Each year, the ESPYS celebrate the most touted athletes of our generation by recognizing not only their physical abilities but more importantly their courage and bravery. The ESPYS ceremonies of years past have set the stage for some of the most iconic speeches and most memorable moments in sports. Here are six of the most important moments from this year's ESPYS:

1. "Enough is enough."

Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwayne Wade and LeBron James came together to deliver a timely, moving opening speech. The NBA superstars spoke out against police brutality and against retaliation against officers. Their message was simple yet profound: the violence in our country must end. The four challenged their fellow athletes to use their own platforms to take their own stands and denounce these horrific acts.

2. "Fit for duty."

Army Sergeant Elizabeth Marks, an Iraq veteran, was named the winner of the Pat Tillman Award for Service. Marks is the daughter of a Marine who served in Vietnam. She grew up wanting to serve as her father had. Her determination and dedication to her country came at a cost, however, as she suffered a compromising hip injury and lost most feeling in her left leg. She became a paraolympic swimmer despite this and despite the lung disease and the visual impairment she later developed. Elizabeth proved that, difficulties and all, she is still "fit for duty.”

3. ”Honor and legacy."

Eric Berry, Kansas City Chiefs safety, received the Comeback Athlete of the Year award after overcoming his courageous battle with cancer and returning to play football this past season. He spoke of his desire to, while undergoing cancer treatments, "honor the ones who come before [him]" and "leave a legacy for the ones that come behind [him]." He recognized that his fight was, unfortunately, nothing new. He remembered similar battles already encountered by sportscaster Stuart Scott, newscaster Robin Roberts and NFL player Devon Still's daughter Leah, and he paid respect to those who battled after he did, such as Pitt running back James Conner and Auburn offensive tackle Brodarious Hamm. Berry spoke of the importance of focusing on the stories of others rather than "making it about [himself]." He accepted the award not only on behalf of himself but on behalf of all the other "fighters" who have been diagnosed with cancer and are still in the trenches against the terrible disease. He finished with some final words of encouragement: "Always remember, honor and legacy, baby, and you can push through it.”

4. "Extraordinary."

Zaevion Dobson, a fifteen-year-old high school football player from Knoxville, Tennessee, was posthumously named the Arthur Ashe Courage Award recipient. While spending time with friends in December 2015, a shooter approached the porch where the teens were gathered. In a matter of moments, Zaevion threw himself on top of two of his female friends, shielding their bodies with his own. Zaevion's friends and family, while devastated by his death, were unsurprised by his act of supreme bravery and selflessness. "I just always knew he would be the one to do something like that," said brother Zackelyn. "He's always been the one that's more the hero." Zaevion's mother, Zenobia, and his two brothers, Zackelyn and Markastin, accepted the award on his behalf.

5. "Icons."

Three sports legends retired this year from their respective sports: Peyton Manning from football, Kobe Bryant from basketball and Abby Wambach from soccer. Each of these three was presented the Icon award. After a series of three montages highlighting each of their journeys, presenter Justin Timberlake bowed down to the three "icons" as they took the stage to accept their awards. Manning said he is "looking forward to having a great time being a fan again" after he began his life as a sports fan and recognized that without fans, his own achievements on the field "wouldn't mean anything." Wambach recognized Kobe and Peyton as her personal "heroes" and added that for her, soccer was never about breaking the records she did or reaching the level of play she did, but "about being the best that [she] could." Bryant poked fun at himself after mentioning Peyton's and Abby's triumphal exits from football and soccer, comparing it to his 17-65 season with the Lakers. Kobe also mentioned that while he's walking away from the game, he isn't finished working. "My next dream is to be honored one day for inspiring the next generation of athletes to have a dream, sacrifice for it, and never, ever rest in the middle," said Bryant.

6. "Time is simply how you live your life."

Vice President Joe Biden presented TNT sports broadcaster Craig Sager with the Jimmy V Perseverance Award. In an emotional and inspiring acceptance speech, Sager paid tribute to friend and former NCAA basketball coach Jim Valvano and said that he listened to Valvano's powerful 1993 ESPYs speech often while undergoing treatment for leukemia. He thanked his family, friends and TNT colleagues for being his support system, and he promised them and the audience this: "I will continue to keep fighting, sucking the marrow out of life as life sucks the marrow out of me."