At least one San Fransisco 49er has had enough of the disrespect shown to our country and service members during the playing of the national anthem these past two years. Now, he’s unabashedly giving Colin Kaepernick a figurative middle finger and teaching the NFL a much-needed lesson in respect.
Colin Kaepernick began “taking a knee” as The Star-Spangled Banner was played before NFL games in 2016 to protest “police brutality” and “racial discrimination” in America. Of course, this could not have been more ironic, seeing as Kaepernick was adopted by a white family who raised him with every advantage in the world. Not to mention the fact that he makes more money than ninety-nine percent of white people.
Although Colin Kaepernick is perhaps the worst poster boy for “racial discrimination” of all time, his colleagues quickly jumped on the bandwagon and began kneeling during the anthem as well, in a blatant display of disrespect for the country which has afforded them such tremendous opportunity. Unfortunately, the movement didn’t end with the 2016 NFL season.
When football started again in the fall of 2017, professional ballplayers went back to their old antics, “taking a knee” instead of standing reverently with their hands over their hearts. Their protests only intensified after President Donald Trump admonished them in a speech to his supporters, saying they ought to be fired for turning their backs on our flag and the brave men and women who have sacrificed everything so that self-entitled athletes like Colin Kaepernick can live safely and freely.
One person you won’t find disrespecting those heroes, however, is 49ers tight end George Kittle. Before kickoff during a game this week, Kittle hustled over to a line of service members who were present on the field and took the time to shake hands with every single one of them.
#SaluteToService @gkittle46 made sure to shake every servicemember's hand before kickoff. #MNF pic.twitter.com/QbQTjjbW6I
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 13, 2018
According to IJR, one service member at the game, who shared a photo standing next to Kittle, explained that he “loves our military” and is a “great guy.”
He loves our military! I've met him twice now and he's a great guy! pic.twitter.com/AkFN5Hn2yS
— 🐢🇺🇸Terrell Hannah🇺🇸🐢 (@turtle_hannah) November 13, 2018
On Veterans Day, Kittle showed his gratitude for all of those who serve by tweeting, “Thank you to everyone that serves and protects our country! #SalutetoService.”
Thank you to everyone that serves and protects our country! #SalutetoService 🇺🇸
— George Kittle (@gkittle46) November 11, 2018
Salute to Service is the NFL’s charitable organization honoring veterans, military members, and their families. The effort raises money for nonprofits such as USO, Pat Tillman Foundation, and the Wounded Warrior Project.
Every year, the NFL and the NFL Players Association come together in honor of Veterans Day to celebrate and recognize members of the military as part of the league’s Salute to Service. The league’s military appreciation efforts, which extend throughout the year, culminate in November with NFL Salute to Service games and other special events honoring veterans, active-duty service members and their families.
Since 2011, nearly $10 million has been raised through Salute to Service to support the league’s military appreciation non-profit partners, USO, Pat Tillman Foundation and Wounded Warrior Project. In honor of the men and women who serve our country, the NFL will again donate $1,000 for every point scored during the NFL’s 32 Salute to Service games to the partners.
The NFL donates 100 percent of proceeds from the sale of Salute to Service merchandise at retail and on NFL Auction to its military non-profit partners. The NFL does not profit from the sale or auction of Salute to Service merchandise. [Source: NFL Communications]
Of course, George Kittle hasn’t received nearly the amount of attention for his gratitude toward our troops as Kaepernick did for his disrespect. Sadly, that is the world we now live in; over-paid, self-absorbed athletes are glorified while the real heroes are ignored.
If you are proud to see that at least one member of the NFL shows our troops the respect they deserve, please share this story. Let’s give Kittle the recognition he deserves.