S. Army with his brother Kevin.
Tillman married his high school sweetheart, Marie Ugenti, before participating in the invasion of Iraq as a U.S. Ranger.
The sportsman-turned-soldier was later posted to a forward operating base in Afghanistan.
On April 22, 2004, it was initially reported that Tillman was killed by enemy combatants.
The US Army said Tillman’s unit was attacked in an ambush near the border with Pakistan.
But an investigation carried out by military police, the Department of Defense and the US Congress concluded that Tillman had been killed by friendly fire.
The investigation found that Tillman was shot three times in the head at a distance of less than ten meters, with no evidence of enemy fire.
Top brass approved a Silver Star citation saying Tillman was killed by “devastating enemy fire” while covering up his true fate.
Tillman’s unit burned his army and uniform with medals in an attempt to destroy evidence of the friendly fire murder.
The military also instructed Tillman’s comrades to lie to his family at his funeral.
A three-star general told investigators 70 times he couldn’t remember his actions after lying to Tillman’s grieving parents.
Tillman may have recorded his thoughts about the war in Afghanistan in his notebook – but it was burned in a “flagrant” breach of protocol.
Shortly before his death, war hero Tillman described the Iraq war as “fucking illegal.”
Investigative journalist Chris Matthews reported that Tillman’s death may have been a deliberate murder.
There were said to be fears among top brass that “poster boy” recruit Tillman would speak out against America’s War on Terror.
Testifying before Congress, his courageous mother, Mary, said: “The deceit surrounding this case was an insult to the family.
“But the most important thing is that their main objective was to deceive an entire nation.”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
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