I’m sure that these players have thought about their decisions. There have been many responses to these actions by the players. Now our national anthem and the teams entering the field are not being shown during most NFL games.
What I noticed last week was the much larger celebration of Veterans Day. I think that we have heard so much arguing from so many people who feel that they are right and that everyone else is wrong that a lot of people are looking for more ways to say good things to fellow Americans more often.
I was so impressed by my Facebook friends who posted pictures and/or short stories of themselves or close family members in military uniforms. Most of us know people who have been injured or lost their lives while serving our country. I will always remember and honor Stuart Ernhart, a former Southport High School classmate of mine who died in January 1966 while serving in Vietnam. I didn’t know him well, but I remember him as an accomplished chess player.
For several years I have remembered to wear my military-issued dog tag on Veterans Day. I want to thank everyone who has served our country; I hope they all had a wonderful day.
On Veterans Day evening, my wife, Lyn, and our neighbor Alice Ragsdale went to the Greenwood Stacked Pickle to listen to Carly Brooke sing before an energetic crowd. Carly and her family were back in Indianapolis to celebrate Carly’s 16th birthday. We sang happy birthday to her and enjoyed a slice of cake.
My good friend and high school classmate Robert “Bob” Rosebrock has been trying to help homeless veterans in Los Angeles for a long time. He has been involved in more than 500 consecutive rallies on Sundays. They are working to improve housing accommodations for homeless veterans. It’s sad that he needs to position himself against the Veterans Administration to support local veterans. Because of his involvement in this cause, he hasn’t been able to get back to Indianapolis for a visit or to attend a class reunion.
The Southsider Voice published a special Veterans Day edition last week. I felt honored that I was asked to answer some questions about my time in the military and to provide a photo. I received several nice complements about the edition.
After I saw that many of my Facebook friends posted their military photos, I posted my photo, which showed me standing in our driveway in my dress uniform. I was home on a short leave before reporting for training at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. I felt so honored that almost 100 of my friends commented or liked my photo.
Shonk is a 1960 graduate of Southport High School, a ’63 grad of Indiana Central College (now the University of Indianapolis) and a retired bus driver from Beech Grove Schools.