The
difference between being the rabbi at an installation versus the Academy, is
how close you are to DC, or in this case, the Governor’s Mansion.
As
the “sitting rabbi” of the Academy, I was invited to attend the Governor’s
Chanukkah. It was so nice to meet leaders of the Jewish community throughout
Maryland, and know I could eat anything being served!
There
is so much you do not see on TV with the Army-Navy game. Here is the rundown:
Running
the ball onto the field: All the Firsties (seniors) from 13th
company run the ball onto the field. We meet up with the Army’s marathon team,
who run the ball from West Point to the game. That’s right – they use their
Marathon team, and run one person at a time. We run in groups of 6-8, and are
not varsity runners.
March
On: The Brigade marches on by company, followed by the Corps. It is an amazing
thing to watch all the Mids and Cadets form up, and march. Though we will
battle on the gridiron, we will be brothers and sisters in arms.
The
Prisoner Exchange: We have Army Cadets that attend the Academy for a semester,
and vise versa. They line up, and this year, we spelled out “SINK ‘EM” on their
backs. The Brigade Commander / Corps Commander shake hands before letting their
“prisoners” go for the game. They still have to come back with us and take
their finals.
Parachuting
In: The Army and Navy’s Parachute experts try to land on the center of the
50-yard line. It’s amazing to watch.
Fly
Over: What is an important moment without a flyover?
13th
Company has the honor of running the football from the Naval Academy to
wherever the Army-Navy game is held.
This
year, we ran from Annapolis to Phili.
I
ran part of a leg with the Mids.
I
had no idea who Bob Feller was. I was voluntold to give the invocation and
benediction at an event in DC for his foundation. Bob Feller
Act of Valor Award - Wikipedia
Bob
was a prodigy at baseball, and jumped from high school to the majors. When WWII
started, he elected to enlist in the Navy, serving four years, rather than play
when he was at the age to peak in his performance. In that time, he achieved
the rank of Chief Petty Officer. After WWII, he went back to playing baseball,
breaking records and winning a World Series.
Only
afterwards did I learn that Bob’s story is a part of the curriculum for Chief
Petty Officer training. What a beautiful legacy!
We are the last service academy to pray before the Mids get to eat lunch.
I make it a point to keep my prayers short (2 sentences), and quote someone they do not expect.
So
far, I quoted Yoda, Capt Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek, Brene Brown, and the Mandalorian.
Though I choose to not be conventional, I always make sure that my prayers are relevant to what is going on in the lives of the Midshipmen, and to be inclusive with my language.
I
was visiting Boston this week, and got a special tour of the USS Constitution.
I got to go into the bowels of the ship. There, I saw where John Adam put the
welding skills he learned in England to good use. He welded the iron inside the
skin of ship, hence the nickname, “Old Ironsides.”
I
recently got involved with an organization “wear blue,” which supports the
healing of Gold Star families through running together.
wear blue: run to remember
(wearblueruntoremember.org)
I
led the opening prayer in their Circle of Remembrance, before lining up on both
sides of the Marine Corps Marathon course, holding flags with the names of
their family members who died in combat hanging from the tassels.
Beyond
them, are plaques for their family members with their picture, name, branch,
and date of death.
This
was my invocation:
If You Would Join Me In
Prayer,
Source of Strength,
We thank you for giving
us this moment in time to remember our lost loved ones, creating a sacred place
of shared grief and healing, joy and pride.
Our scars, like our
running shoes have their own pace and distance to run, and we are blessed to be
part of “wear blue,” where our shared loss gives us strength to move forward,
lifting each other up – one mile at a time.
May remembering our
fallen this morning be accompanied with laughter, a few tears, but no
blisters.
As Moses said to
Joshua, “Chazak V’Ematz,” be strong and of good courage.
Amen.
There
are some annual events on the Yard that you have to attend at least once. I
honestly had no idea what I was going to see. I thought it was going to be a musical
with a Halloween-themed storyline.
Nope.
It
was a variety show with different types of music (broadway shows, movies, tv
etc’), 4 minutes of Christian ritual (It is the “All Hallows Eve Concert after
all), and a patriotic ending.
Regardless
of what I was expecting, it was great to see my theater Mids have a chance to
show off their singing, dancing, and theatrical skills.
The
best part was that they had giant Waldorff and Statler puppets that told the
same types of jokes I grew up hearing on the Muppet Show!
Since
I PCS so often, and I have not been stationed near my nuclear families, I add
to my family by blood with my military family.
In
Okinawa, I added to my military family a young Air Force couple. Our family
grew when they had two kids, who I officiated over their baby namings, and
given the honor of being their godmother, but never met face-to-face. Until now.
No
matter what I thought of coming to the Naval Academy, if it means that I am 30
minutes from godchildren, it is worth it!
