Thank you so much for posting my Grandson's pictures. His name is Christian Melnik, 8 years old, from Butler, PA.
Christian goes to 2nd grade at Center Township Elementary school in Butler, PA.
2013 was our third year going to training camp. We always try to make it to the night practice at Latrobe Stadium and have never even got close to getting Ben's autograph. But last summer, with the last open practice moved to St. Vincent, it gave us a better opportunity. We had just arrived at the field, and were sitting along the fence line when I saw Ben headed our way. I encouraged Christian to squeeze his way along the fence and hold his ground and just hold up the football as high as he could. There was a lot of pushing by the bigger kids, but Christian scored an autograph from his favorite player, #7. He clutched that ball all day, it now sits on our mantel above the fireplace.
I keep promising Christian we will make it to a football game at Heinz Field someday before he gets too much older, I'm not exactly getting any younger either. Hopefully, it'll be one of those lifelong memories between Grandfather and Grandson that we will never forget. -- Tom Melnik