We the Students
Where were you?
Eric Flanagan
Issue date: 11/9/07 Section: Opinion
Excitement was evident in Red Sox Nation this past week as die-hard fans and pink hats alike were buzzing from consecutive late-night wins that led to Boston's second World Series championship in three years.
Quickly thereafter though, students were questioning whether this year's victory had the same feel as the unbelievable comeback and subsequent whooping the Cardinals got in 2004.
I couldn't help but realize how much better this year's win was because of where I was in '04. Like quite a few other veterans on campus, I was not in Massachusetts to celebrate last time. I couldn't have a celebratory beer, go to the parade, or visit the trophy on its tour of every city and town in Mass.
I-as well as many other soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines-was preparing for a deployment overseas and had the ninth inning lasted any longer, I wouldn't have even been able to hear the final call on the radio between training exercises.
As Veterans Day approaches, I can't help but think of all the men and women in Red Sox nation who couldn't give someone a high five when Papelbon made the final out. While we all watched laughing at Big Papi spraying his teammates with champagne, there were many service members who may not have even known the Sox won. I can recall two-week missions in Afghanistan where I had no idea what was going on outside of my small world of Kunar province.
In fact, there may be some Sox fans who still don't know whether the Sox won. It's hard to imagine, considering anyone who didn't know about the Sox victory the very next day would be considered a fool.
You won't be in class on Monday, Nov. 12. The college will be running holiday hours and students have no class that day. No, it's not National Recover from Mid-terms Day and not a mandatory three-day weekend. Nov. 12 is the observance of Veterans Day on Nov. 11.
Quick history: the origin of Veterans Day dates back to World War I with an armistice that ended the fighting between the Allies and Germany. The fighting ended with the armistice-a temporary suspension of hostilities by agreement of the warring parties that would take effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. That day in 1918 signified the cessation of fighting in "the war to end all wars." If they only knew.
Quickly thereafter though, students were questioning whether this year's victory had the same feel as the unbelievable comeback and subsequent whooping the Cardinals got in 2004.
I couldn't help but realize how much better this year's win was because of where I was in '04. Like quite a few other veterans on campus, I was not in Massachusetts to celebrate last time. I couldn't have a celebratory beer, go to the parade, or visit the trophy on its tour of every city and town in Mass.
I-as well as many other soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines-was preparing for a deployment overseas and had the ninth inning lasted any longer, I wouldn't have even been able to hear the final call on the radio between training exercises.
As Veterans Day approaches, I can't help but think of all the men and women in Red Sox nation who couldn't give someone a high five when Papelbon made the final out. While we all watched laughing at Big Papi spraying his teammates with champagne, there were many service members who may not have even known the Sox won. I can recall two-week missions in Afghanistan where I had no idea what was going on outside of my small world of Kunar province.
In fact, there may be some Sox fans who still don't know whether the Sox won. It's hard to imagine, considering anyone who didn't know about the Sox victory the very next day would be considered a fool.
You won't be in class on Monday, Nov. 12. The college will be running holiday hours and students have no class that day. No, it's not National Recover from Mid-terms Day and not a mandatory three-day weekend. Nov. 12 is the observance of Veterans Day on Nov. 11.
Quick history: the origin of Veterans Day dates back to World War I with an armistice that ended the fighting between the Allies and Germany. The fighting ended with the armistice-a temporary suspension of hostilities by agreement of the warring parties that would take effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. That day in 1918 signified the cessation of fighting in "the war to end all wars." If they only knew.
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