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Unread 02-05-2002, 12:15
Travis Hoffman's Avatar Unsung FIRST Hero
Travis Hoffman Travis Hoffman is offline
O-H
FRC #0048 (Delphi E.L.I.T.E.)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Rookie Year: 2001
Location: Warren, Ohio USA
Posts: 4,045
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American/Canadian Partnership

This is in response to some of the comments made in the 'American "Selectiveness"' thread.

There are two moments I will never forget about the 2002 FIRST season. Both occurred at the Canadian Regional. Before Saturday's matches got under way, a young female Canadian student on Team 188 forgot the words to the American National Anthem. Instead of quitting and hiding in embarrassment, she bravely went back out there, and the Hershey Centre soon resonated with the combined voices of the entire audience - Americans and Canadians alike - singing the anthem together along with her. That moment brought me to tears. I simultaneously felt proud to be an American and lucky to be among such great representatives of the Canadian nation.

The second moment I will never forget was shortly after Team 48 picked 188 to be our first alliance partner in the elimination rounds. One of the Woburn kids came up to me in our pit area and handed me a small pin with the Canadian and American flags flying together. This little pin is the greatest thing anyone has ever given me at a FIRST event. I immediately put it on the lanyard holding my SME badge, and I've worn it proudly ever since.

People have a right to their opinions and they have a right to argue all they want about the relative strengths and weaknesses of the American and Canadian governments or generalize that the American people are egotistical and selfish, but as far as I am concerned, I believe statements like these have no business being in any FIRST forum. Personal experience has taught me that our Canadian robotics friends north of the border are no different than any of us on American teams - we are all a part of the same FIRST family, and we are all passionate about this program and the many rewards it brings to its students, engineers, and teachers. I am honored to have had the opportunity to work alongside some of these great people as partners and friends, and I look forward to working with them again one day. When that day arrives, you can be sure I'll still be wearing the pin I was given by an excited Canadian kid from Team 188.
__________________

Travis Hoffman, Enginerd, FRC Team 48 Delphi E.L.I.T.E.
Encouraging Learning in Technology and Engineering - www.delphielite.com
NEOFRA - Northeast Ohio FIRST Robotics Alliance - www.neofra.com
NEOFRA / Delphi E.L.I.T.E. FLL Regional Partner

Last edited by Travis Hoffman : 02-05-2002 at 17:41.
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