The mother of an American war hero who was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart for fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan is horrified that Prince Harry is set to receive an honour in her son’s name.
Harry has been nominated for the Pat Tillman Service Award at the ESPYs and will receive his award at a glittering ceremony in Los Angeles later this month.
His supposed qualifications are his brief war record (he was an accomplished Apache helicopter pilot in Afghanistan) and his role in creating the Invictus Games for wounded veterans and service personnel.
The award honours Pat Tillman (pictured), whose mother said she was not consulted.
Mary Tillman, mother of the Afghan war hero who was killed by friendly fire in 2004
But Pat’s mother, Mary Tillman, is not impressed and questions why he was chosen over other, more deserving candidates: “I am shocked that they chose such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award when there are far more suitable recipients,” she said. And she is not alone.
Mary Tillman speaks for many others, as comments on social media condemning the decision have flooded the internet not only from disgruntled Americans and Britons, but from countries as far away as Australia, India and other parts of the world.
Everyone is horrified not only by the fact that Harry is to receive such a distinguished honour, but also by the nerve he has in accepting it. One British veteran who served for 40 years posted on X that he was “outraged”.
To understand why there is so much anger, it helps to compare Pat Tillman and Harry’s attitudes toward fame, fortune and duty.
The star footballer gave up a £3m NFL contract to fight for his country after the 9/11 terror attacks. He joined the army and made the ultimate sacrifice, dying in Afghanistan in 2004, aged just 27.
Harry may have fought for his country too, but then abandoned it, along with his duty as a member of the royal family, to live a life of avaricious opportunity in California thanks to his title.
He then turned his guns on the monarchy, in that interview with Oprah Winfrey, in the Netflix series about him and Meghan and in his memoir Spare. All so he could make a killing. It’s pure treason!
As many have pointed out, including some of the 30,000 (and counting) Americans who have signed a petition protesting Harry’s award, Pat Tillman abandoned money and fame for honor and duty, while Prince Harry abandoned honor and duty for money and fame.
Few members of his family were spared his attacks after he left these shores.
Neither his father, King Charles, nor his stepmother, Queen Camilla, nor his brother William, with whom he was once so close, nor Kate, whom he once described as the sister he never had. He and Meghan did not hold back when they were accused of being racist, bullies or snobs, as well as of neglecting to care for him and his emotionally fragile wife.
His late grandfather, Prince Philip, and grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, did not escape the consequences either, and were no doubt devastated to see the young couple use Harry’s privileged position to undermine the very institution of the monarchy.
Pat Tillman’s mother put it succinctly when arguing why Harry was not a worthy recipient of the award honoring her son’s legacy: “There are people working in the veteran community doing tremendous things to help veterans… who don’t have the money, the resources, the connections and the privilege that Prince Harry has.”
And yet the Sussexes are so wrapped up in their own narcissistic self-righteousness, so impervious to criticism, that they seem oblivious to the sensitivity of this issue.
Why else would they post a statement on their official website saying that Prince Harry was one of the “esteemed recipients” of the ESPY award, which recognizes “exceptional individuals who exemplify courage, perseverance and service”? Pass the barf bag!
It seems to me that Harry and Meghan are so desperate for recognition, so eager to showcase their own humanitarian virtues, that they will turn up at any occasion where they can be praised and given awards, no matter how undeserved.
Prince Harry, pictured last month wearing a Royal Household Division regimental tie and medals including his Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Cross, will receive a commemorative award at the ESPY Awards.
In 2022, the Sussexes accepted an award from American human rights charity Ripple of Hope for people who demonstrate “an unwavering commitment to social change and work to protect and promote equity, justice and human rights.” Days later, their Netflix series, in which they criticise the royals, was released. I guess that’s what they call justice and human rights!
Earlier this year, helicopter pilot Harry was, absurdly, inducted into the Hall of Living Legends of Aviation at an event hosted by actor and pilot of his own private jet, John Travolta.
In 2021, the “enlightened” couple were hailed as “environmental role models” by UK-based charity Population Matters for their heroic decision to have only two children, thereby reducing their impact on the Earth.
All this vainglorious self-acclaim!
It has not gone unnoticed that the ESPY ceremony in Los Angeles, where Harry will receive this new award, will be hosted and broadcast by his wife Meghan’s best friend, tennis legend Serena Williams.
Will she, Harry or anyone else explain it? real What is the story of how the Invictus Games began? Wait no more. Former BBC royal correspondent Michael Cole says Harry’s idea for the games would never have gotten off the ground without the support of his father Charles, brother William and sister-in-law Kate, who all gave him their unwavering backing.
Harry is a pygmy who rides on the shoulders of giants. But this time Mary Tillman, the mother of a real giant, has challenged him.