What is it really about?

I had the privilege of officiating a dual meet between Mac Williams and Grays Creek middle schools in Cumberland County. There were four preliminary bouts all but one held to the customary 1 minute periods. One prelim was wrestled with 30 second periods. This was to allow a disadvantaged wrestler the opportunity to compete. This Grays Creek wrestler was very excited to take the mat, his opponent did not appear to be as enthused. The match went three periods with the Grays Creek competitor scoring all the offensive points. Ankle bands were taken off, and the hand was raised in victory. A truly heart felt "YES!" could be heard as the wrestlers went to shake the coaches' hands.

I missed an opportunity yesterday, one that I hope I have the opportunity to not miss again. I wish I had stopped the Mac Williams wrestler as he left the mat, shook his hand one more time and said, "Smile. You should be proud of what you just did. Because what you just did makes you a winner off the mat and on the mat. And ultimately, we want our young people to wrestle so they can be great human beings off the mat."

I have had the honor of meeting many great humans in my forty-eight years on this planet. Yesterday, I met one more.

~Marty

The Stars and Stripes

Image from this site tattoo by Marc Durrant

Yesterday afternoon I stood on the edge of a middle school wrestling mat in a modified position of attention, right hand over my heart, gazing upward to the center of the gymnasium at our nation's flag as our national anthem played. I thought about the middle schools and other schools that do not play our national anthem, say the Pledge of Allegiance, or honor the flag in some other way before athletic competition. I thought about the schools that did not do this but now do simply because I asked them if they were going to play the national anthem. And I smiled. And then my thoughts turned to the flag itself and what it represents. The United States of America, progress, freedom, sanctuary... thousands upon thousands who have and will make the ultimate sacrifice...not for a flag or even this country but for what this country represents and for each of us. Please dwell on that for a moment or two, close your eyes and reflect on what our nation's flag means to you. Ask yourself, is that not worthy of three minutes of honor? And the next time a school does not take the opportunity to render that honor, please ask them to do so next time.

~Peace