Thanking the Troops
Written by Darrel Young
Thursday February 09 2012
First off, I tip my hat off to the troops that defend our country and their families that have to understand why they are serving us.
Being an American, we sometimes aren't appreciative as we should be. James Lee (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Dreyton Florence (Buffalo Bills), Allen Barrett (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), and myself, were given the chance to go visit troops overseas.
The experience was amazing.
We went to Honduras and El Salvador. We visited the U.S. embassy and we got to know what our troops do, a little bit of what goes unnoticed in the public’s eye. These troops do not receive the credit they should.
Playing football is something that is fun to me I enjoy every aspect of it, but the real superstars and heroes are the people who go on daily missions to make sure that we are safe in this country.
Being in El Salvador and Honduras was a very humbling experience. Seeing people live in shacks that are worse than living in a garage with no doors, but have higher gas prices than the U.S. was something you would have to experience yourself to believe. People in those countries, understand one thing; WORK. Seeing kids working at six years old was something we experienced.
But, not to dwell on the negative of the situations because of how I feel as a person, the trip was an amazing, priceless, life-long lesson. We drove fire trucks, sat in helicopters/ planes that our troops use on missions they go on everyday, and even got to experience a military dog that is trained to attack.
The experience that we had was priceless. Being around the troops was definitely an honor and a privilege. I wish the best to all of our troops overseas.
Thank you for keeping us safe everyday.
Tags: Darrel Young, NFL, Washington Redskins
Darrel it was great to meet all of y'all! We enjoyed having you here! Y'all were all a hoot! Your friendly Blond RP Bartender :)
Darrel I am glad that you have been able to experience just a little of what a soldier endures when we sign those papers giving the military our lives for however many years we give! People here always complain and take things for granted but they have no idea how good they have it, regardless, of how bad they think it it is! I spent almost 6 months in Haiti and well never forget the things I saw. People cooking in the street because they had no electricity, children as young as 5 walking in the city's dump, digging through the trash, hoping they would find something to eat. When I went to Tialand I was laughed at when we went to a restaurant after our plane landed! I had to go to bathroom but there wasn't a toilet! There was a hole in the floor! Yes, a male soldier had to show me where the toilet was ad then I asked the dumbest question! How? It wasn't a small hole and I'm short and I cannot do what guys do! Then I found out they don't use toilet paper! The people who worked there laughed at me when I came out asking for napkins! Nope, I didn't eat either! The restaurant was in a poor town and that was their bathroom! Americans take stuff for granted and I am proud to have served my country and I stand behind your brother and every man and woman who takes that oath to defend this nation! I am glad that you are doing what you are doing!
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