(CNSNews.com) - Players from the reigning Super Bowl champion New York Giants football team joined President Bush on the South Lawn of the White House Wednesday to honor patients from Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

After recapping the Giants' winning season, the president expressed his appreciation for the players' support of U.S. troops and, in particular, their support of special honoree Lt. Col. Greg Gadson, a soldier getting treatment at Walter Reed who attended the event.

"I appreciate the fact, Coach (Giants coach Tom Coughlin), that you and your players support our troops, but more importantly our troops appreciate the fact that you support them," Bush said. "You've come to know the story, like I have, of Lieutenant Colonel Greg Gadson. He lost both of his legs while in Iraq. He first met up with the Giants in September when you invited him to address a pre-meeting that helped inspire the comeback over the Redskins."

Gadson, who has learned to walk with artificial legs, was made an honorary captain of the Giants prior to the Super Bowl.

"I'm proud to be on the stage with this man," said Bush. "To me it's a symbol of your respect for our country and your patriotism, that you would let Greg Gadson be a part of this team. He has got the Purple Heart and three Bronze Stars, and now he's got a Super Bowl ring minted for a true giant."

Coughlin joined the president in honoring the Walter Reed patients and Gadson. "The New York Giants of 2007 were called 'the road warriors,'" he said. "Well, we pale in comparison to the real warriors, the warriors that we visited today at Walter Reed."

"The thing that impressed all of us so much was their attitude, their positive attitude, the look in their eye, their patriotism, their knowledge of what they were fighting for," said Coughlin. "And as I always say, we receive great inspiration from our soldiers, and it's an honor to be with them, and it's an honor to have Greg Gadson with us in our drive to the Super Bowl Championship XLII."

The ceremony ended with Coughlin giving the president a team-autographed football and a commemorative New York Giants jersey.

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