I arrived at our primary staging area exceptionally early to relax and enjoy this beautiful morning before meeting other like-minded patriots from both the South Carolina and Georgia Patriot Guard Riders. We would also be joined by members of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association on this mission. Some of these members would be doing two missions in one day as there was also a mission in North Augusta, South Carolina earlier that morning. These men and women give so freely of their time, money, and energy to see that our military, first responders, and their family and friends have the honor they so rightly deserve.
This day, they once again give in order to honor a special man. Who was this man? He wasn't a politician, actor, or singer. He wasn't a man playing a game for the NFL and making millions of dollars doing so. What made him special? Why did he deserve to be honored and looked up to as a role model? He was just a man. He was a man with a wife, children, other family, and friends. If you met him on the street he would blend into the crowd. Nobody special, except to those who knew and loved him. Look a little closer and you would see a proud man standing upright with the bearing of someone who commanded respect just by his presence. He was respected and very much loved by those under him who depended on his experience and expertise to teach, and lead them, whether at home, or on battlefields in far away countries. If you saw him in his Army uniform you would see the medals on his chest that showed twenty-nine years of honorably, and proudly, standing against those who would gladly take our freedoms away. Today these fine patriots would give the honor and respect he is due. You will never see any one of them taking a knee when our National Anthem begins. They will each be standing tall and proud. I was honored they allowed me to be a small part of this.
We rode onto Fort Gordon as a group and were escorted to the building where the memorial would take place. We were each handed a large American flag and given instructions as to where we were needed on the flag line. As I backed against the building, American flag in hand, I looked around at the men and women standing with me showing the respect and honor this man's life deserved. I watched the flags blowing in the wind as the family and friends entered the building to pay their last respects to a hero gone home much too early.
As I stood there I looked around at the sincere faces of these men and women showing the utmost respect for someone none of them probably knew personally. There was another flag at the memorial service. It was the American flag draped over the casket of this brave, young soldier. There was a fire running through my soul as I stood there and thought of those NFL players who would no doubt take a knee as the anthem began at their games this weekend. These overpaid, obnoxious, loud-mouthed people who are being paid millions to play a game. Where do they get off thinking that the majority of the American people care what they think in the least? They don't have a clue about this man, or all the others who have fought and died for that very flag. The don't give a second thought to those who are still on the battlefields in far away lands. I believe I speak for millions as I say Shut Up and Stand Up!
They want to tell you they're protesting cops shooting innocent, unarmed, black men. Again, Shut Up stupid. Twenty-three years as a cop and I never once woke up before heading off to work thinking, "Okay, maybe I can go shoot a black man today." Neither did any other police officer I ever worked with. We left for work each shift wondering if we were coming home after our shift. Don't want to get shot? First, don't break the law. Second, when a cop tells you don't move, don't move. That means don't reach for your phone or your pockets or the console in your car. Just be still and don't make any sudden moves. If you have a firearm tell the officer you have it and where it is, don't attempt to get it unless he tells you to. Don't threaten them and don't get aggressive with a cop, they're doing what they are paid to do and that's to protect your sorry butt and the people you're a threat to. Twenty-three years. That's a long time without ever pulling that trigger unless it was in training. Just because I didn't pull the trigger didn't mean that I wouldn't. I had to pull the firearm many times. I guess people just knew that if it came down to you or me going home that night I was going to try my best to make sure it was me. Our jobs were to protect you, not harm you and every cop I knew did it exceptionally well. I have been beaten, bruised, bones broken, lost teeth and have seen my friends and brothers hurt, injured, and shot down while protecting your lives and the sad thing is you will disrespect them for trying to take care of you. Did you also know that there are approximately four whites killed for every black? That don't fit the narrative and it won't make for headlines so it won't get reported. So Shut Up and Stand Up. You're not disrespecting cops by refusing to stand for the National Anthem, you're disrespecting this soldier we're honoring. You're disrespecting this country we love and fought for. You're disrespecting a nation that allows you to play a stupid game and get paid for it. On second thought, I don't really care if you stand up, just shut up! I, and millions of Americans, don't want to hear your cowardly whining.
Here's the deal. Under the 1st amendment you are guaranteed the right to protest. Under that same 1st amendment I have the same right to protest you. I have never believed in boycotts. I don't believe they do much good but this time I will change my behavior. Anyone who sponsors the NFL, or any individual player who kneels during the National Anthem, has lost my support and I will not buy your products. This will be somewhat of a pain in the butt for me since some of these I use regularly such as Pepsi products. I will be changing my cell phone service from Verizon this week. I will not patronize establishments that show NFL games on their TV. I have never been a fan of the NFL so that will not bother me at all. My only interest in football has been high school and college games and I don't watch them regularly. I know my little household protest will be only a drop in the bucket and not hurt anyone but myself but I will stick with it.
Anyway, enough said. I'm tired so I guess I'd better head off to bed before I get mad!
You want to protest? Find another way and don't disrespect the flag our men and women have draped over their coffins.
P.S. I had pretty much lost interest in NASCAR over the last several years but after seeing their stand on the kneeling issue I think they may have regained a fan.
They want to tell you they're protesting cops shooting innocent, unarmed, black men. Again, Shut Up stupid. Twenty-three years as a cop and I never once woke up before heading off to work thinking, "Okay, maybe I can go shoot a black man today." Neither did any other police officer I ever worked with. We left for work each shift wondering if we were coming home after our shift. Don't want to get shot? First, don't break the law. Second, when a cop tells you don't move, don't move. That means don't reach for your phone or your pockets or the console in your car. Just be still and don't make any sudden moves. If you have a firearm tell the officer you have it and where it is, don't attempt to get it unless he tells you to. Don't threaten them and don't get aggressive with a cop, they're doing what they are paid to do and that's to protect your sorry butt and the people you're a threat to. Twenty-three years. That's a long time without ever pulling that trigger unless it was in training. Just because I didn't pull the trigger didn't mean that I wouldn't. I had to pull the firearm many times. I guess people just knew that if it came down to you or me going home that night I was going to try my best to make sure it was me. Our jobs were to protect you, not harm you and every cop I knew did it exceptionally well. I have been beaten, bruised, bones broken, lost teeth and have seen my friends and brothers hurt, injured, and shot down while protecting your lives and the sad thing is you will disrespect them for trying to take care of you. Did you also know that there are approximately four whites killed for every black? That don't fit the narrative and it won't make for headlines so it won't get reported. So Shut Up and Stand Up. You're not disrespecting cops by refusing to stand for the National Anthem, you're disrespecting this soldier we're honoring. You're disrespecting this country we love and fought for. You're disrespecting a nation that allows you to play a stupid game and get paid for it. On second thought, I don't really care if you stand up, just shut up! I, and millions of Americans, don't want to hear your cowardly whining.
Here's the deal. Under the 1st amendment you are guaranteed the right to protest. Under that same 1st amendment I have the same right to protest you. I have never believed in boycotts. I don't believe they do much good but this time I will change my behavior. Anyone who sponsors the NFL, or any individual player who kneels during the National Anthem, has lost my support and I will not buy your products. This will be somewhat of a pain in the butt for me since some of these I use regularly such as Pepsi products. I will be changing my cell phone service from Verizon this week. I will not patronize establishments that show NFL games on their TV. I have never been a fan of the NFL so that will not bother me at all. My only interest in football has been high school and college games and I don't watch them regularly. I know my little household protest will be only a drop in the bucket and not hurt anyone but myself but I will stick with it.
Anyway, enough said. I'm tired so I guess I'd better head off to bed before I get mad!
You want to protest? Find another way and don't disrespect the flag our men and women have draped over their coffins.
P.S. I had pretty much lost interest in NASCAR over the last several years but after seeing their stand on the kneeling issue I think they may have regained a fan.
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