Dear Raider Football Team -
Wooooooooooooo! Congratulations on another win, men! 14-0 is unprecedented in Appomattox and a milestone that few other teams ever reach. Be proud. Suit up. And let's do it ONE MORE TIME!
As an Appomattox native, football fan and former Raider (maybe lifetime instead of former...after all, once a Raider, always a Raider) I can speak for us all when I say that we are so proud of your accomplishments - on and off of the field. You've shown us incredible feats of athleticism and more importantly, how faith and perseverance can overcome insurmountable obstacles (shout out to a 4th quarter comeback vs. Richlands!). You've shown us that coming together as a team can accomplish great things. Then you taught us how to come together as a community. God is using your lives to heal broken hearts, mend broken spirits and uplift broken people in your community. For that, we are eternally grateful.
I'm positive that you didn't set out to be healers of your community. After all, you were not immune to the troubles being faced. But very quietly and very reverently you took that pain - yours, ours, everyone's - and quite literally, tackled it on the field. You are being blessed in your lives for being a blessing in others. You give your game to God and he is undoubtedly working through you each day and each week.
Therefore, you have become the Sons of Appomattox. Each one of you is now a part of us. Someone you may never know will hear your name in years to come and remember you. You will be thought of fondly in this town... probably for the rest of your lives. No matter where you go and no matter what you do, you will always be the boys of fall that put a broken town back together. That title doesn't yield you a championship ring, but something much greater than that.
So thank you Raiders. From the bottom of my heart that pumps the Blue and Grey through my veins. *Obligatory cliché alert* - no matter the outcome this weekend, you are winners to us! Seriously.
Cheryl
Class of 2000
