Streator Strengths

[evaryman]

Streator Strengths

In a world & a sport that seems bent upon a superficial & untrue perception of masculinity, I, with much of our community, was treated to a display that brought tears to my eyes. Between games last night @ Streators field we all watched as jr & sr players walked onto the field holding the hands of 1st, 2nd & 3rd grade children.
This was done in order that we might all have the opportunity to honor a returned Streator veteran, who was twice deployed to Afghanistan, survived injuries & came back home to resume his service to our town.

Before he joined our military he was a coach for SYFL coaching the Browns. Now after 2 deployments & his service complete he coaches the Saints.
The high schoolers were on his Browns team & they escorted the members of his present Saints team.
Although our home team lost, we were all aware of "true Streator strength". that makes us real winners!  
How moved we were by this display by the sons of our town in recognition of one of our very own hero's!!!

[toshiko]

Streator's finest. Children can teach us alot.

[cityslicker]

What did he do that equates the word "hero" to describe him. The word is being used too loosely, and has no respect like it used to. Heroes were the men that rushed Omaha Beach and other great wars. Most of these kids overseas filled fuel tanks and guarded safe zones , on this military conflict. Most of these kids could not find a job and don't have one now , and will be in the the same unemployable shape.

[evaryman]

Well Sir, from your post I assume you served our country in one of the "great wars", & due to time constraints it had to be our 2nd. My Uncle Hugh, a simple cotton farmers son, fought in WWI, he honored all veterans through out his life.  His only nephew was covered as dead 4 times on Normandy.  He returned to us a double amputee, but he returned & was honored by his family for a tremendous sacrifice. My own Father, an immigrant to this country, was twice drafted during the 2nd great conflict.  He never talked of what he did, but he taught me to honor all returning veterans. Uncle Hugh had only one son & he served in Korea & became a career soldier, he was honored by his Father, his cousin & my Father as a hero who, although his job wasn't as dramatic as that of his Father & cousin was indeed most important to maintaining the peace that we each enjoyed daily.
Earl served on the Yorktown for 3 long years, he had a dramatic job, he was a tail gunner on a hell diver. Toward the end of his life he spoke to me of being eye to eye with a Japenese soldier & each saluting the other as the "dog-fight" began. Earl's son served in Vietnam, & although his job surely wasn't as gripping as that of his Father, his Father honored him & all soldiers serving our country. 
The veterans I have mentioned honored all women & men doing what it takes to maintain peace & a safe society. 
We were very close with Earl & his wife for over 30 years.  In all of those years I heard him, like my Father & Uncle, only speak with respect & appreciation for each & every person who has served.

It is my belief, that you Sir, unlike the young Doughboy, tail gunner, the double amputee, the Korean Conflict veteran or my own nephew who spent a year in harms way in Iraq & another in Afghanistan, lack an understanding of what is necessary for military operations to be successful.

What you seem unaware of is the necessity of- EACH PERSON DOING THEIR JOB!

Yes, those who have & will serve to protect our peace are, in my opinion, Hero's.