I was 5 years old and was shopping at garage sales with my mom. As we prepared to cross the street I noticed a truck coming and exclaimed “Mommy watch out for the truck!” My mom noticed the truck and stepped back onto the curb. She then praised me for being such a gentlemen and ‘saving’ her. For just a moment I felt like a hero. As a reward my mom let me pick out (and she paid for) A set of toy Army men, an Army truck, and a military boat.
When I got home I set up my toy Army men and played various battle games. Those little Army guys were my heroes. 1 inch heroes. I don’t know why soldiers like that appealed to me, maybe it is because of my dad (a pre-gulf war era veteran) who I always admired. Perhaps it was because of the history books my mom read to me (those stories I will forever treasure) or perhaps it was because I just understood that here in America we have something special, something worth dying for.
Yesterday, across the nation NFL players protested during the singing of the National Anthem. They demonstrated in every way from locking arms, to kneeling with raised fists. Some even skipped the performance altogether. And as I watched this I thought back to those little 1 inch heroes and what they stood for and it felt as if my heart was ripped from my chest.
As a kid who grew up loving his country, my first memory is the events September 11th 2001, I remember when Ronald Reagan died as the day we lost an American Hero, I remember the capture of Saddam Hussein, and my mom taking me into a polling place to watch her vote when I was 8 years old. I have always loved this country, through our ups and downs I have seen it all and I can tell you America is a special place. A place where ideas may be freely expressed without fear of retaliation.
To my fellow Americans: When you hear the Anthem play, when you see the flag go by, when get up in the morning and survey the landscape… stop. Stand up, take off your hat, and take just a moment to appreciate what a wonderful country we have. And for those who would rather sit, kneel, or protest keep this in mind: There are those who died and there are those who cannot stand because they gave their legs so you could sit.
So please stand up. Put your hand on your heart. If not for me, then for my children so they can grow up with the same love of country I did. If you join with me in doing this you won’t just feel like a hero, you will be one!
When I got home I set up my toy Army men and played various battle games. Those little Army guys were my heroes. 1 inch heroes. I don’t know why soldiers like that appealed to me, maybe it is because of my dad (a pre-gulf war era veteran) who I always admired. Perhaps it was because of the history books my mom read to me (those stories I will forever treasure) or perhaps it was because I just understood that here in America we have something special, something worth dying for.
Yesterday, across the nation NFL players protested during the singing of the National Anthem. They demonstrated in every way from locking arms, to kneeling with raised fists. Some even skipped the performance altogether. And as I watched this I thought back to those little 1 inch heroes and what they stood for and it felt as if my heart was ripped from my chest.
As a kid who grew up loving his country, my first memory is the events September 11th 2001, I remember when Ronald Reagan died as the day we lost an American Hero, I remember the capture of Saddam Hussein, and my mom taking me into a polling place to watch her vote when I was 8 years old. I have always loved this country, through our ups and downs I have seen it all and I can tell you America is a special place. A place where ideas may be freely expressed without fear of retaliation.
To my fellow Americans: When you hear the Anthem play, when you see the flag go by, when get up in the morning and survey the landscape… stop. Stand up, take off your hat, and take just a moment to appreciate what a wonderful country we have. And for those who would rather sit, kneel, or protest keep this in mind: There are those who died and there are those who cannot stand because they gave their legs so you could sit.
So please stand up. Put your hand on your heart. If not for me, then for my children so they can grow up with the same love of country I did. If you join with me in doing this you won’t just feel like a hero, you will be one!