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Football Officiating => General Discussion => Topic started by: Ralph Damren on November 11, 2013, 08:45:00 AM
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The Veterans Day Parade will be passing by shortly and a special memory of a veteran from our chapter is rekindled. Several years ago Jeff's National Guard unit was activated and deployed to Iraq . During the season we kept in touch with Jeff via Email and his wife, Lori. We invited Lori to our annual "Referee's Prom" -a banquet night with the wives, where we gave her a doz. roses. She in turn brought a lifesize poster of Jeff that the military supplies to families with children (they had a 6 yr old girl). We all toasted Jeff's poster and asked Lori to inform us when his troop plane was scheduled to return. On a cold, snowy February worknight, Lori called . Jeff's unit was returning at midnight!!! A "telephone tree" had been arranged, calls were made, cars were shoveled off AND at midnight 23 chapter members (we had approx 35 at the time) had gathered at the airport!!! Jeff was overwhelmed with our response. The following season, Jeff was back on the field with us. Coaches' votes play an important part of choosing officials for the championship games and Jeff was chosen to work his first championship game with a huge coach support. The Maine Principals' Association supplies 7 balls for each game with three going to each team and one to the officials. We then usually have a raffle for the ball, but there was to be no raffle that day as Jeff's crewmates (none from our chapter) all voted to give the ball to Jeff. I took a moment before posting this to call Jeff and thank him for serving his country. Thank you for taking time to read this and please take the time to call a vet and thank him/her.....God Bless America :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon:
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+1,000 :thumbup
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:bOW to all our our Veterans
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Words are insufficient, but I'm adding mine anyway -- THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE! FlAg1
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God bless all the vets
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Amen. Words cannot express my gratitude to those who have sacrificed their time, and in too many cases their lives, so that we can do what we do.
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To all our vets- FlAg1 tiphat: :bOW :patrioticon: ^good sNiCkErS
Ralph, the NCHSAA gives each championship official an autograph ball replica of the official game ball (Wilson). It is stamped with the state logo and year. Might be something to look into.
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To all our vets- FlAg1 tiphat: :bOW :patrioticon: ^good sNiCkErS
Ralph, the NCHSAA gives each championship official an autograph ball replica of the official game ball (Wilson). It is stamped with the state logo and year. Might be something to look into.
HL - The MPA supplies one ball per game along with programs for all officials (13, as we have 4 for chain crew & 2 for clock) who then get everyone to sign. Our Maine Football Officials Assoc. gives personal coffee mugs to each field official that has name, position, date and class level.`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
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With tomorrow being Veterans Day, I wanted to bring back a topic from yesteryear..... :please take a moment to phone and thank a Vet tomorrow, I plan to again call Jeff from the OP.... :patrioticon:. Please spend a few minutes and watch your local parade go by,please remove your hat each time Ole' Glory passes (a lost art)...... :patrioticon: Please say a silent prayer for all the Vets that served and the many that paid the ultimate sacrifice...... :patrioticon: Please be thankful for being an American :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon:
(See guys, I'm not totally demented :)) :patrioticon:
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Rekindling a prior message, please take a moment tomorrow to call and thank a vet, and thank you if you are also a vet. We owe them / you a lot. Please give them a moment of thanks....
:patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon:
THANK YOU, VETERANS
GOD BLESS THE USA.....
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:patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon:
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While we're at it, I'll thank the vets from both my adopted country, and my home country. My dad gave four years of his life to the Royal Canadian Air Force.
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Once again it's the day to thank our veterans. Please take a moment to phone and thank a veteran. Then have a moment of reflection for those brave veterans that are no longer with us. Please take a moment to phone a family member and share memories of your family members that bravely fought for our beloved country. The Veterans Day Parade will be passing in front of my office soon (that's why I'm in today) and I'll be on the sidewalk as Ole' Glory :patrioticon: and the proud, brave remaining veterans march by. I'll be reminiscing of my days as a "micro-bopper" standing pradeside with my grandfather (WW I- Doughboy), my dad (WW II-PT boat) and uncle (WW II -101st Airborne). I was taught back then to remove my hat as Ole' Glory passed (small parade flags excluded) and continue that today. My hat today reads : "Make America Great Again". IMHO, today we are neither Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, Whigs or whatever; we are Americans and lets stand proud....
GOD BLESS OUR BRAVE VETERANS :patrioticon: :patrioticon:
GOD BLESS AMERICA :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon:
The color purple is the mix of red and blue...remember election night.
:patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon:
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FOR TOMMORROW....
FOR THE VETS....
THANK YOU!!!
:patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon:(7-MAN CREW)
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tiphat: :bOW :patrioticon:
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Dear forum friends :
5 AM- EST Bangor,Maine,USA...when I'm up this early I usually turn to NESN (New England Sports Network) to view the highlights of Sox/Pats/Celts/Bruins. Today was different, for in Paris, France, it wasTHE ELEVENTH HOUR OF THE ELVENTH DAY OF THE ELEVENTH MONTH. 71 world leaders had gathered to pay homage on the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. While many parades and celebrations will be held tomorrow, please take a moment to remember your family members that served our country - some at the ultimate cost. Try to find time today to call a Vet and thank him/her for their service. I'm phoning Jeff (the Vet in the OP) and both thank him for his service and congratulate him on receiving a state championship - he's still active. If you served our country, my heartfelt thanks,
:patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: :patrioticon: (seven man crew)
The demented side of me wants to remind all of the 1918 World Series champ - Boston Red Sox - star pitcher :Babe Ruth ;D
Now that I'm in a patriotic mood, it's time to return home and watch THE PATRIOTS FlAg1 !!
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First of all let me say that I don't need thanked. The ones that need remembered are those that didn't make it back. I think that if you ask any combat veteran they will say, "I was just doing my job." as well as "You don't let your buddies down.....and I have always felt that anyone serving honorably, or having served honorably, is my buddy.
I flew 180 some combat missions in the F-4 over SEA. When I returned home it was just another day. I was not personally criticized, harassed or otherwise openly maligned. No thanks needed or expected. I was just doing my job.
After Just Cause (AC-130), in Panama, I returned home around midnight, got a ride to the house, and went to bed. My wife/daughter had gone north to celebrate Christmas with family. Again, I was just doing my job.
Upon returning from Saudi (AC-130) things had changed. When we landed in Keflavik (Iceland) we were greeted by a lot of people welcoming us home. We next landed at Pease AFB to refuel and for some reason we were parked well away from Base Ops. Our transportation from the aircraft to Base Ops was also delayed to the point that we thought that transportation didn't know we were there. When the buses did arrive we were driven to a large hangar and escorted inside. The place was full of people that had gathered to welcome us home. It was totally unexpected. I know my thought was that we're no heroes. We were just doing the job we were trained to do.
View the video and the pic and you will see true heroes. The rest of us were just doing our job.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WXiZ3wz2Zs
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We recently lost a fellow official (retired), who was also a Marine veteran, awarded the Bronze Star for his gallantry in the Vietnam War. He once related to me the events that led to that award. Very intense. Not at all glamorous. But, he did what he had to do to save his fellow Marines, and he did.
The service brought me to tears. Two active duty Marines ceremoniously unfurled our national flag and held it aloft while taps was played. Then they ceremoniously folded the flag back into the triangle, and one of them presented the flag to his widow, on behalf of the President (and all true Americans), and with the slow, dignified salute due such a real and true American hero.
A really good, decent family man. A friend.
Thank you, to each and every veteran, past, present and future.
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I served in the Marine Corps and am certainly appreciative of the kind words but as others have said it was just a job. I am certainly not a hero in anyones imagination. My H on my crew was a part of Operation Rhino as an Army Ranger. You can google that for the details. He has scars all over his body and I am not sure how he is able to walk with all the bullet hole scars on his legs. You would not even notice as he has full physical function. We owe a great deal of thanks to all the men and women who are in the medical fields who have helped so many people come home alive. Above all we thank God for providing our true freedom. :patrioticon:
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Thank you guys for your heartfelt responses. OSU65, your account of arrival at Pease AFB rekindled warm memories. As the First Gulf War ended, it was announced that one of the first returning troop planes would be landing at Bangor International the following morning at 6 AM to refuel. I arrived there at 5:30 and the airport was packed. 1000's of members of American Legion and VFW members along with a local high school band that was busily setting up as we were notified that the plane had just landed! Some flights are on time :). The first off the plane was a large Army Ranger. He strolled over to the, yet to be ready, band and asked the sax player if he could borrow her instrument for the first song. What followed was a great job of Our Star Spangled Banner and there wasn't a dry eye in the airport,
What had began that morning as a brief moment quickly sprang into a strong tradition. Ever since the landing schedules were announced of both incoming and outbound troop planes were announced. A "troop greeter" organization was formed, and to this day are attentive to every arrival. We were soon to learn that the Army Ranger was Sgt. Tillman. He and his family have returned to Bangor several times since and has been the Grand Marshal of our Independence Day Parade.
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A former crewmate who passed a few years ago was a retired E9 Force Recon Marine. Vietnam and several other conflicts, Silver star, 2x pruple hearts, 2x bronze stars. I read the narratives for the silver & bronze star awards. - not light reading.
His last gig was SoComm at MacDill in Tampa.
Each time someone said thanks for his service he looked a tad embarassed & always said "thank you, but I volunteered." - I never understood it.
One story about him: He was H & an asst coach was giving him a bit of an earfull. For whatever reason the Asst coach said something along the lines of "...when I was a Capt in the Army blah, blah.."
He whipped around, went toe-to-toe with the guy, looked him up & down and then said, "I'm a Master Gunnary Sgt in the Marine Corps. I out rank you, so don't try and pull rank on me." - and then just turned around and went about his business. The Asst coach did about the same.
Another crewmate was ex-military too and had a good laugh at that. After the game since I'm not military I had to ask: how can an NCO out rank an officer?
He asked: how long does it take to make Capt?
Me: I dont know, 7 years
Him: fair enough. How long does it take to make E9?
Me: I dont know, 25 years?
Him: I salute birds and stars.
The other crewmate had another little laugh, but I 'got it'.
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…..JUST AN EXAMPLE OF "FRIENDSHIPS DEVELOPED" THAT I MENTIONED IN THE "WHY I GOT INTO OFFICIATING" TOPIC...
FlAg1 tiphat: tiphat: tiphat: tiphat: tiphat: FlAg1