Fallen Philadelphia soldier honored at NFL Draft

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- During Friday night's NFL Draft festivities on Eakins Oval, the NFL remembered a Philadelphia native who lost his life defending our country.

First Lieutenant Demetrius Frison was killed in Afghanistan in 2011.

Nearly six years later, Frison's wife, Mikki, and his young son, Christopher, were at the NFL Draft to honor his memory and his love for the Philadelphia Eagles.

"He was a humble man," said Mikki Frison. "He loved his country, he loved his men, he loved his son most of all, most importantly. And he said if anything was ever going to happen over there, it was definitely going to happen to him and not his guys, because he felt like it was his personal responsibility to make sure that he sent every single one of them home."

"He cared about so many people so much more, sometimes, than himself," she continued. "He just felt like he could protect the world. He was a real-life super hero."

Action News was there as Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz spent some time with the family.

Christopher told us Wentz is his favorite Eagle.

Mikki said, "He is so super, down to earth. And he was just really understanding what a family like ours has been through, and will go through."

Mikki says Friday night's honor for her husband was made possible by veterans' organizations and the NFL.

"For his name to still be in the hearts and minds of so many people. And to be honored in a place like that on such a large scale, it's overwhelmingly beautiful," she said.

Thousands of people returned Friday to enjoy Day 2 of the NFL Draft Festival.

And as word spread about how the league is honoring the Frison family, many of the people we spoke with say, it's just one more reason to be proud that we live in the Delaware Valley.

Harry Rolls of Cobbs Creek said, "I think it's great, the part about giving back to the community. I think that's what a lot of NFL teams ought to do."

Alex Giribaldi of Garnet Valley said, "It is amazing that we'll get an opportunity to honor someone like that, especially at the Eagles draft second round pick. It's amazing for the family, and I hope everyone is going to cheer as loud as they can for him."

Frison's widow says it is their faith, family and community that helps the family get through.

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