While NFL Players Protested the National Anthem, One Did Something Remarkable for Our Soldiers

While NFL Players Protested the National Anthem, One Did Something Remarkable for Our Soldiers

Not much good has come out in the form of ‘good stories’ from the NFL lately. Not since Colin Kaepernick pulled his sick stunt and made himself the national jerkface.

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However, here’s a good story for us now and it’s one that would make you proud.

During the National Anthem last Monday night, New York Giant’s, Odell Beckham Jr. took action in favor of our nation’s heroes and opted NOT to take a knee or raise his fist in the air like so many others have during the National Anthem.

Instead, he stood there in silence, honoring the anthem. However, it was what he did after that, that has caught the eye of admirers. After the National Anthem, Beckam made his way to every soldier that stood on the sidelines and reached out his hand to shake theirs.

Later when Beckham was asked about it by Sporting News, his reply:

“The line was a little long. I didn’t know. I got halfway through it and I had to ask one of them, ‘How many is y’all?’ He said, ‘There’s a lot of us.’ I said, ‘Well, I really appreciate what y’all do.”

He added, “What they do allows us to live the way that we live. For someone to sacrifice everything that they have for others — just the concept of it — it gives me chill. I don’t even know how to explain it. They sacrifice everything. It’s unselfish.”

Army Ranger veteran, Marty Skovlund who was there that night was asked what he thought about Beckham’s gesture, his response is priceless.

“His gesture probably meant a lot to the soldiers and made their night helping out at the game even more special. If we are in an age where professional athletes use their platform to address issues outside of sports, then it’s certainly nice to see a professional athlete doing something in support of those men and women who serve.

Beckham doesn’t need to do anything to ‘show’ support for the military, but gestures like what he did on Monday Night are appreciated once in a while to remind people that, hey, we still have Americans going to war.

What we don’t want is some sort of movement that turns into blind hero worship of those in the military. Most veterans and those actively serving in the military are more than happy if the promises that were made when they joined are kept, and that we remember those who gave their life in service of our country.”

Of course this isn’t the first time Beckham has shown his patriotism on the field. This New York Giant is also one of the players that opted to wear the 9/11 cleats on the field for the 15th anniversary of the September 11th attacks on our country. He wanted to pay tribute to the victims, even if it also meant paying a $6000 fine.

Let’s hope THIS becomes the kind of action that catches fire now…and that his example is what our youth look up to as he stands for the National Anthem and not look to Colin’s example as he kneels on the ground.

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