Fort Knox When my first day working on post had come to an end, I was left feeling a little overwhelmed by the military aspect of my new job. So I decided to swing by football practice to find some familiarity, and regroup before heading home. Little did I know that not all breaks in football practice are for water, especially when it involves U.S. Army Fort Knox. A bugle sounded and everything stopped. There was no warning; there was no waiting. There were only young men and their coaches, standing at attention, staring off into the distance – with the utmost pride and respect on their faces. Imagine yourself watching an everyday football practice; the familiar sounds of pads hitting, whistles blowing, people yelling – and literally, out of nowhere, it all stops.Everyday at 5 p.m., everything comes to a complete halt on Fort Knox for ceremony known as “Retreat.” It holds great meaning to every military man and woman on post, and for good reason. I will never forget the first time I experienced this. The entire team stopped dead in their tracks, took off their helmets and just stood there; motionless. Not to mention they were staring off into the distance in the direction in which I was located, I get cold chills just thinking about it. I made this video so that people unfamiliar with this everyday ceremony, like myself just a month ago, could learn to appreciate this event as much I have lately. These football players are high school kids aged 15-18, just like any other kid their age, but when that bugle sounds they show maturity well beyond their years. It’s humbling, it’s prideful, and it’s amazing to experience in person. This video was shot during a Thursday afternoon walk-through practice, as the Eagles of Fort Knox High School made their final revisions before game day. Watch for yourself. Click the Fort Knox link at the beginning of story.
Posted by Matthew Schmuck on Thursday, September 3, 2015
