Here’s hoping he’s victorious
A couple of months ago, Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones was nominated as the team’s representative for this year’s USAA Salute to Service Award. Now, he has an opportunity to bring the award home to Minnesota.
On Thursday, Jones was named one of the three finalists for the Salute to Service Award, along with San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle and Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Morgan Fox. The winner will be named at the NFL Honors ceremony during Super Bowl week.
Jones’ late father, Alvin Sr., and his mother, Vurgess, both retired as Sergeants Major from the Army, serving 29 and 27 years respectively. His older brother, Xavier, is currently in the United States Air Force. Jones has done quite a bit for service members and veterans, as encapsulated in this release that the folks from USAA put together.
Aaron Jones, Sr., embodies each tenant of the NFL’s Salute to Service initiative to honor, empower and connect service members, veterans and their families. Aaron honors current and former U.S. Military service members including his late father, Alvin Jones, Sr., who served 29 years in the U.S. Army and mother, Vurgess, who served 27 years in the U.S. Army — both are retired as sergeants major. Aaron honors his older brother, Xavier, who serves in the U.S. Air Force through his A&A All the Way Foundation. Founded in 2020 by Aaron and his twin brother Alvin, Jr., the nonprofit emphasizes the support of youth in military families. Aaron’s commitment to the military community connects families and young people who have experienced the difficulties of deployment, regular change and relocation and the uncertainties that often accompany military life. Aaron calls on his own childhood experience, when his parents were deployed to Iraq, and he saw firsthand the sacrifices made to serve one’s country. A&A All the Way holds an annual gala to raise money that empowers military families by providing them with necessary resources and care. Aaron and his family have donated their own time and resources to provide military families with joy-filled experiences, such as trips to the zoo or movie nights. Aaron over the years has participated in Huddle for Heroes events, writing letters to active-duty military members, and meet-and-greets for T.A.P.S. families who have lost loved ones from the military or veteran community. Less than two months after signing with Minnesota in free agency, Aaron took part in a visit to the local United Heroes League and connected with young people and military members.
If Jones wins the award, USAA will contribute $25,000 in his name to the official aid societies that represent each branch of the Armed Forces. The NFL Foundation will match that donation, which will go directly to Jones’ charity of choice (presumably the A&A All the Way Foundation). Jones is looking to become the second member of the Vikings to win this award, joining Jared Allen’s victory in 2014.
Here’s hoping that Aaron Jones will find himself on the top of the heap when the award winner is announced here in a few weeks.
