patriots corner
Patriots Corner by American Patriot and American Veteran , Benton J . Lovoi Jr . U . S . N . football stadium on veterans day 2017
This article does not necessarily represent the opinion of Thunder Roads Louisiana Magazine or its staff .
Veterans Day 2017 has passed . Many veterans , myself included , decided to boycott the NFL football games . This past Sunday I sat down in my chair and turned on the television , and the football game was about to start . And I thought what the heck ? No one cares if I choose to boycott the game . No one knows that I was boycotting anyway .
While waiting on the game to start , I grabbed my phone to look at social media and I came across a post on face book from my co staff member , Renee Harrall ( co publisher of this magazine ). I saw that she was currently in San Diego at Camp Pendleton to visit with her son who is an active duty Marine .
I sat there looking at the picture of Renee with her son , and I was dazed for a few seconds . As I looked at the picture , and read her post filled with pride and honor , I realized that ’ s why I was boycotting . That ’ s why I was going to turn off the TV . Here was a woman visiting her son who chose to join the military . And some mothers can only mourn theirs . So I did turn off the TV , and did some work in the garage and hung out with my family . Not caring what was going on with the game . No one outside of my family knew that I took a “ knee to football ”.
As for me not watching football , it really does not matter to the NFL . And ME not watching a football game matters nothing to the network . And no Military branch or personnel knew I took a “ knee to football ”. I did it because of the men and women overseas and here that are away from their families defending our freedom . It was about seeing my friend Renee going all the way to San Diego to visit her son that woke me up . I almost said hell , no one cares whether I watch football or not but as I sat in that chair looking at those pictures it hit me . I care . I care about our heroes . Especially the ones overseas and far from home .
I called the local radio station the next day during a call in talk show to see how many players took a knee . Of course they would not talk to me so I texted the station and used some politically incorrect words to describe the rich spoiled , self entitled players . The local radio personality texted back and said that no players took a knee . I went on to say it ’ s amazing how our local football team can have a good game and it seems all of their antics are forgotten by the media . They forget or simply don ’ t care about our vets and I also told the radio personality he had no honor . Which may have been a little much but it is what it is . I decided to contact Renee , and ask her if I could mention how her posts of her son and father on social media that day had inspired me . She initially said no , not wanting to bring any spotlight to her son for fear of retaliation on social media , and because her son was not a “ spotlight person ”. But after I told her how her post about being loyal , staying true to her beliefs , and as a mother and daughter of heroes , inspired me to “ take a knee ”; she finally agreed .
Some people say that the players have a right to take a knee and they do , but NOT while they are being paid to throw a football , and not while they are actually playing the game . I ’ m not going into the misconstrued BS reason they are protesting . What I will say is the flag represents freedom , honor pride , ( Honor ), and many sacrifices and deaths for what it stands for . Yeah I
8 Thunder Roads Magazine Louisiana / Mississippi | December 2017 | www . thunderroadslams . com
know I wrote honor twice because it is that important . Honor … some have it some don ’ t .
To and for all of the mothers , fathers , sisters , and brothers who can ’ t visit their loved one because they gave all , I “ take a knee ” to the NFL . To all the mothers , fathers , sisters , Brothers who have to wait until their loved one comes home from a war or conflict , I take a knee to the NFL . To all of our hero ’ s that did not make it home . I “ take a knee ” to the NFL . To the son of Renee Harrall , Sergeant Brayden Reynolds United States Marine Corps … a young man who chooses to defend the flag and America I “ take a knee ” to the NFL . To Renee Harrall ’ s father Eldon Harrall Sr ., a Purple Heart Veteran who re-enlisted after he was shot in Korea . I “ take a knee ” to the NFL . To the late Russell Hebert Sr . a man who flew a B-17 flying fortress over Japan after the big one was dropped I “ take a knee ” to the NFL . To our entire hero ’ s here and overseas I take a knee to the NFL . To all American Veterans everywhere , I “ take a knee ” to the NFL ...
Merry Christmas to all of you American hero ’ s around the world . I pray for your safe return and God Bless you , and God Bless America .