Incirlik turns NFL MVP to VIP

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Sara Csurilla
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Only two months ago Incirlik's consolidated club was jam-packed with football fans to witness the New Orleans Saints crush the Indianapolis Colts and take home their first-ever Super Bowl trophy.
Drew Brees, quarterback for the Saints, was named Most Valuable Player of that game, and from March 23 -25, the 39th Air Base Wing also named him, and two fellow National Football League stars: Donnie Edwards, former NFL linebacker and Billy Miller, tight end for the Saints, its own VIPs.
These VIPs came through Incirlik as a part of a United Service Organizations tour to meet with U.S. military members and their families.

"We were inspired to go on this tour because it's a great opportunity for us to reach out to military members across the world and let them know we truly appreciate everything they do for us and how much they sacrifice for us," Brees said. "We want to represent the entire National Football League and let them know how big fans we are of them."

The three NFL stars visited various places throughout the base to sign autographs, take pictures and meet and talk with Airmen.

"Our main goal for this tour is to reach out and meet the service men and women," Edwards said. "We want to get up close and personal and be able to talk with servicemembers and show our support for them."

Although this was a first time visit to Turkey for the three football players, it's actually the third USO tour the three of them have done together.

"We want to be able to see troops all over the world," Brees said. "We try picking a different location every time and every place we go, especially Turkey, has unique things to experience and that's a part of what makes these tours so interesting."

Once the NFL stars left Turkey they moved on to do more meet and greets, at bases downrange.

"The biggest message we would like to share with everyone is thank you," Miller said. "We get more appreciation everyday for what our servicemembers do for us and we know it enables us to play a sport we love and keep our families back home stay safe. Thank you."