49ers’ George Kittle provides Super Bowl tickets to family of Army vet killed in Iraq

As usual, George Kittle’s timing is perfect.

On Thursday, the 49ers prolific tight end announced he had provided two Super Bowl tickets to a Sacramento family during what typically is a somber time of year.

The family’s patriarch, Army Sergeant Martin “Mick” LaMar, was shot and killed on January 15, 2011. LaMar, who served with the Marines and Army, and who was a veteran of the Gulf War, died on his wedding anniversary. It also was the day he was scheduled to deploy home from Iraq.

He was survived by his wife Josephine and five children — one, a daughter, that he never met.

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“As I hit the field to play in the Super Bowl, I find comfort in the fact that 49ers fans Josie and Nicolas LaMar will be cheering our team on,” Kittle said in a statement. “It’s a special privilege to be able to team up with USAA and TAPS to award a trip to the Super Bowl to Sergeant LaMar’s family in recognition of his military service and paying the ultimate sacrifice in service of our country.”

With Mick leading the charge, the LaMars became 49ers fans. Josephina and her teenage son Nicolas LaMar, the family’s only son, will make the trip to Miami for Super Bowl LIV to watch the 49ers play the Kansas City Chiefs.

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