PURPLE HEART

April 13, 2009. Monday. Opening day for the Dodgers at Chavez Ravine on a beautiful afternoon in southern California. Record breaking crowd on hand scaling between a steady murmur and a roar with the events of the day. The Dodger legends are announced and walk out on the field one at a time to thunderous applause. Next come the staff, trainers, coaches, and your 2009 Los Angeles Dodgers. Back to the stadium from a commercial break; roar temporarily subdued, voice of part-time play-by-play announcer Charlie Steiner begins to sound over the P.A. system. It quickly becomes clear who's being introduced. Today marks the first game of the 60th season Vin Scully will grace us with his broadcast. The intro ends with the greatest line Steiner has ever delivered;

"It is my great honor to introduce, quite simply, the greatest baseball broadcaster who ever lived, ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Vin Scully" The place erupts like 1988 with Kirk Gibson rounding the bases pumping his fist. I had chills from head to toe as one of my true idols walked out on to that field.

When I left everything I knew in Boston, and arrived in Los Angeles late summer 2002, few things brought me a sense of home. First, there was the champion of all Mexican fare, Poquito Mas, but more importantly, the legend of the Dodger Stadium press box. When I arrived, the team was in the basement of the NL west. But the man with the resounding voice welcomed me to the southland, and tuned me in to Dodger baseball.

Fast forward 7 years, opening day, Vin is preparing to throw out the first pitch. "Ladies and gentlemen, please give a warm Dodger Stadium welcome, to Los Angeles native, United States Army Officer recently returning from his second tour of duty serving our nation with the armed forces in Iraq, Sergeant Jeremy Ortega". Vin stands smiling next to the mound as the fully uniformed soldier makes his way forward with a limp in his walk and a cane in his hand. With in a few feet, the Sergeant extends his hand, Vinny steps forth, arms wide, and embraces our returning hero. I broke into tears.

A month or so later. I'm surfing the channels and I come upon a PGA open series event on one of the networks. Tiger, "Lefty", and many other superstars of golf are there, lining the fairway as an announcement was made.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please give a round of applause for United States Marine, recently returning from his third tour of duty protecting our nations' freedom in Afghanistan, quadruple amputee, Specialist Jeremy Carter". Sitting in a wheelchair, pushed down the center of the fairway, stumps for arms, stumps for legs. Dressed in uniform. Our war hero.

Chicago. August. Avenue Hotel. Men and women of varied ages, races, and disabilities fill the lobby. Some blind, others deaf. Some paraplegic, others quadriplegic. All bearing injuries from one of our current Middle Eastern conflicts. Governor Quinn, Mayor Daley expected to make appearances, offer some words of thanks at that nights ceremony honoring our veterans. The governor comes through for one half hour, the mayor couldn't make it.

I'm sure everyone has been exposed, either in person, or on television, to something like this. A soldier returns from war after suffering a life hampering injury in battle, and becomes a mascot for his respected branch of service. Purple Heart. Full discharge. Many thanks for your service to our country. When I became emotional watching opening day, it was the release of tension built up over many nights spent weighed down by the root causes of war. It was all the thinking I had done about the WWII generation and their children; our parents. Thinking about Vietnam. Thoughts of elementary school and Desert Storm. Our first televised insight to Middle Eastern events, though I was far too young to read between the lines. I thought of all the sacrificed Americans since the Revolutionary War.

Vin's embrace meant welcome home. Glad you're still with us. I know war is hell and life is a topsy-turvy ride. Thank you for your contribution. How many people in Vin's life have been effected by war? How many close friends has he lost during his 81 year ride on this planet? How many important men has he met? Politicians, Generals, religious leaders, soldiers, entertainers. Vin's reaction triggered in me the collection of so many stages and value systems I've held over the years. In my youth, I was very interested in getting involved in Military action and or Law Enforcement. I was intrigued by the strength and power one has in a position involving such authority. I'm sure the action movies of the 80s had a great deal to do with it, but until about ten years ago, brute force and American policy had my 100% support and commitment.

I've grown up a lot since then.

I hope that soon we will all be able to identify that the wars our nation involves itself in, are rarely, if ever, fought for the reasons written in our history books. I salute and support each and every member of the United States Armed Forces; and wish them all safety, security, and victory in all encounters. However, more than anything else, I want them to come home. I want them here with us, working to preserve our world from where they're most effective, from where they hail. Once we can collectively acknowledge the true problems we face in need of resolution, concentrate our energy on them; then we will be well on our way towards achieving our goals as human beings. My heart goes out to all those who have lost loved ones in war.

"The atom bombs are piling up in the factories, the police are prowling through the cities, the lies are streaming from the loudspeakers, but the earth is still going round the sun". -GEORGE ORWELL