This afternoon my Dad, my olderst son, and I left Georgetown for a liesurely drive across Central Texas for the A&M/Utah State game. Dad and I enjoyed a couple of cokes while talking about politics, football, ranching and the like. Junior hung in there until about Rockdale before the afternoon nap caught up with him. My wife opted to stay home with our youngest, Troy, because he has been sick and not sleeping well.
Did I mention our youngest is named Troy Alexander Michael Urban?
So anyway, Dad, my son, and I make it up to our block of seats and chow on some popcorn and talk with the folks around us. Pretty soon, it's time for the Star Spangled Banner. I pick up my four year old so we can sing it together and I can point out the Harriers inbound to Kyle Field. After Texas My Texas, I explain to him that "the good guys pilot those planes son, THE MARINES". He seems to understand.
Later in the game, A&M pays honor to five current students that received the Purple Heart in service to our country. I tell my son "the Aggies love American so much they were willing to fight for us and they were hurt really badly, we to have support them and love them and stand by them for being so brave." He seemed to get it but had a lot of questions.
My boy liked #33. He said he runs really good and jumps up and down. He was his favorite. <WHOOP>
At some point, can't recall exactly, the Women's Soccor Team was honored on field. My son asked who they were and I and told him "those are some lovely ladies that play soccor for Texas A&M, aren't they pretty gals?" He replied "yes, just like mommy". Priceless
Finally, the Harrier pilots were introduced to the stadium and I picked my son up and explained to him that these are the brave men who flew the planes over the field before the game. The good guys. The Marine aviators. Our friends. He seemed to understand. My oldest is hooked on Transformers right now, so naturally he says "Daddy, they are good guys? Like Autobots?. Yeah son, something like that".
The most important part was that he could see and hear 70,000+ people chearing for those men for their service and sacrifice to our republic.
By mid way through the fourth it was time to pack up. It was late and little guy was worn out. So we said our goodbyes and the three of us walked back to the truck. I told my son that we were walking the same ground that his great grandfather ('41) walked, and his "Papa" walked ('66) and his daddy walked ('96) and the hopefully he would walk as a student some day to. Once again, he seemed to get it, but he needed a cold milk and comfy car seat.
You know, I wasn't blown away by the performance of the team tonight. I wanted to see a lot better as I am certain y'all did as well. We should have scored more, or held them to less, let's just agree to agree on that subject. But there are more important things. My little boy doesn't care about the score or even really understand it. But the impressions left on him by our great university do take hold. Where else can a four year old see and experience what he can at Kyle Field? Win or lose, our University honors America and those that defend her and serve her, every Saturday when our Ags take the field. For me, it's more than the win or the loss, it's what my boys learn through first hand observation when they walk on our campus.
I am the first to admit that when it comes to A&M Football I can be the cynic if not worse. My sons are teaching me to be better. But I do love Texas A&M. And the positives, the experience, the culture that honors our those who have served and those who do now.....all I can say is that I am so thankful for what the current students do to preserve that tradition, I am so thankful that my young boys can be exposed to it, I am so thankful that Old Ags support it with their generosity and commitment, and mostly, I am just thankful that my sons were born Americans and have Texas A&M to show them just how important that is.
THANK YOU AGGIELAND
[This message has been edited by Urban Ag (edited 9/20/2009 2:45a).]
Did I mention our youngest is named Troy Alexander Michael Urban?
So anyway, Dad, my son, and I make it up to our block of seats and chow on some popcorn and talk with the folks around us. Pretty soon, it's time for the Star Spangled Banner. I pick up my four year old so we can sing it together and I can point out the Harriers inbound to Kyle Field. After Texas My Texas, I explain to him that "the good guys pilot those planes son, THE MARINES". He seems to understand.
Later in the game, A&M pays honor to five current students that received the Purple Heart in service to our country. I tell my son "the Aggies love American so much they were willing to fight for us and they were hurt really badly, we to have support them and love them and stand by them for being so brave." He seemed to get it but had a lot of questions.
My boy liked #33. He said he runs really good and jumps up and down. He was his favorite. <WHOOP>
At some point, can't recall exactly, the Women's Soccor Team was honored on field. My son asked who they were and I and told him "those are some lovely ladies that play soccor for Texas A&M, aren't they pretty gals?" He replied "yes, just like mommy". Priceless
Finally, the Harrier pilots were introduced to the stadium and I picked my son up and explained to him that these are the brave men who flew the planes over the field before the game. The good guys. The Marine aviators. Our friends. He seemed to understand. My oldest is hooked on Transformers right now, so naturally he says "Daddy, they are good guys? Like Autobots?. Yeah son, something like that".
The most important part was that he could see and hear 70,000+ people chearing for those men for their service and sacrifice to our republic.
By mid way through the fourth it was time to pack up. It was late and little guy was worn out. So we said our goodbyes and the three of us walked back to the truck. I told my son that we were walking the same ground that his great grandfather ('41) walked, and his "Papa" walked ('66) and his daddy walked ('96) and the hopefully he would walk as a student some day to. Once again, he seemed to get it, but he needed a cold milk and comfy car seat.
You know, I wasn't blown away by the performance of the team tonight. I wanted to see a lot better as I am certain y'all did as well. We should have scored more, or held them to less, let's just agree to agree on that subject. But there are more important things. My little boy doesn't care about the score or even really understand it. But the impressions left on him by our great university do take hold. Where else can a four year old see and experience what he can at Kyle Field? Win or lose, our University honors America and those that defend her and serve her, every Saturday when our Ags take the field. For me, it's more than the win or the loss, it's what my boys learn through first hand observation when they walk on our campus.
I am the first to admit that when it comes to A&M Football I can be the cynic if not worse. My sons are teaching me to be better. But I do love Texas A&M. And the positives, the experience, the culture that honors our those who have served and those who do now.....all I can say is that I am so thankful for what the current students do to preserve that tradition, I am so thankful that my young boys can be exposed to it, I am so thankful that Old Ags support it with their generosity and commitment, and mostly, I am just thankful that my sons were born Americans and have Texas A&M to show them just how important that is.
THANK YOU AGGIELAND
[This message has been edited by Urban Ag (edited 9/20/2009 2:45a).]
