Raiders Foundation Touches Down At Veterans Home

By Chuck N. Baker

(Boulder City) — Former members of the Las Vegas Raiders who were Super Bowl participants took time to visit residents and staff members at the Southern Nevada Veterans Home during Veterans Day Week. The event was part of the Raiders Foundation’s “Honor Salute to Service” month, in conjunction with co-sponsor Cox Communications.

Residents at the Home decided to forego showing off their best moves as running backs, quarterbacks or hard-driving tackles. They didn’t even want to show off how they could toss footballs over the goalpost. They just wanted to see and hear from two former members of the Las Vegas Raiders football team, and take time to be photographed with them.

The Las Vegas Raiders have a history of community involvement and of helping veterans, mainly through its foundation. The team recently moved to southern Nevada and built Allegiant Stadium, a global events destination that is climate-controlled with a capacity of 65,000. It will also be home to local University of Nevada (UNLV) Rebel football. Veterans, residents and tourists will find the facility inviting and comfortable. Of special note, Raider alumni and event participant Leo Gray is a graduate of UNLV, having majored in broadcasting.

At the veterans Home, the residents were provided gift bags and posed for photographs with the players. The players and the residents all wore face masks to guard against virus infection. Former player Gray announced the foundation was giving a $10,000 donation to the veterans Home to aid and assistance especially welcome during this time of a COVID-19 pandemic. He added, “Thanks to all veterans for their service, I really appreciate what you are doing.” Former defensive back Keith Moody said that working with veterans is “close to my heart.” He and Gray then walked to the side of the veterans home and waved to residents through the glass windows, abiding by health and safety rules. The two also held up their diamond-encrusted Super Bowl rings and pressed them against the windows to the delighted view of the residents.

If they didn’t have to return to work, staff members could have formed a staff Home Team and played scrimmage against the veterans residential team that had posed for photographs with the players. They included William Lucksavage, Donald Ortega, Joe Frausto, Richard Beidermann, Ray Alpert, Carol Christianson and Linda Bennet. No doubt they were linebackers all.

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