On Friday, September, 4th and Tuesday, September, 8th, the Waldron community celebrated this year’s senior Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs. The sports that were recognized were Band, Golf, Cheer, Cross Country, Volleyball, and Football. Almost 40 senior student-athletes were present to stand in the spotlight one last time for the final stretch of their high school sports journey. A journey that will be over before you know it. A journey where after high school, you should follow your dreams and stay true to yourself. Never follow someone else’s path. Unless you are wandering aimlessly in the woods and you see a path. Then, by all accounts, you should follow that.
Your kitchen is a place of gathering and tranquility. In this room, families and friends are brought together to enjoy delicious meals. It’s also a place for expression. Just like any other room in your home, your kitchen can be a place to express yourself and your style. Over time, however, this space begins to fade out and a desperate makeover becomes a necessity. If this sounds familiar, keep reading to get some inspiration and tips for revamping your kitchen.
Don’t Be Afraid To Get Messy
Paint can be your best friend or your worst enemy, depending on how confident you are in your painting skills. But, when it comes to revamping your kitchen, you’re going to want to lose your fear of getting messy. Painting can be the ultimate tool for bringing your kitchen back to life. Your old cabinets can transform into something straight out of a home renovation magazine. The internet is filled with information that can make the job easier if you’ve never refinished cabinets before.
Change Things Up
Once you have freshly painted cabinets, you’re going to want to change things up. The smallest details in your kitchen can make the biggest changes in appearance. Change things up to give your kitchen a brand-new look by switching out the knobs on your cabinets and drawers. This is a small detail, but it will allow you to really set the tone for your kitchen. The options are endless, so be sure to find the perfect paint and knob combination for your cabinets and drawers.
Bring in Nature
If your kitchen wasn’t so bright to begin with, consider adding more natural elements into the room. This can be done in various ways, and there’s no better time to do it than now when you’re revamping your kitchen’s look. Consider adding some plants or flowers to your kitchen. These can be placed in vases or hung around, depending on what kinds of flowers or plants you’re going for.
If you’re not good at keeping flowers alive, adding fake plants and flowers can also bring in the charm your kitchen has been missing. If there’s a window in your kitchen, consider keeping the blinds open. Opening the window in your kitchen can be a great way to give your kitchen a fresh and clean look and smell. Bringing in more natural elements to your kitchen will give it the new life and look it’s been desperately needing.
Sometimes, the smallest changes can make the biggest difference. Following these simple three tips for revamping your kitchen will be sure to give it a brand-new life without emptying out your pockets.
Waldron Police Department Detective Horacio Gonzalez will tell you, everyone has a story, you just have to listen. That God gifted spirit led him to his calling.
Gonzalez, born in Mexico to parents Horacio Sr. and Maria, moved to California when he was little more than two weeks old. His parents were both permanent residents of the United States, and hard working agriculture laborers. Gonzalez recalled his childhood: “My parents labored very hard seven days a week, and I saw the hardship. When I was 13, I went to help work in the fields, hoeing cotton, raking almonds and picking grapes. I eventually dropped out of school to go work in the agriculture industry like my parents.”
Gonzalez reflected on the memories, including the good food with co-laborers, with what he described as the best tasting bean tacos. “I remember sometimes we would put the hood of our car up for shade, or lay under the vehicle. I was lucky my dad had a 4×4 and it sat up pretty high. Sometimes if I had five minutes left on break, I would take a nap and use an empty soda can as a pillow.”
Later, his family, including his two siblings, Omar and Veronica, moved to South Texas. The family found it difficult to find work. Extended family, located in Arkansas, saw a newspaper advertisement for employment at Tyson. Gonzalez’ parents, and siblings moved to Waldron, and the 18 year old stayed behind. “My cousin Eddie Morin encouraged me to go back to school and get my GED. There was a school in Edinburg, Texas that provided room and board, the University of Texas-Pan America.”
In 1995, after completing his GED, Gonzalez joined his family in Waldron and began working at Tyson. Gonzalez would eventually move back to California and marry his wife of 24 years, Juanita.
In 2005, church parishioner and famed Bulldog announcer Fritz Morales pulled Gonzalez aside, “he asked me what I thought about law enforcement. I told him I was good. At Tyson we had bathrooms, a microwave and running water. Way more than what we had working in the agriculture industry ( field work).” Gonzalez did offer to serve as a translator for the growing Hispanic community. Morales set up a meeting with then Sheriff, Cody Carpenter. “I remembered to make a good impression, you needed to have a firm handshake and look someone in the eye. I practiced doing that in front of a mirror.”
Although his career wasn’t to be with the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Gonzalez would find his path with the City of Waldron Police Department. “A few days after I visited with the Sheriff, I received a call from then Captain David Millard. They were starting a Reserve program, and wanted to know if I would be interested.”
After learning of the qualifications for the program, Gonzalez knew it was not going to be an easy path forward. “I was not a U.S. citizen at that time,” Gonzalez stated. “I was a permanent resident, but I knew the citizenship program was a long and expensive one.” Gonzalez visited with the Priest at his church, St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church. “Father Neil Pezzulo gave me an envelope with $700 inside and told me to go get my citizenship. He said that was his gift to me and my family, to be able to better myself.”
He started his concurrent journey on the path to citizenship and reserve classes at the Waldron Police Department. Gonzalez was concerned about the length of time it would take to become an official U.S. citizen. “What I didn’t know until later was that Chief Millard had written a letter to immigration on my behalf. I will never be able to repay him for that.”
It wasn’t long after that, Gonzalez received a phone call from immigration asking if he was ready to take the naturalization test. “The standard process takes a long time,” added Gonzalez. “Normally there is a ceremony with 100’s of people who are given a little flag, administered an oath, and sworn in as U.S. citizens.” Gonzalez passed the exam, and was immediately sworn in. “It is just amazing how everything fell into place. The education, the training, everything. It was just God.”
That’s why when people ask me what got me into law enforcement, I tell them God did.
-Waldron Police Detective Horacio Gonzalez
Following his stint as a reserve officer, Gonzalez began working on patrol. It wasn’t long until Chief Millard asked if he would be interested in working in narcotics. Gonzalez took a lengthy course at the Springdale Police Department, a program offered through the Criminal Justice Institute. “It was a chance to further better myself. I became a certified narcotics officer and K-9 officer.”
Gonzalez would then be promoted to Detective as he continued his education, as a crime scene technician, and later, as an advanced crime scene technician. “I love the detective and investigation work and I still work narcotics when I can.”
Gonzalez, now 45, utilizes his God given gifts and personal hardships as tools to relate to those he comes into contact with. “I’ve never met a drug addict that likes to be a drug addict,” shared Gonzalez. “I listen to their story and try to relate to them in some way…People just want to be heard and understood and God gave me that ability.”
His offering of dignity and respect has gained the esteem of many, even those whom he’s arrested.
Gonzalez has seen the best and the worst in people, yet he still believes in humanity. Why? Because of his faith. “I pray before I go to a crime scene, and ask for guidance,” Gonzalez added. “God put me here, I have no doubt about it.”
The Gonzalez’ have three daughters, Brenda, Ariana, and Annaly. Brenda, the oldest, holds a BSN in nursing and works in the emergency room. Ariana, 19, is in college and is pursuing a career in teaching. The youngest, Annaly, is 13 and is a student at Waldron Middle School. His wife Juanita serves as an ESL Paraprofessional at the Waldron School District. “We are all in the helping business,” concluded Gonzalez.
He often reflects back, or as he calls it, “rewinding the tape.” The years, most people would deem as difficult, was to him, Divine direction. “It’s been a beautiful life,” Gonzalez shared. “I learned the value of a dollar, morals, and ethics…all I ever wanted to do is to pass that on to my kids, raise them right, die and go to heaven.”
Since the Lady Eagles lone loss to Fort Smith Southside on August 27, Paris has rolled off four straight wins in conference play. The latest being another conference route, this time at the hands of the Lincoln Lady Wolves. Paris (6-1, 4-0) will now travel to Hackett on Thursday to face last year’s Class 2A state champions and this year’s new power in the Class 3A West. It will be a huge test for a young Lady Eagles team to play an experienced state champion on their home floor. Eagles fans can be assured that Hackett coach Bridget Freeman will have her team primed and ready to go for the match with Paris that will be for the conference lead.
Paris has not been tested since the loss to Class 7A Southside in Fort Smith. Booneville made some noise in the third set against Paris last week, but in the end, the Lady Eagles still swept the match. So far in conference play, there has been an apparent gap between Hackett, Paris, and the rest of the conference. The Lady Eagles are yet to play Waldron and West Fork, but it seems at this point that Hackett and Paris may be the two teams that will fight it out for the championship and the top seed in the district tournament. Thursday’s match in Hackett should be a good one and will be as good if not better than many of the matches that will be held later in the state tournament.
The Paris front line will be tested against Hackett. The Lady Hornetts have a tradition built by coach Bridget Freeman that includes hard-hitting front line players and a scrappy defense that flies after every ball. Every point will be contested, and the Lady Eagles will have to turn up their intensity to match the energy that the Lady Hornetts will bring in front of their home crowd. In short, it should be a classic between two great programs, and if you like high school volleyball, you will not want to miss this one.
Hackett Won Last Year’s Class 2A State Championship (Resident Press File Photo)
Paris senior Lauren Earle was honored in a special pre-game senior night ceremony as the only Paris senior volleyball player on this year’s team. After the ceremony and playing in the Lady Eagles victory over Lincoln, I asked Lauren what it was like playing on senior night. Lauren said, “It feels good. I am glad I got to be a part of it tonight; it’s like every night.” When I asked her if playing tonight brought back memories of when she started in the program, she said, ” Yes, it seems like it has gone by really fast.” I asked Lauren if she was focused on getting ready for Hackett, she replied, “Yeah, we’re trying to prepare for that one. It is going to be a really good game.”
For Lauren Earle, she has a lot of volleyball left to play this season. She and her Lady Eagles teammates have a big test in front of them on Thursday, but for the loser of this game, the season is not over. The rematch in Paris is set for October 6, and both Thursday’s match and the October 6 match may determine first and second place in the conference and in the conference tournament seedings. If the teams split the two game series, the remainder of the conference schedule will become even more important as tie-breakers begin to come into play to determine tournament seedings. Of course, the ultimate goal for both programs is to win a state title, and the higher seed both programs can achieve going into the state tournament, the better or more advantageous their pathway will be to a potential appearance in the state finals. After Thursday’s match in Hackett, we will know a lot more about both teams.
So, volleyball fans, the first game in Hackett on Thursday starts at 4 p.m. Seventh grade, Jr. A, Senior JV, and Senior A matches are scheduled. It should be a barn burner, and I recommend that you get there early to get a seat.
And Resident Press will be there to bring you all of the action! Stay with Resident Press for the most comprehensive coverage of River Valley volleyball!
Clyde Bruce Tanner, better known as Bruce, of Waldron, Arkansas passed from this life, Sunday, September 6, 2020, in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Bruce was born December 16, 1944, in Fort Smith, Arkansas to Alton J. Tanner and Betty J. (Crutchfield) Tanner. He was 75 years old.
At a young age, Bruce joined the United States Air Force. He proudly served from 1963-1966. Bruce later joined the ranks of being a United States postal worker. He started in Waldron and then held Postmaster positions in Parks and Mansfield before retiring. He was also a First Responder and the Fire Chief at Winfield VFD. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved being in the country. He wore a lot of different hats but none made him prouder than that of Papa. He loved his family, spending time with them was priceless.
Bruce leaves behind to cherish his memory, his loving wife, Tonya of the home, one daughter, Melanie Tanner, one son, Dale Tanner and one step son, Eddy Kliewer and one brother, Gary Tanner all of Waldron, Arkansas. Papa will forever remain in the hearts of his grandchildren: Megan Rogers, Tanna Rogers both of Waldron, Arkansas, Krystin Hutchens of Booneville, Arkansas, Kallie Tanner of Dallas, Texas, Chance Tanner of Waldron, Arkansas, Tatum Tanner of Rogers, Arkansas and Trista Davis of Witcherville, Arkansas as well as 10 great grandchildren. Bruce will be missed by all that knew him and the many whose lives he impacted, including a host of extended family, friends and loved ones.
Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, Alton and Betty Tanner and one aunt, Dean Brown.
Bruce’s graveside life celebration will be 2:00 p.m., Thursday, September 10, 2020, at the Sehorn Cemetery near Waldron, Arkansas with Bro. Travis May officiating. Interment will follow. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.
Bruce’s pallbearers will be Butch Sims, John Charles Nelson, Bill Brown, Jerry Bob Metcalf, Duane Blackmon and Trevor Watkins.
Bruce’s visitation will be Wednesday, September 9, 2020 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Clyde Bruce Tanner, please visit our floral store.
The Battle of Highway 71 has been a rivalry staple in the area for decades. Unfortunately, Waldron has seen the short side of the stick more often than not. Going into last Friday’s game against Mansfield, the Bulldogs had only won two of those games since 2006. That was then though, and this is now. With the Bulldogs playing with a new head coach and a new attitude, they were ready to give back some of what the Tigers had handed them over the years. And boy did they. With a final blow-out score of 41-0, Waldron sits undefeated in 2-0 in total season play.
For senior night, the Bulldogs completed 230 offensive yards and 93 defensive yards. When it came to interceptions, Braden Williams earned 2, and Caden Fuller, Trevor Hunt, and Bryson Barker each walked away with 1. Matthew Tegtmeyer was the leading tackler with 7. Williams completed 7/8 passes for 111-yards. Isaac “The Real” Villarreal was the leading receiver in the match with 2 receptions for 73-yards and 2 TDs. Bryson Bailey secured 2 passes and 2 TDs. Fuller also scored 2 passes as well as a TD. And Matt Brigance had the last TD by rushing.
Coach, Doug Powell had this to say about hitting the jackpot. “I felt good going into the game. I thought that we would be in good shape as long as we executed our assignments. We felt like we had a good concept of what they wanted to do, and a scheme to use against it. The guys did a great job executing and as a result, we made some big plays. The biggest thing to keep Mansfield from scoring was great tackling. The first guy did a good job staying wrapped up and the second guy helped limit additional yards.”
The Waldron Bulldogs not only beat their Scott County rivals but also matched their win total from last season with the victory over Mansfield. It may take a while for the rest of the state to notice, but Waldron football is on the rise and with other teams in the Bulldogs conference struggling in non-conference play, Waldron could be poised to make some noise in 2020. The Bulldogs will have this week to rest up before hosting the Atkins Devils on September 18th.
The Mansfield Jr High Lady Tigers are only a small portion of the way into their volleyball season and yet already finding their footing very nicely in the 2A. With a roster as jam-packed with talent as the Jr Lady Tigers, there’s only one way to go, and that’s up. Last week Mansfield went one-on-one with non-conference rivals, the Waldron Jr Lady Bulldogs as well as fellow conference competitors the Lavaca Jr Lady Arrows.
#6 Harlie Fuller
After taking the 2-0 “Dub” in their match with Waldron, the Jr Lady Tigers walked away with final set scores of 25-16 and 26-24. Cole Smith completed the game with 6 aces, 4 kills, 5 assists, and 1 dig. Harlie Fuller hauled in 4 aces, 9 assists, and 1 dig. Kaylee Ward captured 2 aces, 4 kills, 2 blocks, and 1 dig. Alyson Edwards landed 7 kills, 1 block, and 4 digs. Kynslee Ward pocketed 1 ace, 2 kills, and 5 digs. And Rachel Johnson raked in 4 aces, 2 kills, and 3 digs.
#12 Rachel Johnson and #23 Alyson Edwards
To close out the week, Mansfield unshackled any restraint they might have had and let loose on Lavaca leaving the Lady Tigers holding a 4-0 record. Cole Smith finished with 4 aces, 1 kill, and 11 assists. Harlie Fuller yielded 1 ace, 11 assists, and 2 digs. Kaylee Ward generated 5 aces, 6 kills, and 1 dig. Alyson Edwards rustled-up 2 aces, 8 kills, 1 block, and 6 digs. Kynslee Ward procured 2 aces, 8 kills, and 5 digs. Rachel Johnson nabbed 1 ace, 3 kills, and 8 digs. And Trinity Triska corralled 3 digs.
#20 Cole Smith
“The Jr girls continue to play with tons of excitement and energy,” expressed coach, Kaylie Pyles. “They always come to the game and give everything they have. We still need to continue to work on talking more on the court, but each week we get better!” This week, the Mansfield Jr Lady Tigers will focus on their away conference match with the Lady Warriors of Life Way Christian on Thursday, September, 11 at 4:30 pm.
Easy come and easy go. That is how the first two games of the season have gone for the Mansfield Sr Tigers. In Week Zero, they put a thumping on the Magazine Rattlers 41-0 for their season opener. But as fate would have it, they would turn around and get drilled by Waldron last Friday in a 41-0 loss to the Bulldogs. With the highs and lows of two games, it’s hard to tell where the Tigers sit. But rest assured they are working hard to improve.
The Sr Tigers ended their match against the Bulldogs with 109 total yards. QB, Zayne Dugan, catapulted 6 passes for 43-yards while Codi Chick obtained 1 10-yard pass. In rushing yards, you had Shawn Brown with 34, Randy Claude with 15, Tyler Woolbright with 8, and Dugan with 4. And in the receiving department, Austin Carlton earned 3 for 23-yards, Chick netted 3 for 21-yards, and Claude acquired 1 for 9-yards.
“We went into this game pretty healthy with no injuries,” stated coach, Tim Cothran. “And Randy Claude and Bri Sanderson played really well against Waldron.” With a scrimmage and two nonconference games down and one to go, the Mansfield Sr Tigers aren’t laying down yet. The Tigers knew the obstacles that laid ahead of them with their non-conference schedule and prepared for a fight anyhow.
After facing two 4A programs like the annual powerhouse Mena Bearcats and an up-n-coming Waldron Bulldogs team, the Tigers have but one 4A non-conference game left….Elkins. “If we have played Elkins, it has been a while. On film, they are a good looking, physical team. Hopefully, the one thing that we have nailed down by this Friday, is that our receivers know their routes.” Mansfield will have their chins up and chest out ready to host the ever daunting Elks this Friday, September, 11.
There is nothing like sitting on the porch on a hot, sunny summer day with a chilled glass of good Arkansas sweet tea, something we take for granted today. Not many years ago, obtaining a refreshing, cold drink was something reserved for special occasions. Until the early 1900’s, the only ice available was natural ice that was shipped from the frozen North at great expense.
In the early 1900’s, American’s found they could manufacture ice using compressed gasses and refrigeration. Nearly every town built one of the new factories created to supply this delicacy. In 1888, Dardanelle became the first town in the state to have an ice plant. By 1920, 4,800 of them existed in the U.S. and towns throughout the River Valley had plants that supplied ice.
The huge plants took local water supply, froze it into 300 pound blocks measuring four foot long, two foot wide, and one foot thick. Employees used tongs to hoist these huge blocks of ice onto wagons which delivered the ice to local businesses and homes.
Ice companies supplied local customers with a four sided triangle with numbers the size of the block of ice needed; 25, 50, 75, or 100 pounds. Customers placed the sign with the amount needed on the upper side and the iceman would cut off the desired amount of ice and leave it in the icebox. These iceboxes were zinc lined, insulated boxes that would preserve the ice for a length of time. They usually had a pan in the bottom to collect the water as the ice melted. Stores had ice boxes in which they placed delicious R.C., Dr. Pepper, and Coca-Cola bottles so they were icy cold when one had a nickel available to purchase one.
Most rural stores had a large icebox located beside the store. The merchants would purchase hundreds of pounds of ice and locals would visit the stores and purchase the amount needed to keep their food cool in the “iceboxes.” Ice was considered a delicacy. In the summertime, children would run behind the deliveryman begging for a sliver of ice, the only cool thing available because there was no air conditioning.
By the 1930’s, refrigerators that produced ice were available for areas served by electricity but the “ice plants” still served rural areas. I can still remember purchasing ice in the 1960’s from Woodard Mosely of Midway. He would open up the huge ice building on a hot day and a chill breeze would roll out the door. Taking his pick, he would hack off a big chunk of the crystal clear ice, small pieces flying in every direction. Wrapping the ice in heavy cloth, we dumped it into our chest and headed to Aunt Sade’s home for a special night. All my Moore relatives were in from up north. They all sang and were skilled musicians. Family sat on the front porch rocking as night fell. Lightning bugs lit the night and the air was filled with the sweet sounds of the guitar, mandolin, and fiddle. The ice we bought that day was salted and dropped around the container containing the sweet mixture when my Uncle Danny and I got through turning the churn. Ice plants are a thing of the past. Some have been torn down, several have become local restaurants, a few preserved as historical sites. Now, I get my ice from the refrigerator and have sweet memories of cool people, cool times, and the cool history of our ice plants.
As the annual observance of the anniversary of the terrorists attacks on New York City, Washington, DC, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania that occurred September 11, 2001, this year’s observance may feel a little different to our readers. While our nation struggles with a current tragedy of a pandemic that has killed thousands of Americans, we take a moment to reflect back on the 2001 attacks and attempt to put it all in perspective with our current tragedy and how it all relates to the sports world.
It may seem trivial to include sports in this story, but, after all, I am a sports writer, and part of my responsibility is to report on everything sports, although it may feel completely insignificant when compared to tragedies that have and are currently affecting our country.
On the day of the attacks, I was employed as a school superintendent in a north Arkansas school district, and I remember immediately being concerned about where our school buses were at the time, including those carrying football teams to various parts of the state for afternoon and evening games. In the aftermath of the attacks, I remember things like insurance companies getting out of the business of insuring schools and other governmental buildings and having to find new insurance carriers for our school campuses. I also remember gasoline prices spiking at a rapid rate throughout the day, and the anger I felt feeling that there was no reason for this and that stations were price gouging people at the most inopportune time and upsetting moments. Its strange what you remember.
But where does sports fit into all of this? Perhaps the reasons are not clear because it is hard to justify sports when people are dying and under attack. In 2001, we were under terrorist attack, and in 2020, we are under the attack of a virus…another terrorist attack? Who knows. I don’t want to fuel any conspiracy theories, but the idea has surfaced from time to time.
College football fans at a Georgia Tech football game during the 1918 pandemic. Fans are seen wearing masks, but not using social distancing. (Photo Credit: SI.com)
In a story that Resident Press published last month, I mentioned that we as a nation “have been down this road before.” History repeats itself, and it holds true for the sport world and times of tragedy in our country. During the 1919 pandemic, President Roosevelt felt that sports were necessary for the mental health of our nation. And that thought has held true many times, and through many tragedies.
Following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, traditional sporting events such as the annual Army – Navy football game were played after much debate. Closer to home, the annual Texas vs. Texas A&M football game, usually played on Thanksgiving Day, and featured that year a Texas team that would eventually win the national championship, was played. In short, life went on, and sports were there to provide momentary periods of relief from the stress of the tragedies we have faced.
1963 Army – Navy Game Played After Assassination of President Kennedy (Photo Credit: NY Daily News)
As a college student at the University of Arkansas in the late 1970s, I remember the Iran hostage crisis where members of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran were taken hostage and held for months. Their captivity was the lead news story every night. Americans rallied at home, designating yellow ribbons as a sign of remembering those who were being held hostage. But sports continued, and that year, the Superdome in New Orleans, site of the Super Bowl that year, was adorned with big yellow ribbons. The Oakland Raiders defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, but few people outside of those cities remember who won the game. But sports continued and the game was a temporary diversion from the crisis for all Americans.
Following the 9/11 attacks, sports continued, and ironically, in a year of renewed American patriotism, the New England Patriots came back to win the Super Bowl that year. Again, few people remember who won the game, but many remember life moving forward with the playing of the Super Bowl that year. So, its not just the sports, its the solace that life is moving on with some sense of normality.
Turn the page to 2020, and the United States along with many other nations of the world find themselves fighting another crisis, another tragedy. And sports are there for the American people. It has always been a controversial decision to continue sports during times of national emergency. In events past, it has been the dignity of those involved, and the question of do sporting events trivialize what has occurred, especially in times of death. In 2020, there is a different twist. We have a virus that has the potential to affect everyone. And the athletes that are playing are making the decision to play and are weighing the risks associated with playing.
Resident Press File Photo
But regardless where you stand on whether sports should or should not be played, it is hard to argue, at least with past events, that sports have not been a welcomed diversion from the constant bad news and press coverage of those terrible events.
It has now been almost twenty years since the attacks of 2001. It’s hard to believe that it has been that long. To those of us who remember that day, we will never forget it and it will always seem like it happened just yesterday. We now have a generation of students in our schools who were born after the attacks of September 11. The post-9/11 world is the only world our children have ever known. And that in itself is a tragedy.
We tend to idolize our sports heroes. We need our “sports fix”, and thus we have college and professional sports that are preparing for seasons like none others in the past. I suggest that our real heroes have been the first responders of not only the 9/11 attacks, but each and every day they are here for us. They protect us and they come to our rescue when we need them the most. And on one editorial note…how in the world can we ever think of taking away their financial resources to do their jobs? Can you imagine New York City in 2001, if a badly de-funded New York Police Department had been left with responding to a tragedy the size of the 9/11 attacks? How can this be? Crisis call for cool-headed leadership and the coming together of all Americans. I pray for our nation that all people in our great country will be able to come together at some point to find a solution that is fair to everyone and protects the needs and interests of all people.
So, around Arkansas this coming Friday night, high school football games will be played on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The home school bands will play the national anthem as they always do. But this year, that anthem on that day, will and should have a profound effect on all of us in attendance. We have much to reflect on with the 9/11 attacks, and the current crisis that affects our nation today. But wherever you fall on the political spectrum, we are all Americans, and we all have much to contemplate. We have many to thank, both on 9/11 and today. There have been so many victims of all of these attacks, and we must never forget them.
