Lions' Aidan Hutchinson honors Veterans Day with meaningful partnership

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Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson carries a piece of his great-grandfather’s memory with him at all times. 

"We carry around his dog tags everywhere we go," the Michigan standout told Fox News Digital of his great-grandfather Joseph Bernardi, a World War II Army Ranger. 

Aidan Hutchinson (97) of the Detroit Lions rushes the passer during a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Ford Field Oct. 30, 2023, in Detroit.  (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Hutchinson, whose full name is Aidan Joseph Bernardi Hutchinson, in honor of his great-grandfather, spoke to Fox News ahead of Veterans Day and his partnership with USAA. 

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"This Veterans Day, I'm partnering with USAA, and we're just trying to encourage Americans to go beyond thanks in order to honor our veterans, really just by having deeper conversations," Hutchinson said. 

According to The Associated Press, Hutchinson’s great-grandfather was a member of the World War II jungle fighting unit known as "Merrill’s Marauders." He was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his efforts on a 1944 secret mission that began with 2,000 U.S. soldiers behind enemy lines in Japanese-occupied Burma and ended with approximately 200 Americans surviving.

"It's always a day where you have that awareness," Hutchinson said of Veterans Day and the legacy of his grandfather. 

Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) celebrates his interception in the first half of a game against the Carolina Panthers in Detroit Oct. 8, 2023.  (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

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