Nov. 11, 2008, is a special day to honor the millions of U.S. servicemen and women who are currently serving their country or who have served in the past. Veterans Day is a time to reflect upon those who have made great sacrifices in their lives for the chance at a better tomorrow. Football, another aspect of this country's rich legacy, has played a significant role in shaping the lives of many of these individuals.
USA Football caught up with six members of the military who have spent years in service to share their thoughts on the values learned playing and coaching America's favorite sport and what Veterans Day means to them.
David Poland is the webmaster for the U.S. Army Human Resources Command in St. Louis, Mo. Poland, who enlisted in 1987, was last deployed in 2003 to Afghanistan. He also just wrapped up his third year of coaching at the Highland (Ill.) Quarterback Club. The former Keyser (W.Va.) High School lineman first set foot on the football field in seventh grade.
"I had a huge advantage when I first came into the Army," Poland said. "I've been in some really bad situations in high school football, in the fourth quarter when things are going bad. You have to play it out and do your job."
"Veterans Day is a chance for me to think back about other veterans, people who have had to go through a lot more than I've ever been through. Having been in combat, it's a lot more emotional now than it was before."
Fabian Bromell, currently stationed in Jacksonville, Fla., works on support equipment in the Navy. In his sixth year in the military, Bromell just finished his first season coaching the Tiny Mites Black Raiders in Orange Park, Fla. He signed up for the Navy after playing four years of football at Choppee High School in Georgetown, S.C.
"Commitment and following authority are what I learned playing, and what I always use in my work," Bromell said. "That's what I learned playing, and that's what I teach my team."
"To me, Veterans Day is an important day because we honor those who were here before us and those who died for our freedom."
Ernie Williams, director of a Warrior Transition office in Fort Lewis, Wash., has served in the military for 26 years. A former operations officer at a military hospital, medical platoon leader and military police officer, Williams is still on active duty today. A former Muskeegon Oak Ridge High School football player and former participant of the Detroit Lions youth football program, Williams first played football when he was just 5 years old.
"Football taught me the ‘never quit' spirit," Williams said. "Quite often, I am challenged by soldiers who are critically injured or are in positions where their lives are changed completely. When things look dark, there is always a light side."
"Veterans Day is a time to reflect about those that came before me and the sacrifices they made."
Tommy Rieman has been serving in the Army for 10 years. Currently stationed in Pulaski, Va., the Army Sergeant has won numerous awards for his accomplishments in combat. At the age of 4, Rieman started playing football in the Boone County (Ky.) Pee Wee Football League. A decade later, he went on to play safety for four years at Simon Kenton High School in Independence, Ky.
"Leadership, loyalty, respect, duty and honor are all [football] values the Army teaches you as well," Rieman said. "In football and in the Army, you learn to work with each other, you become a unit, and you really find out who you are."
"You can't watch today's game without remembering those who built this game and built this nation. You can never forget all the guys who have done something for this country."
Michael Bolosan, a retired Navy veteran, spent over 20 years providing support dealing with logistics. The head coach of a Mighty Mite team in Escondido, Calif., Bolosan has coached for seven years in Pop Warner leagues and one year at the high school level. He played four years of high school football at Waialua High School in Hawaii and joined the Navy immediately after.
"I've learned that the job you are given is not always the best job," Bolosan said. "Some of the things you tell the kids to do might be things they don't want to do, but they have to do what they're told and to the best of their capabilities."
"Veterans Day means that I served my country in an honorable way. I praise active duty members that are out there. They are the reason that I can do the things I do today."
Rickey Nicks retired from the military after 10 years of service with the Marines and the Army, and he has been deployed to Iraq three times since 1997. The former Northeast Lauderdale (Miss.) High School footballer also played three years with both the local Boys and Girls Club and the Marine Corps.
"Discipline takes you a long way," Nicks said. "It helped a lot as far as career progression."
"It's heart-warming for me to know that these guys are over there. Once you've been there, and you know that other comrades are still there, it gets emotional."
