Thanks to a special visitor, head coach Dan Quinn's practice outfit was highlighted by a meaningful accent on the last day of the Washington Commanders' OTAs.
"I wanted to kind of feel it out, because you never know how busy the head coach is, and you want to give him the chance to just go back to practice, but he seemed like he really wanted to be there and hear what we have to say," Allie Quick said. "I thought it would be a really good thing for him to just feel that my dad was here as well. It was just really a great thing to be able to give him the pin."
The pin featured Allie's dad, Sgt. 1st Class Zachary Quick, whose presence was certainly felt at the Commanders' practice facility on Friday. Together with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), the Commanders and the Quick family, the memory of the father, husband and highly decorated soldier was honored on a day all about community and fun.
Born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia, Quick had a lifelong passion for sports. He was an elite swimmer, earning spots on junior Olympic teams growing up and was described as "indomitable competitor." That love for athletics wasn't just relegated to the water. Quick was also a diehard Washington football fan, and sharing that passion was the source of many cherished occasions in the Quick household once Zachary had a family of his own.
"No matter where we were stationed, we always had the upper echelon cable so that we could watch the Redskins back in the day," said Bethany Quick, his former wife. "Didn't matter where we were, he had to watch."
Allie, his eldest daughter, and her younger sisters didn't necessarily understand the "X's and O's," but seeing how happy her dad was about Washington playing well was enough to nuzzle the team into their hearts.
"Even if I didn't understand the game, I remember I always saw the burgundy & gold," she said with a laugh. "You knew what it meant even if you didn't really understand what was happening on the screen. It was like, 'He's cheering, oh, burgundy & gold is doing well!'"
Memories like those have taken on deeper significance in the decade since Quick passed away. They tell a story of how the feelings fostered by sports stick far longer than what actually transpired within the white lines. Underscoring that remarkable quality is key to what TAPS does through its "Teams4Taps" program, which works with sports teams across the country to bring joy to surviving military families and to honor the lives of their fallen heroes.
TAPS and the Commanders worked to provide a unique practice viewing experience for a handful of members of the Quick family on Friday. In addition to watching the session, the guests were gifted customized jerseys and spent time with the coaches and players. It was a new experience for the Quicks, who have participated in Teams4Taps experiences before but had never been the only family. Any intimidation that may have been felt was quickly extinguished by the warmth of all the interactions.
"This was so cool being on the field but also being the only family" Allie Quick said. "I feel like normally when I come, I'm one of like 30 or 40 people. You really just got to feel the welcome from every single person. To get that one-on-one interaction -- literally my hat is full [of signatures], front and back -- is so cool. Same with my football."
From pins on shirts to words spoken on the sidelines, Quick's legacy echoed all morning. And front and center was the lesson he lived as an example and then imparted all those years ago: the joy that sport brings lasts forever.
"This has made my kids feel so special," Bethany Quick said. "It was amazing. It was a great day today."
