Thanksgiving without the NFL – A Different Way to See It
November 23rd, 2017 by iPhone
A lot of people have said, “I’m not going to watch the NFL, because……”
I wanted to wait for the appropriate time to express my thoughts. I have just spent my first Thanksgiving without football, and now seems like the proper time.
I feel NFL players think more of themselves than they do our flag, our country, and our fallen soldiers.
The first time anyone in Monticello heard of Joe Burgess was not when MLive started to grow; but rather when I started working at Burlington in 1994 and began a project, similar to Operation Dear Abby, that sent Christmas Cards from our elementary students to “any U.S. Soldier”.
It started with 2,500 Christmas cards the first year, and over a 5-year period had sent over 100,000 Christmas cards to our heroes around the world. .
The reason for the project was to honor my first cousin, USAF Lt. Col. Donnie Ray Holland, of Bastrop, LA.
On the second night of Operation Desert Storm, December 17, 1991, Lt. Col. Holland’s F-15 Eagle was shot down over Iraq. Until the end of the war, when his remains were returned to the U.S., his parents didn’t know if he was alive, a POW, or deceased.
I don’t care what a bunch of overpaid athletes think about our Star Spangled Banner and flag, they mean a lot to me (and many other people that usually remain silent).
I remember seeing the Flag that was draped over his coffin, being folded and handed to Aunt Christine while the bugler played Taps.
I remember Air Force jets flying over the gravesite in the missing man formation above Promise Land Cemetery, near Hamburg.
Today I’m thankful for our military and our first responders, where ever they are stationed.
I am thankful that the Lord has provided for my family with a job I enjoy, and the opportunity (every once in a while) to say something that really needs to be said, instead of wondering who the Cowboys are playing.
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amen feel the same way here.the NFL players must not have ever been handed a flag of a fallen family member that died to protect us.
Well said!!
Well said Mr. Burgess! This is our 2nd year totally NFL free.
Thank you for posting this. I well remember the Christmas cards — great project.
Have you taken the time to ask WHY are these athletes taking a knee? Well if you took time to open your mind you would realize the individuals are exercising their right in which our brave soldiers have fought for. The players are not disrespecting the flag, they are speaking out for the many who have endured injustice over and over again. WE built this country on the blood and backs of slaves. its time we all opened our eyes up and stop being sheep. God Bless Monticello and God Bless America!
From a Vet and a Patriot, Thanks Mr Burgess. I was a Packer fan for almost 50 years. Not anymore. Maybe those overpaid players should go on a field trip to Arlington and count the crosses of the brave soldiers who gave their lives so they could play their game in a free country. I don’t appreciate them using My National Anthem as their platform to make a statement. They should come up with their own anthem to squat down on. I despise them all and will not watch another NFL game.