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.
I whole heartedly agree with you…we’re all “roboteers”… thats all that matters… We all work together and we can all cooperate… I didn’t notice a difference between the American and Canadian teams at all… I actually felt priviledged to meet some canadian team members. We’re all one in the same… but you summed it up better…
Thank you very much, T. Hoffman, on behalf of 188 for that. We really appreciate it. I must say this thread is starting on a much better note. I liked those pins too and boy did they ever go fast! By the last day we were getting special requests for them or the Canadian flag by itself at least once every hour. Our team has been made aware of this thread by the way (we might even see about a response from that ‘young female Canadian student on Team 188’!).
By the way, your robot was really amazing; we were ‘honoured’ to go alongside you guys.
I, too, am glad to have been a part of the Canadian Regional and able to particiapte in the singing of both the US and Canadian national anthems.
Being from the Detroit area, I was embarrased to find out that one of our co-ops attended the Detroit Pistons game when the fans booed the Canadians during the singing of their national anthem. The United States and Canada have a great relationship, especially here in Detroit and Windsor. We love our freedom to cross over the border, and in late June, we celebrate the International Freedom Festival together.
FIRST represents and brings out the best in people, and Canadian regional was a great experience. On Friday, I found myself wanting to sing along with the Canadian national anthem, and on Saturday, my wish was granted. I look forward to the next opportunity where we can sing and respect the national anthems together as freely and openly as we did at the Candadian Regional.
Many thanks to Mark and my friends on Team 188 for their efforts in making this Regional happen. I’ll keep cheering for ya, eh?
