Wonderful Week

Warner Robins, Georgia Little League

Aplington Parkersburg, Iowa Football

ESPN

Yes, this has been a wonderful week. As I walked the driveway to collect my copy of "The Telegraph" here in Macon I saw this sight. I immediately returned to the house and collected my camera to get this shot. As they say in photography, timing is everything. There was a light mist and the mood the streetlight cast was wonderful. To wonderful to pass up.

Just as it has been this past week courtesy of ESPN. Most of you know that I have become an avid ESPN viewer, especially when the Boys and Girls from Warner Robins, Georgia are featured in the National Little League Baseball and National Little League Softball Series which is covered by ESPN. Now to be fair, the Girls Softball Team did capture the World title this year, 2009. The Boys Baseball Team were eliminated in a semi-final game by a team from San Diego, California. Still great games and both of these teams represented the City of Warner Robins, the State of Georgia and the Southeast Region very well. As I watched the ESPN coverage of the Little League Baseball Games this past week I could not help but view the promotions for the Friday Night High School Games of the Week which would be broadcast on ESPN.

Most of you may recall the tragic Tornado that almost destroyed Parkersburg, Iowa in early 2008. Many more will undoubtedly recall the tragic events of late June 2009 when a young man walked into the weight training room in Parkersburg and shot the Football Coach. These are two of the reasons that ESPN featured Aplington Parkersburg, Iowa as a featured High School Football Game to broadcast on National Television.

In addition to being a great football coach, Ed Thomas was a leader in Parkersburg and he led the City in the rebuild. The focus was to rebuild the Football Field and the High School which was also destroyed by the Tornado. With this motivation and the dedication of the citizens of Parkersburg, all 1900 of them, almost all of the homes have been rebuilt. What amazed me was the fact that in this town which educates 263 High School Kids at this time, they rebuilt the High School in less than fifteen months at a cost of 18 million. The football field was totally redone and looked like it belonged on a Big Ten Campus. As I watched the game I learned that the Staff from the University of Iowa had indeed painted the field for the Opening Game of 2009.

One of the Players on the Aplington Parkersburg team is a brother of the alledged Killer of Coach Ed Thomas. The Thomas Family has reached out to this Family and forgiveness is in the heart of the entire Town of Parkersburg and the High School known as Aplington Parkersburg.

If I heard correctly this High School has 123 boys and fields a Football Team of 93 Players. In addition to that fact, the High School Band has eight Football Players which were also featured on the ESPN Broadcast.

Coach Ed Thomas and the Parkersburg Community mentored and developed four young men who currently play in the National Football League. As the ESPN Commentators mentioned, such success for a small town program is totally unheard of, except for the young men mentored by Coach Ed Thomas and the Community of Parkersburg, Iowa.

The Tornado also destroyed the local grocery store. The former owners were wiped out and they decided to sell the business. A Young Man, a football player on the Detroit Team, who matured under the leadership of Coach Ed Thomas decided to rebuild the grocery store. This local Hero and His Brother have build a new food store and it is appropriately named "Brothers Market" and it serves the citizens of Parkersburg. In fact footage of the Store and the Interior Display was also included in the ESPN Game broadcast.

So, Thank You, ESPN. You have served the citizens of the United States of America, and the World in an excellent manner. As most of us know, Small town America is the bedrock of our Society that is often overlooked. But, Warner Robins, Georgia and Aplington Parkersburg, Iowa are but a few of a large number of communities that display team work and are the hallmark of America. This team work is what makes America Great and ESPN, as a Sports Newwork, you could not have served our World any better than to feature Little League Baseball and Softball and High School Football from the Heartland.

Thank You. There is light in the World but you must be there and/or watching at the correct time to observe it.

By the way, Aplington-Parkersburg did win the game 30-14 over Dike-New Hartford which is a mere fifteen miles away.