KENDALL D. STACY

This is very personal to me and difficult to write about.  Please don’t comment.

This was my 3rd year to attend and compete at Charlie Crawford’s American Hero’s Celebration at NRS in Decatur Tx and at the Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth. This year was extra special because I was joined by my new bride, Melissa Shaw Stacy.  This event is about so much more than a team roping.   It’s an opportunity for me to connect with other military veterans, we all have scars from our service, some scars are on the outside and some are on the inside, many have both. Like so many other military veterans I served honorably, followed orders, went wherever I was told, and did what I was ordered to do without hesitation.  Quitting was never an option, nor did I ever want to.  But eventually we all have to adjust to being a civilian again.  It’s easier said than done, little did I know, I had experienced things that can’t be forgotten.  We are all trained to kill.  There’s nothing glamorous about it, we were trained to kill the enemy and avoid being killed by the enemy.  We are trained to give our life without hesitation if necessary to accomplish the mission. Needless to say these things are not natural reactions for most humans.  So, our minds are re-programmed to follow orders and fight.  As bad as it sounds, this re-programming is necessary.  But, it changes us forever.  It shows up when we don’t want it to.  It causes deep depression.  Depression is a horrible condition.  When someone who has been trained that they are expendable becomes depressed, it’s not a good out come.  The point I’m trying to make is that we have a hard time living a normal life.  When I came to the American Military Celebration 2 years ago, I felt normal, it was the first time in 20 years I had the opportunity to be around so many, not only Military Veterans like myself, but also Military Veterans that love the Western Lifestyle and roping.

I am not good at communicating verbally.  I don’t even attempt to talk about what has gone on in my life the last few years, but I have learned to write about it.  Which is encouraged by my shrink lol.  I personally want to thank Charlie Crawford and his amazing team for hosting this amazing event.  And, thank you to all the sponsors that give their time and money, this event not only gives us a place to feel normal, it also raises money to buy a handicap accessible home for a wounded warrior.

Last night at the Gala, our guest speaker was a retired Navy Admiral, he flew 1,000’s of combat missions as a Naval Aviator.  He said repeatedly that God has a plan, and he will insert people in our lives that we may not understand at the time why, but God knows what he’s doing.  It really hit home what he said.  Without a doubt, God is in control of Charlie Crawford’s American Hero’s Celebration and the Liberty and Loyalty Foundation