In the last three days I've been involved through the power of the
internet in a phenomenon that swept across the US courtesy of friends,
and strangers proudly cheering on a team of 30 Americans as they took
the field of battle in Poland. This was a sporting event. I am not a fan
of organized sports, at least not where the athletes are paid millions
of dollars to ride the bench all season long even if they get hurt. This
sport is different. This sport is played by common men who work real
jobs, who face serious injury to play their game, they do it for the
honor and the pride. Not for the glory of being received with open arms
on television in front of a nation of adoring fans. They do it for the
HONOR of representing their country in a Battle of Nations.
In October 2011 - a mere 6 and a half months ago members of the now Team
USA for Battle of Nations started considering making the journey to the
nation of Poland for this year's (2012) Battle of Nations, a live steel
medieval combat event. In November the decision was confirmed the US
would field its first ever team to BotN. And they did in less than 6
full months they equipped 30 men with full plate steel armor, padding,
and travel expenses to make the trip to Poland.
There they faced teams from Russia, Ukraine, Poland and other countries
each with a longer history in doing this sort of thing than did the men
of Team USA. Russia has 500 people yearly want to join the ranks, only
50 make the team. The US had 50 show interest, 30 showed up and had the
finances, training and equipment to make the trip. The average age of
the US team this year was 37 years of age. The youngest US team member
at 29 is older than even the most senior member of most of the other
teams I mentioned above. And yet the US did better than anyone could
have expected their first year out. Did they win? Not in terms most come
to expect. But they didn't lose either. These men rallied together a
part of the country that often stands divided over political issues and
differences of opinion on a range of topics. These true knights showed
the world who was watching and especially those on the other teams in
attendance what true honor and real chivalry is all about.
There are so many videos already up on youtube from this event, photos
will be posted, fundraisers are being thought up, new groups are being
formed as I type this - here in the US to field an even bigger, better,
more well equipped team next year, and the 2012 Battle of the Nations
isn't even over yet. There's still more fighting taking place tomorrow.
The facebook group for the USA team for Battle of Nations grew from
under 400 members to 1400 members in a matter of 3 days. People woke up
early to watch the live FREE televised feed from Poland, they watched on
their cell phones and wifi at work and school, they shared their love
of this sport and these men with their friends and coworkers and no one
complained instead more people heard what was going on and that there's a
team of Americans showing pride in their country despite all the
fighting back home. There were chants from the crowd during matches of
USA! USA! USA! and the majority of the crowd aren't Americans but local
people who should be shouting for the Polish or Ukrainian teams, they
too were inspired by our team of heroes.
I hesitate to call any athlete a hero simply because of the number of
those who play pro sports who end up being exactly the opposite of what
you would call a hero. But these men, these knights, who have fought
with pride, honor to represent their country, and respect for their
fellow fighters from other countries, these men who represent the best
of what makes Americans proud include team captain Andres Sinou an
active duty US Marine, others include an Olympic athlete, and a football player and all
the other men of the team who lead ordinary lives like you and me,
except they chose to be remarkable and to forever leave a lasting
impression on those who were witness to the first ever US team to fight
in Battle of the Nations. To those of us who will never pick up sword
and shield, never don real steel armor and fight another for one reason
or another, they gave us a reason to cheer, a reason to be proud of
being American.
I couldn't tell you what the news was the last three days. I didn't
care. I had something else to watch, something else to be concerned
with, something else to be proud of. I feel so inspired by these 30 men
whom I've never met (That I know of) that I hereby pledge $2.00 from the
sale of EVERY patriotic item I sell in any venue online, at SCA events,
at the farmer's market etc, will be donated directly to the coffers of
Team USA for Battle of Nations 2013. I can't help train, I can't travel
to wherever the event will happen next year, but I can do this. I know
its not much but I will do what I can. $2 per item (more if I know I can
spare it) will go to help get more people involved and to help the
American team improve and be ready for 2013 when the event rolls around.
Will you help me? I will be creating a facebook photo album of all items
I can do that will be available for purchase as ready to ship items or
as custom orders, which are patriotic in nature - of which a portion
will be donated to help team USA continue to inspire people worldwide
through 2013. Stay tuned.
You can find me here:
FrawgzDezignz on Facebook
FrawgzDezignz etsy shop
FrawgzDezignz Luulla Shop
other shops to come - blog will be updated when I have confirmed URLs for those shop addresses.
This is my pledge, Carrie Foster, creative genius behind FrawgzDezignz.
PS - Thank you to Team USA for all you've done to inspire so many, words do not accurately describe how you have made so many of us feel.
3 comments:
testing testing 1 2 3
How come I don't know about these things! I would love to watch and be a part of it! Argh. Next Year!
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