On the eve of 9/11: A halftime tribute to our armed forces
By John David Powell (09/11/06)
Over the years, I have received a few honors and recognitions. One of the most humbling and exciting occurred over this past weekend. A couple of weeks ago, David Bertman, the director of The Spirit of Houston marching band at the University of Houston asked if I would write and present a special tribute to our armed forces and to the people of our nation during the halftime show of the UH vs Tulane game on Saturday, Sept. 9. The theme of the game was A Salute To Our Armed Forces.
And that is how I found myself standing in front of thousands of football fans on a cool and humid Houston evening, with a university band behind me playing softly and slowly our national anthem as scenes of members of our nation’s military appeared on the big scoreboard screen.
The script of that presentation follows -- jdp
Thank you for joining us here today on the University of Houston campus to help us pay special tribute to the members of our armed forces who serve our country in times of peace and war, and as we recognize the people of our nation who serve their communities in ways great and small.
Today we gather two days shy of the fifth observance of that terrible Tuesday we know as 9/11, and two weeks and a year from the consequences of Hurricane Katrina.
In these past five years, we have watched with pride as our armed forces answered the call to duty to travel to foreign lands to give freedom to others and to provide protection to our nation.
The members of our armed forces have served our nation in times of peace and in times of war. They continue to distinguish themselves whether in a firefight on foreign soil or fighting fires here at home. They distribute food and medicine to those in need. They rebuild nations by constructing schools and hospitals. They are the pride of our nation, and I ask that you join us in applause as a small gesture of our deep appreciation.
The members of our armed forces are members of our communities. They reflect all that is good about each of us, because they are who we are.
Houstonians in general, and the University of Houston in particular, can be proud of our response to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Tens of thousands came to Houston to find shelter, and we gave it to them. Hundreds of their children came to the University of Houston to continue their education, and the University welcomed them and their professors, many from Tulane University.
Such scenes of generosity play out every day in Houston and across the country as we Americans open our hearts and our homes to those in need and in distress. We are a nation of diverse communities stepping up and reaching out to strangers, friends, and nations.
This is the overarching story of the greatness of the American heart. This is the story that needs to be told again and again. This is what makes us the envy of the world.
Thank you all for coming.
God bless our armed forces. God bless Texas. And God bless the United States of America.
John David Powell is a communication professional, a six-time winner of the Houston Press Club Lone Star Award for Internet opinion writing, and a contributor to the Christian History Project.
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