Calvin Watkins, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Rockets to visit Arlington National Cemetery

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As part of the NBA’s Hoops for Troops program, the Houston Rockets will visit Arlington National Cemetery and the Pentagon on Saturday.

Coach Kevin McHale, James Harden and Dwight Howard will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

“Yeah it will be really nice to go and do that,” McHale said. “My father was a World War II vet so it will be nice to go out there. He was always very, very proud of that. So laying the wreath, doing it for Pops.”

According to the NBA, McHale’s father fought with Gen. George Patton in Africa. Minnesota Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders, who played with McHale in college at Minnesota, had his team participate in the program several years ago as well.

“It’s very rewarding for the players,” Saunders said. “Very humbling.”

The Rockets play at the Washington Wizards on Sunday, on ABC but before that happens, they will honor those who died fighting for their country.

"For all of us, people who fought for our country and the people who lost their lives in general, it's sad," Howard said. "We want to pay our respects to the families and also to the soldiers who lost their lives and I'm just happy to be a part of it and just a humbling experience, all of us as a team can come together and show our respect for the people who fought for us."

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