Earn this...

 "Saving Private Ryan"  was an epic war film set in Western Europe at the time of the Normany Landings of World War 2.  As if the opening scenes of battle and carnage on the beaches of Normandy aren't enough to glue you to the screen, the story unfolds when we learn that Matt Damon's character was the last surving brother of four, having lost his three siblings who were recently killed in action. An order is given to Captain Miller (Tom Hanks) to retrieve Private Ryan and return him safely to his mother back in the states, as was custom with the number of casualties associated with the last Great War.

Captain Miller assembled a squad to scour the French countryside and soon learns that it is a dangerous undertaking just trying to locate Private Ryan. Along the way, German soldiers inflict casualties to Miller's men that are fighting a different battle than those on the front lines. Their only mission is to find Ryan and return him. This comes at the cost of many lives along the way.

Private Ryan is eventually located attached to 101st Airborne Division defending a bridge in Ramelle, France (the only fictional town in the film). The clutching emotion tied to this film drags you through battle scenes as if you were attached to the unit and patrolling the streets right along with them. The audience is further drawn in as witness to to the storyline of Ryan's lost brothers and Captain Miller's civilian occupation as a high school English teacher. At the climax, Tom Hanks' character is fatally struck down defending the bridge against an oncoming German attach. He is the next in line of a series of men that have directly given their lives to locate and support the safe return of Private Ryan.

An Allied, counter-attack, air raid is called in on their position and as fighter planes scream overhead forcing the German retreat, Captain Miller is face to face with Private Ryan once last time. Private Ryan leans in to hear Captain Miller's final words - "Earn this" The capatin repeats it one more time and then succombs to his injuries. 

***********************************************************************************

Tonight my daughter will be amongst a group of young women that will take to the ice for the first ever Varsity Girls Hockey game held as a Pine City Dragon. This has been no small undertaking. There have been pioneering women that played co-ed hockey many years ago. There have been Co-ops with other communities that have failed to give our athletes ownership in community pride that they so dearly crave. Parents, volunteers, local business leaders, school administrators - you name it, so much has gone in to making tonight happen.

In our little town there are many proud parents flooding social media with memories of the journey up to this point. My phone is regulalry buzzing with well wishers reaching out in support. I'm lucky enough to be one of the coaches to stand along side these young ladies tonight to represent all of this time, money, effort and love that has made this happen. Coach Aagaard, Coach Clementsen and I will stand beside them as representatives of their friends, neighbors, and grandparents that can't be in the stands to cheer them on. The kleenex will be passed in the stands without regards to COVID as parents witness a dream become a reality.....

And our girls will work the tails off....... to.....    EARN THIS.

#homegrown