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May 21, 2009 6:03 pm US/Eastern
Steelers Meet President At The White House
WASHINGTON (KDKA) ―
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President Barack Obama holds up a Steelers jersey with team President Art Rooney II during a service event on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C.
Jim Watson/Getty Images
The six-time Super Bowl champion Steelers left their home in Pittsburgh today for a trip to Washington D.C. for a special meeting with President Barack Obama.
The President invited the team to the White House to congratulate them on their win in Super Bowl XLIII earlier this year.
"Congratulations to the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers for their NFL record sixth Lombardi Trophy," President Obama said welcoming the team. "Congratulations to all the fans of the Steelers nation, who wave that Terrible Towel every Sunday."
The visit is an annual tradition for the reigning Super Bowl champs.
The ceremony took place this afternoon right outside of the White House and included Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney, President Art Rooney II, Coach Mike Tomlin as well as team members Ben Roethlisberger, Santonio Holmes, Hines Ward, James Farrior and Jeff Reed.
"That's what Steelers football is all about, it's a team effort," said President Obama. "This is a team that entered the season facing the most difficult schedule in the league, but guys like these thrive on that."
Though the President is an admitted Chicago Bears fan first, he did root for a Steelers victory over the Arizona Cardinals in this year's Super Bowl.
He said it was some of the legendary Steelers that first got him into the game.
"Growing up in Hawaii, when I was a kid, we didn't have a local football team and when I started playing and I started paying attention to football, it was guys like Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris and the Steel Curtain and Mean Joe Greene… those were the guys that were playing and that's why I became a Steelers fan," he said.
The President also welcomed about 50 wounded warriors from Walter Reed Army Medical Center and National Naval Medical Center for the ceremony.
As part of the visit, the Steelers teamed with the USO to help to make care packages for troops and wounded warriors.
"These are guys that take there responsibility on the football field seriously, but they take them just as seriously off the field. They're generous with their time for charity and for their communities," said the President.
"I often say that the beauty of serving others is that anyone can do it, you don't have to be President, you don't have to be a pro-football player - all you have to do is have a desire to make a difference, give back to your community and contribute to your nation," he added.
In addition to the wounded warriors and the Steelers, President Obama is meeting with Pittsburgh Police Chief Nate Harper and four officers who were the first to respond to the April shooting in Stanton Heights that claimed the lives of three city police officers.
The Steelers last visited the White House to meet President George W. Bush after winning the Super Bowl in 2006.
Stay with KDKA for much more on the Steelers visit with President Obama.
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