Redskins fans brave heat for appreciation day

Fans gather at Redskins Park on a day that's just for them. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
Thomas Lamb, 2, from Fairfax, shows his Redskins spirit. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
Fans tailgate before Fan Appreciation Day. Reggie Tinson, the man in the white jersey, is a 21-year Redskins season ticket holder. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
Nicolas Maloney, 7, from Woodbridge, hopes to get a football signed by RGIII, the new quarterback. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
Fans gather at Redskins Park on a day that's just for them. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
From left to right: Chloe Stevenson, 9, and Lindesy DeJonghe, fans from Sterling, hope to catch a glimpse of RGIII. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
Kevin McCarthy of Frederick, Md. sports a Redskins Hall of Fame tattoo on his back. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
Kevin McCarthy's back, which sports a tattoo of Skins players inducted into the Hall of Fame. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
A Redskins cheerleader cheers on the team. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
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Kathy Stewart, wtop.com

ASHBURN, Va. – Fans got a taste of what the upcoming Redskins season will be like Saturday at Redskins Park.

In spite of the scorching heat, over 24,000 fans came out to celebrate with their favorite team during Fan Appreciation Day.

As Nicolas Maloney, 9, from Woodbridge, was entering Skins Park with his parents and four-year-old sister, he was carrying a football. He was hoping to get lots of players to sign it, especially one in particular – Robert Griffin III.

“He’s cool and he’s the new quarterback,” Maloney says.

Chloe Stevenson, 9, from Sterling, was decked out in Redskins gear, including her Redskins earrings. She had one purpose in mind for being there.

“We’re here to see RGIII,” says Chloe.

Fans got to watch the team practice and they got to see RGIII in action. They were also serenaded with “Hail to the Redskins” from the team’s marching band and got to see the Redskins cheerleaders, too.

Kevin McCarthy from Frederick, Md. is a true Redskins fan, down to the tattoo covering his entire back.

“It’s a hall of fame, [a] Redskins hall of fame,” says McCarthy.

The tattoo lists the names and dates that Redskins players were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The team’s training camp practices are open to the public through Tuesday, Aug. 14.

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(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

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