TAHLEQUAH – Women's Soccer will be hosting Military Appreciation Day Sunday honoring members of the U.S. Military and raising money that goes towards the Paws for Purple Hearts organization 

Paws for Purple Hearts is dedicated to improving the lives of America's Warriors facing Mobility Impairment challenges and trauma related conditions such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury by providing the highest quality Service Dogs and Canine Assisted Therapeutic programs in which the Warriors themselves actively train Service Dogs for their injured comrades.

Since 9/11, about 2.7 million American men and women have bravely served our country.  Nearly half have returned with a service-related disability.  A large portion of this group has some level of post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, and other serious mental condition.  By caring for and training PPH dogs for mobility impaired Warriors, those Warriors who suffer on the inside receive an important treatment for their war wounds, too.

"The origin of this game was created out of the passing of Senior Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Rob Reeves - a former player of mine", Coach Wooten explains. "The team wanted to honor family and friends that served. We as a program chose Paws for Purple Hearts, partly because the team loves dogs - but more importantly - the pay it forward model that Paws for Purple Hearts operates with. It is soldiers helping soldiers with the use of a K9. It is a phenomenal program, whose heart is in the right place to help impacts lives."

MORE ABOUT CHIEF PETTY OFFICER (SEAL) ROB REEVES
Rob Reeves was born on August 2, 1979, in Shreveport, Louisiana. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on June 3, 1998, and went on active duty to begin basic training on August 26, 1998. After completing basic training at NTC Great Lakes, Illinois, in November 1998, he completed additional training at the Fleet Combat Training Center, Atlantic, at Dam Neck, Virginia, from November 1998 to January 1999. Petty Officer Reeves next attended Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training at NAB Coronado, California, from February to December 1999, followed by Jump School at Fort Benning, Georgia, during January 2000. His first assignment was with SEAL Team FIVE at NAB Coronado from February 2000 to June 2001, and then with SEAL Team SEVEN at NAB Coronado from June 2001 to April 2004. Senior Chief Reeves then served with Naval Special Warfare Development Group at Dam Neck from April 2004 until he was killed in action when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter he was aboard was shot down in Afghanistan on August 6, 2011. While serving with SEAL Team SEVEN he deployed with his Team in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and later deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom multiple times. Per his wishes, Senior Chief Reeves was buried at sea. He has a cenotaph at Arlington National Cemetery.

His 4th (of 5) Bronze Star Medal w/Valor Citation reads:

For heroic achievement in connection with combat operations against the enemy as an Assault Team Member for a Joint Task Force in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM from 23 February 2010 to 1 July 2010. During this period, Chief Petty Officer Reeves displayed superior battlefield courage on several combat operations that resulted in the elimination or detention of numerous enemies. On 4 April 2010, he was in charge of an overwatch position when he identified an armed enemy sentry patrolling in front of the target. As the assault force moved into position, the sentry moved towards a member of the assault force and raised his weapon. Chief Petty Officer Reeves quickly eliminated the enemy sentry, undoubtedly saving his teammate's life without alerting the sleeping enemy within. When the call-out commenced, many heavily armed foreign fighters unleashed a massive volley of fire from inside the target building. Chief Petty Officer Reeves calmly maintained his position as he returned accurate direct fire until the enemy fire ceased. His courage under fire directly contributed to the elimination of the targeted individual and heavily armed fighters. By his extraordinary guidance, zealous initiative, and total dedication to duty, Chief Petty Officer Reeves reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The RiverHawks host UCO on Sunday, Sept. 11 with a 1 p.m. kickoff time.