Jeremy Staat, alumnus and veteran, will be embarking on a Wall to Wall
bicycle ride across the country to raise awareness and support for veteran
services and causes throughout the nation.
The tour will begin at the Wall of Valor in Bakersfield, Calif. on Feb. 19
and stretch 4,623 miles over the course of 100 days to the Vietnam Memorial
Wall in Washington D.C.
Friend and veteran Wesley Barrientos will accompany Staat on the Wall to
Wall tour. Born in Guatemala, Barrientos enlisted in the U.S. Army upon
turning 18 years old. It was during his third tour of Iraq in 2007 that his
military convoy was struck by an explosive device, resulting in the
amputation of both his legs.
Staat, a native of Bakersfield, Calif., attended Arizona State University in
the spring 1996. He soon became a member of the Sun Devil football team,
where he met friend and teammate Pat Tillman.
Of his relationship with ASU alum and fallen soldier Pat Tillman, Staat
recalls, „It was a relationship of brothers. We didn‚t need to hang out or
talk every day. We would just keep each other up to date on what was going
on in each other’s life.‰
After being drafted into the National Football League (NFL), Staat had
stints with the Oakland Raiders and St. Louis Rams. It was while recovering
from a knee injury that he learned of Tillman‚s passing.
„My mom called me and was beside herself. She kept saying, „he‚s gone, Pat‚s
gone,‰ he said. „I lost it and when I got back to my apartment I just sat
there and cried. His death put a lot of things in perspective for me though.
„
Having already acquired NFL retirement benefits that Tillman urged him to
secure, Staat retired from football and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps.
He was quickly sent to the Marine Corps Recruiting Depot in San Diego,
California for 13 weeks of basic training.
„They do what they do, not for the money, but for the love of their
country,‰ Staat said. „I loved being part of a team that was making a
difference, and being in the branch of the military that could be anywhere
in the world in 24 hours in an emergency situation.‰
Upon successfully completing basic training with knowledge of the weapons
systems, Staat was eventually deployed to Iraq. Aside from his service in
combat, Staat also managed to donate basic supplies and toys to the children
of Iraq with the help of his friends at local churches in the U.S.
In 2007 when Staat returned from abroad he decided to finish education via
ASU online. In 2009, he proudly received a bachelor‚s degree in liberal arts
and sciences.
„No one can ever take away your education. Getting my degree was one of my
biggest accomplishments, especially since I was battling dyslexia.‰ Statt
said.
The Wall to Wall ride is part of the Jeremy Staat Foundation. Through the
foundation, Staat works as a motivational speaker in classrooms throughout
the nation, recalling the life experiences of himself and others on the
Veteran Speaking Board. The cause runs strictly off donations from the
community to help keep much-needed funds in the classroom.
The ride will make a stop in Tempe, Ariz., March 8 and 9. To learn more
about the tour, please visit http://www.walltowallbicycleride.com or
http://jeremystaatfoundation.com/.
Natasha Karaczan, natasha.karaczan@asu.edu
480-965-6991
Media Relations