Massachusetts Legionnaire Fred Waggett nominated by New England Patriots.
When New England Patriots security officer Fred Waggett was summoned to meet with one of the organization’s executives in late October, he had no idea why. But when he got there, the U.S. Navy and Army Reserve veteran realized something was up.
And something was up. There at the Patriots facility were members of Waggett’s family so they could witness Patriots owner Robert Kraft telling the veteran he was the team’s nominee for the NFL’s Salute to Service Award presented by USAA. Watch video of Waggett being notified of his honor here.
Getting the nomination was a total surprise for the member of American Legion Post 93 in Foxborough. “And what I found out later from my friend, (Patriots Communications Specialist) Stephanie Burnham, they had called my youngest son and said, ‘OK, this is what’s happening. Tell your brother and then tell your mother and have her call us,’” Waggett said. “They had my two boys and my wife come up ahead of time, and they made sure I was on the complete opposite end of the property.
“When they got them in the building and got them in what we call the Trophy Room … I was told to go see one of the executives upstairs. When I saw (the executive), she said, ‘Oh Fred.’ And then the two double doors opened. You know how you suddenly get that quick glimpse? All of the sudden I go, ‘Wait a minute. I think that’s my wife and I think that’s my boys.’ I walked inside. Robert came over and shook my hand and walked me in and said some very nice words about me. I was taken aback by the whole thing because I was caught totally off-guard. Totally off-guard. And it’s a really high honor for me.”
The Salute to Service Award annually recognizes NFL players, coaches, staff and alumni who make exceptional efforts to honor and support military and veteran communities. Fans can help determine the award’s three finalists by voting for their favorite nominee. The three finalists will be announced in January, and the recipient will be recognized at NFL Honors during Super Bowl week.
Waggett served an enlistment in the U.S. Navy in the 1970s and in 1992 found himself back in the military. “Years later, a guy that worked for me convinced me to go back to the Army National Guard as in instructor,” he said. “My background was transportation logistics. I did a lot of other things, but that was primarily what I did.”
Waggett was supposed to be discharged in 2001, but when the terrorist attacks took place on Sept. 11, he was extended into 2002. “I still had my civilian job. I was working for a communications firm,” he said. “When 9/11 happened, we had practiced for something like that. When that went down, my colonel said, ‘We’re up.’ That was kind of sobering, to say the least.”
While he didn’t deploy, Waggett spent the remainder of his final enlistment training soldiers for Operation Iraqi Freedom. “That’s why they brought me back,” he said.
It was seven years later, in 2009, when Waggett hooked up with the Patriots.
“I’m retired three times over and was going out of my mind,” he said. “When my boys were younger, Foxborough had an understanding with the Kraft organization that if you lived in town and came and worked events – the concession stands or something like that – the hours that you put in, rather than taking money, they would send back (the funds) to a group back here in town.
“One day my boys said, ‘Why don’t you come with us?’ I started working events. It was not my cup of tea, to be honest with you. But then the head of security at the time was a gentleman by the name of Mark Briggs. British Army veteran. Fantastic guy, and the people he had who worked for him were fantastic. And the next thing you know, I’m working part-time for them, doing rounds. And then I became the supervisor. And that’s it. From then I just stayed here. It’s a good job.”
Waggett’s duties include helping with team movements throughout Gillette Stadium, thanks to his military and communications background. “It fit everything Mr. Briggs wanted,” he said. “I knew about explosives. I knew about guns. I knew what to look for, so I became that kind of go-to guy for them. I’m always looking for that something that doesn’t look quite right.”
In his nomination, Waggett was cited for quiet gestures of remembrance that “have become a meaningful tradition within the Patriots community. After each event, he thoughtfully places flowers at the POW/MIA seat as a tribute. On Memorial Day, he ensures fresh flowers are placed there, a powerful symbol of his reverence for those lost in service.”
He also served as the military consultant when a Row of Honor was created in Gillette Stadium. And when the north end zone was renovated and the Row of Honor relocated, Waggett worked with Kraft Sports + Entertainment CEO Jim Nolan to find a new place for the stadium’s previous POW/MIA seat.
“I told them I’d be honored to (relocated the chair),” Waggett said. “I took it home and put it in my shed. I thought about it for about a week and then called a buddy of mine. I refurbished the chair. We built a platform for it and then we donated it to the Town of Foxborough because I thought it should stay here. And we dedicated it to a Lt. Gerald Kinsman (who went missing in action while serving U.S. Army Special Forces in Vietnam).
“So that’s become one of my go-to passions. I go by (the memorial) every day. I salute it and say a personal prayer. I read the plaque. I make sure it’s always clean, has fresh flowers and the flags are always good.”
Throughout his 16 years with the team, Waggett has developed friendships with Kraft family, as well as multiple former and current Patriots players. And he’s enjoying the team’s 8-2 start after back-to-back 4-13 seasons.
“This has been an extremely good year. It’s a lot of excitement,” he said. “I have three Super Bowl rings. The running joke is that I need a fourth one because I’ve got two boys, and I don’t have to do one (for each) and they have to fight over the third one.”
- Honor & Remembrance