Commander John Wells Stood Up to NFL, Turned Down Award

Retired Naval officer and military veteran's advocate turns down award at Saints game
USA Today
Paul Murphy
November 2, 2017

Wells, a disabled veteran claims protestors are dishonoring the military and the flag.

"They can do it," Wells said. "They have that right, no question. I've got the right to turn it off. I got the right to not go into an NFL stadium and I have the right to decline the award."

A retired Naval officer and military veteran's advocate has declined to be honored at the New Orleans Saints-Tampa Bay Buccaneers game in the Mercedes Benz Superdome on Sunday.

Commander John Wells was to receive the Peoples Health Champion award for exceptional achievements after age 65.

"I admire them for what they're doing," Wells said. "I admire the award. I'm just sorry that the circumstances are such that I could not ethically accept it."

Wells added he won't walk into an NFL stadium while players continue to protest during the national anthem.

Some players around the league are taking a knee during the anthem to shine a light on social injustice.
read more here

And exactly how did they respond?
New York Daily News

"Unfortunately, he has chosen very publicly not to accept this honor and refused the opportunity to promote the very cause for which he was being honored and distract from awareness we hoped to build throughout our community."

Guess they didn't notice the Veterans Community has been very aware of how the NFL actually feels about veterans. When a 'PUBLIC STUNT' allowing players to take a knee during the National Anthem has been more acceptable THAN A VETERAN TELLING THEM NO THANKS! The damage done between fans and the owners may never be repaired. 


UPDATE

I tried to get back to work on something I'm working on for Veterans Day, but I could not get my mind to focus on it. Before this story makes my head explode, I need to go on a rant, so if you want to stop reading now, it is ok. I don't blame you.

I've read too many times on social media that some people do not see it as disrespecting the men and women serving this country. They can't understand how it is disrespecting the flag. 

Unlike when their Moms told them they are special, the protestors seem to think they simply deserve respect for being born. Anything they want to do should be acceptable to the rest of us without ever earning any of it other than getting thousands of people to follow their postings.

I wonder if they ever listened to the words of the National Anthem?

The Star-Spangled Banner

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight'

O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming.

And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen, thro' the mists of the deep,

Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,

What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,

As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,

In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream;

'Tis the star-spangled banner: oh, long may it wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore

That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion

A home and a country should leave us no more?

Their blood has wash'd out their foul footstep's pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave

From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Oh, thus be it ever when free men shall stand,

Between their loved homes and the war's desolation;

Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued landv Praise the Power that has made and preserved us as a nation.

Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,

And this be our motto: "In God is our trust";

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Written by Francis Scott Key on 

September 14th, 1814.

Are there some police officers who should not have joined the force? Sure, but the protestors seem to want to blame all police officers. The thing is, the good ones are the majority and they still show up to put their lives on the line for people who hate them.

Now the NFL is being grouped because a minority of the players seem to think it is ok to disrespect the Anthem that was written in tribute to the men and women who put their lives on the line in defense of this country. 

If they cannot understand what those words mean, or why they have the right to protest, then how would they know what respect is when they see it? If they cannot see what disrespect is to others, perhaps they never will.

Should people fight for justice? Absolutely! That is the foundation of this nation when it began in Massachusetts and has not stopped because brave people stand up and risk everything for the sake of others.

Taking a knee during a football game informs the public of how little they matter when players seem to believe their opinion matters more than what the fans may personally think about a subject. 

It is like going to a deli and hearing someone behind the counter defending the livestock. Really bad for that business! 

The right to protest is theirs but it also the right of those who disagree with them to also protest in a way the NFL will understand. They are taking their money, and their limited free time, to do something other than support the NFL.