April 12, 2004: Headlines: Speaking Out: Service: Humor: Record Online: The notion of the Peace Corps may be as antiquated as VW Beetles and Vietnam War protests, but community service is still as vital in the age of VW Passats and Iraq War protests

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Headlines: April 2004 Peace Corps Headlines: April 12, 2004: Headlines: Speaking Out: Service: Humor: Record Online: The notion of the Peace Corps may be as antiquated as VW Beetles and Vietnam War protests, but community service is still as vital in the age of VW Passats and Iraq War protests

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-242-91.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.242.91) on Thursday, April 15, 2004 - 5:17 pm: Edit Post

The notion of the Peace Corps may be as antiquated as VW Beetles and Vietnam War protests, but community service is still as vital in the age of VW Passats and Iraq War protests

The notion of the Peace Corps may be as antiquated as VW Beetles and Vietnam War protests, but community service is still as vital in the age of VW Passats and Iraq War protests

The notion of the Peace Corps may be as antiquated as VW Beetles and Vietnam War protests, but community service is still as vital in the age of VW Passats and Iraq War protests

College kids must get involved

By Ken McMillan

Times Herald-Record

kmcmillan@th-record.com

There is something positive that can be said about the care-free life of college. The restrictions of adolescence have been lifted. It is a chance to branch out, meet new friends, expand one's mind and have a bit of fun.

Too often, though, our young adults squander their opportunities, preferring to gorge on MTV, video games and parties, when a simple taste will do.

It's ironic that college environments which promote activism, ranging from animal rights groups which want to save the whales, baby seals and spotted owls, to the environmentalists who want to save the seas and the forests, will do so little for their fellow man.

The notion of the Peace Corps may be as antiquated as VW Beetles and Vietnam War protests, but community service is still as vital in the age of VW Passats and Iraq War protests.

College students are ideally suited for this service. They need a connection to the real world they are about to enter. They typically have the modes of transportation. Many aren't tied down to the 40-hour work week just yet. They are old enough to help out with the elderly and yet young enough to identify with the children they may encounter.

I get encouraged every time I pick up the NCAA News weekly report and read about college athletes devoting an afternoon to packing lunches for senior shut-ins or serving holiday dinners to the needy, but you have to wonder if it is merely something their coach forced them to do and not done with an open heart.

I can say, without reservation, that my favorite athlete was Marist College football player J.J. Allen. He was special, not only for his immense athletic talents but his ability to touch people, young and old, with his beaming personality and willingness to serve.

"Guys on the team would offer themselves for Thanksgiving (meal kitchens), help give food out," said teammate Jim Daley of Washingtonville, "but J.J. would take it to the next level, not just helping when you needed but he helped all the time."

J.J. was unmistakable on game days. He wore "war paint," although his smile was his greatest face feature. Standing only 5 feet, 6 inches tall, Allen was a giant on the football field, punishing defenders who tried to bring down the tailback.

During his senior season, Allen carried the ball 30-35 times a game, making him one big bruise by day's end. Still, that never deterred him from greeting throngs of children who would flock to him after games for handshakes and autographs.

"You're all beat up, you're mentally drained and physically hurting," said Jovan Rhodes, who split the tailback duties with Allen in 1997. "To still put a smile on your face for meet-and-greet means a lot to the person you are interacting with."

"The first time me and J.J. (signed autographs) we kidded around about it," said teammate Jerry Gerth. "It made us take a step back and made us think that we were pretty important in some of these guys' minds. They didn't know we were only Marist College; to them we were the New York Jets or New York Giants."

Allen was a pied piper for the children, many of whom he had read to in elementary school or had instructed on the youth football fields.

"I know there were a couple schools that me and him and a couple other guys visited and talked to the students," Gerth said. "I remember spending an entire day with the kids, and a lot of them had learning disabilities and different challenges. You had to see the kids' faces. When you think about it, it was pretty amazing that day we gave back to the community and what it meant to the kids."

J.J. Allen lost a battle with cancer a few months ago, and the outpouring of condolences from the school and community at large could have filled any football field.

In this day and age where pampered scholarship athletes stick their hands out and demand more, it is good to know there are a few who understand it is better to give than receive.

Ken McMillan's column appears regularly in the Times Herald-Record. He can be reached at 845-346-3126 and kmcmillan@th-record.com.



Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

Story Source: Record Online

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Speaking Out; Service; Humor

PCOL10924
99

.


Add a Message


This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Username:  
Password:
E-mail: