It's time for our annual Military Drive, and this one will match the year on the calendar: 2,022.
That's how many veterans of our Armed Forces we aim to connect with subscriptions, and there's ample precedent to believe we'll once again achieve this goal.
As of Sept. 16, we've sold 328 toward that 2,022 goal, thanks to those who contribute year-round, including 17 sold in the past week.
For anyone who's new to the Military Drive, here's how it works:
• Ever since DK Pittsburgh Sports launched in July 2014, we've donated free subscriptions to all active-duty military. I couldn't handle the thought of someone serving, especially in combat, and feeling like they couldn't keep up with their favorite sports teams, and sure enough, we've since heard from many who were in such settings and were happy to read the latest on the Steelers, Penguins or Pirates as a break from the everyday grind.
• A handful of readers reached out the following year and asked if we could extend this to veterans, as well, with one of them offering to contribute to any cost. Others soon echoed that, and thus was born the Military Drive.
Last year, the Drive hit an all-time high of 2,000 contributions, and all of those were distributed.
This year, the Military Drive subscriptions remain at a cost of $20 each -- or one-third our regular price -- and they can be bought by emailing me directly with how many you'd like, with every figure from one to whatever being welcome. From there, Dali will work with you on the processing. She and I always handle this endeavor personally.
Email me here: DK@DKPittsburghSports.com
Thanks to everyone in advance, and thanks all the more to those who serve and to their families who sacrifice to make that possible.
As for that picture up top: The new HQ/shop Downtown's afforded us a chance to meet special people we otherwise never might, and one of the highlights on that front all summer came when Paul Ogden and his son, David, paid us an announced visit a couple months ago.
Paul's served our military on three tours of overseas duty -- Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina -- and has been a subscriber since the start, keeping up on our teams through our site wherever he's been stationed. Both of them showed up wearing DKPS gear they'd already bought online, and we just melted. What a wonderful hour we got to spend together, and all I'll say further is that he owes all of YOU a direct version of his story of how he learned the Penguins had won a Stanley Cup while in an operation. I'd never do it justice.
Paul's why we all do this.
