None More American ... Finding Inspiration From Within

I wasn't sure what to write today ... so I scrolled through my personal Facebook page to find my inspiration. One of my Fort Meade neighbors posted a video from NONE MORE AMERICAN: ARMY FOOTBALL IN POST 9/11 AMERICA - check out this clip.

I'll lay me down and bleed awhile,

Then I'll rise and fight again.

The clip includes an interview with Army veteran Greg Gadson. From his bio with APB Speakers (link),

A 25-year career Army officer, Col. Gadson’s life is a portrait of courage in the face of great adversity. In May 2007, as commander of the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery, Col. Gadson’s greatest challenge came in Iraq, where an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack cost him both legs above the knees and normal use of his right arm and hand. Despite this, Col. Gadson remained on active duty in the Army and continued to inspire many with his message of courage, perseverance, determination and teamwork. Refusing to be defined by his severe and permanent injuries, he has continued to draw upon the lessons of Pride, Poise and Team, learned as a West Point linebacker, and apply them to his life, career and family.

During the summer of 2007, my neighbor asked me to help her coordinate activities for two children of an injured soldier - his family would be relocating from Fort Riley, KS to Washington, DC, during his recovery at Walter Reed Army Hospital.

My neighbor and I raised the funds for several sports camps for the soldier's two children. Our rationale was if the family was busy, then the soldier could focus on his own recovery. My children, in elementary school at the time, met the soldier - Greg Gadson - at my neighbor's house; he walked using his hands. It did not phase them. They were more interested in his service dog.

Then football season started. From ESPN (link),

Gadson played outside linebacker at West Point. In the summer of 1985, he met Mike Sullivan, a defensive back. Fast-forward 22 years later to when Sullivan was the receivers coach for Giants coach Tom Coughlin. Sullivan had lost track of Gadson, who served in the Gulf War, the Balkans and Afghanistan, but heard about his injuries through former Army teammates. Sullivan visited Gadson at Walter Reed, bringing with him a Giants jersey with Gadson's name and the No. 98 he wore at Army. On departing, Sullivan asked whether there was anything else he could.

"Well," Gadson said, "when you guys come to town, I would love to see you play."

As it turned out, the 0-2 Giants needed Gadson more than he needed them. On the Saturday before the Sept. 23 game with the Washington Redskins, Gadson was invited by Coughlin to address the team.

"I just spoke from the heart, as a soldier and a former football player," Gadson explained. "I talked to them about appreciating the opportunities in their lives, how special and privileged they were."

The Giants trailed 17-3 at the half, and their season seemed over. But New York rallied to score three unanswered touchdowns in the second half and, with a rousing last-minute stop after the Redskins had a first-and-goal at the 1-yard line, escaped with a 24-17 victory. It was the turning point of a championship season, and, as it unfolded, the Giants acknowledged their debt to the lieutenant colonel who inspired them.

The Giants won the Super Bowl for the 2007/2008 season with Greg on the sidelines. That's ten months from a road side bomb in Iraq to being a special guest at the Super Bowl.

During the 2008 RT Booklovers' Convention in Pittsburgh, I hosted the SOS Military Tribute. Fabio made a special appearance (you can see his hair over my husband's shoulder, right).  George Small, spouse of beloved author Bertrice Small, attended in his original WWII uniform (left, he landed on Omaha Beach).  A soldier's mother shared how making quilts for injured soldiers helped with her own grief for her son who made the ultimate sacrifice - there wasn't a dry eye in the room.

I also invited the Steelers to send a representative to the tribute - their mascot, Steely McBeam, came to cheer us on (middle). Steely happened to be a Navy Veteran.  It seemed appropriate that I share the story of how I helped the Giants win the Super Bowl: I helped Greg's kids; he was then focused on recovery; he inspired the Giants out of their 0-2 slump; the Giants won the Super Bowl.

Guess who won the Super Bowl the next year? The Steelers ... maybe it was my connection to Steely McBeam.

Four years later, in 2012, I was sitting in the movie theater on Pearl Harbor, watching BATTLESHIP - enter Greg Gadson as wounded warrior Mick Canales who is ensnared in the alien invasion of Oahu. He tells his physcial therapist, Sam, "Let see if we can buy the earth another day".

I watch that movie EVERY time it is broadcast on FX ... Greg reminds me that we may be down, but we are never out.

I hope you find inspiration this weekend.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City