Email   Print   Share By Daniel Cernero, Sentinel Staff

Facebook Digg Delicious October 18, 2012 | News

Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman, joined by Brig. Gen. Dean Milner, III Corps and Fort Hood deputy commanding general (Canada), presents a locker, filled with a variety of electronics, toys and games, to CRDAMC Oct. 11 at Fort Hood. The locker was presented on behalf of Tillman’s Cornerstone Foundation. Daniel Cernero, Sentinel Staff

Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman signs the Bears pennant of Sgt. Luis Gutierrez, WTB, OCt. 11 inside WTB headquarters. Gutierrez said he has taken the pennant everywhere with him, including on three deployments. Daniel Cernero, Sentinel Staff

Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman, who played high school football at Copperas Cove High School while his dad was a sergeant in the Army stationed at Fort Hood, presented a locker – filled with a variety of electronics, toys and games – to the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center Oct. 11 on behalf of his Cornerstone Foundation.

Tillman, visiting during the Chicago Bears’ bye week, said the intention behind the locker is to give patients, and their guests, entertainment during their hospital visit.

Originally started as an education-based foundation, Tillman said he shifted its focus as a result of personal experience when his Family had an extended stay in a local Chicago hospital while his 3-month-old daughter dealt with a heart condition.

“In May of 2008, my daughter Tiana got really sick, and she was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy,” Tillman said. “And from there we lived at the Children Memorial Hospital in downtown Chicago; we were there for about four months. And during the process of our short time there, she received a heart transplant.

“When our daughter was in the hospital, my wife and I, we know there were families in there that we felt like they could use certain tools to kind of help their stay be a little more enjoyable during their difficult time for their lengthy duration. So we decided to fill it with Xboxs, Playstations, iPads, computers, DVD players, DVDs,” he said, listing some of the electronic devices filling the locker.

The locker donated to CRDAMC was the first donated to a military installation and the first outside of the Chicago area.

“The military, they hold a special place in my heart. And to me, it was a no-brainer to put one of these lockers up in a military base,” said Tillman, whose father, Donald Tillman, a retired veteran, joined him on his Fort Hood visit. “I’m from Fort Hood; I used to live here,” he added, still remembering his address in Comanche III.

Now with six lockers donated in total, Tillman said he hopes this one at Fort Hood is the first of many on military installations.

In addition to presenting the locker, Tillman signed autographs and posed for photographs with the patients and hospital staff, before making to trip to the Warrior Transition Brigade Headquarters for a similar meet-and-greet with Fort Hood’s wounded warriors.

Inside WTB Headquarters, Tillman took photos with Dallas fans and Chicago fans alike, one being Sgt. Luis Gutierrez, WTB, a devoted Bears fan.

Gutierrez said he didn’t have time to go out and buy anything for Tillman to sign, so instead he presented one of his prized possessions: a Chicago Bears pennant.

“I bought it awhile back, and it’s been to every place I’ve been to. Every place I’ve been, I always represent the Bears,” Gutierrez said, who listed the posts he’s been stationed at. “I took this on three deployments, and on my last deployment, It got hit with a rocket,” he said, pointing to a piece of shrapnel still lodged in the pennant.

Tillman showed his appreciation for the troops through his visit to Fort Hood.

“It’s because of people like you, Soldiers, that I’m able to play America’s game, and beat America’s team,” he said, taking a jab at the Cowboys, drawing laughs from those gathered inside CRDAMC. “I had to throw it in there. The flow felt so good.”

As recently as Oct. 1, Tillman could be seen returning an interception for a touchdown against the Dallas team he referenced.

“I had a lot of text messages from that Monday night game,” Tillman said, giving one example: “I hope you do good, but I hope the Cowboys win.”

The Pro Bowl cornerback returned another interception the following game against Jacksonville, Oct. 7, which earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Tillman and the 4-1 Bears continue the season at home Monday night against Detroit.