|
|
 |
| Advertise with Java Journal and Save! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
“What is Past is Prologue” ~William Shakespeare
We owe the location of our nation’s capital to George Washington himself. The trick was to choose a site that would be considered neutral to both northern and southern interests. Washington’s answer? A 10-mile square that allowed for Pierre Charles L’Enfant to work his grand avenue, Versailles-like magic along the Potomac. Too bad for George though — the President’s House or White House, the oldest surviving Federal structure in America, was not available until 1800 when John and Abigail Adams moved in.
If you’ve never visited Washington, D.C., you owe it to yourself, your family and friends. This city, or to be more precise, district, belongs to you. It always has, with the exception of a few months during the war of 1812 when the British got a little carried away.
Washington, D.C., is perhaps the single greatest symbol of freedom in the world today. It represents the great American experiment, which is far from over. A visit to the National Archives Museum underscores this point. A commanding female statue keeping vigil over the contents therein reminds passers-by on Pennsylvania Avenue that, “what is past is prologue.”
That quote recently caught the eye of Daniel. Daniel is homeless and plays street soccer for the St. Louis Roadies, our own hometown homeless soccer team. A few weeks ago, Daniel and five of his teammates traveled to D.C. to compete in the Homeless USA Cup. "What does that quote mean exactly?" he asked. The question went on to become a theme for his teammates during the tournament. For the purposes of a travel column, a unique look at Washington, D.C., through the eyes of a homeless soccer team is worth the read.
The Homeless USA Cup is a tournament for cities across America to showcase the soccer talent of those who grapple with freedom on a daily basis. Men and women living on the streets or in shelters across the country are invited to compete on behalf of their city. Tournament organizers then choose from a hundred or so athletes to represent the nation on the global stage. The Homeless World Cup is approximately five years old. This year’s U.S. National Team will travel to Melbourne, Australia in December to compete against 60 plus nations from around the world.
With limited sponsorship funds, the St. Louis homeless soccer team, aka St. Louis Roadies, had to be very careful with their limited budget. Lodging, for example, was our first challenge. Frugal travelers will be happy to know that it is possible to stay in the heart of the capital for $20 per person per night, that is if you’re more interested in experiencing D.C. than remembering the quality of the towels from your hotel. Very modest accommodations can be found at Luther Place Memorial Church Youth Hostel (Thomas Circle, 1220 Vermont Ave. NW), located in the heart of D.C., thankfully within walking distance of Ben’s Chili Bowl (1213 U Street).
One of our players uncovered Luther Place church records from the nineteenth century in a music room/library. Pastor John George Butler served 50 years in the district in the 1800s. His career was marked by service to the poor and counsel to presidents and dignitaries. In fact, he served as chaplain to one of Lincoln’s assassins, assuring him of divine compassion even to the gallows.
With one day to sightsee before the tournament began, we were short on time. Our first stop was a visit to Senator “Kit” Bond. Room 247 in the Russell Senate Building is set aside on Thursday mornings for Missouri visitors to D.C. to meet with the Senator. He was kind to listen as players described what it is like to be homeless in St. Louis and asked for his support of the many programs offered by Peter & Paul Community Services (www.ppcsinc.org).
Senatorial visit complete and with all-day metro passes secured, group consensus brought us to the Declaration of Independence and the Lincoln Memorial. Like so many of the world’s great cities, there is only so much you can do in a short time frame. We were content to focus on just a few of D.C.’s landmarks.
After sightseeing, players and coaches connected interesting dots on the day. A theme surfaced and carried the conversation prior to lights out. The men reflected, for example, on why they were in D.C. and what the soccer tournament meant for each of them. The common denominator was freedom. From the reverence they observed in the National Archives for a document that set the world on fire with hope to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his famous speech, each player realized he was fighting to be free of all those things that up to this point had dominated him, leaving him enslaved to homelessness. For some this meant alcohol, for others, drugs. Still others sited mental illness, anger and low self-esteem as their particular chains.
The St. Louis Roadies went on to finish third in the beginner bracket of the Homeless USA Cup. They managed four points in all and won their last game against Richmond. The Roadies received the Fair Play trophy, an honor given to the team that best captured the spirit of the tournament. And finally, our goalie was chosen from more than one-hundred participants as an alternate for the national team.
While people-watching at the mall one evening, the Roadies welcomed President George Bush back to the White House via Marine One helicopter. We were also lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the new president of Iraq, Jalal Talabani, as his one-mile motorcade exited a nearby restaurant on 15th and Pennsylvania Ave. More signs of freedom.
Our weekend went on to include shopping at Union Station, cruising Georgetown at night, taking in the sunset from the roof of the Kennedy Center, and driving along the George Washington Memorial Parkway in route to a group photo outside the national’s ballpark. Aside from the shopping, all free, all fun.
Homeless World Cup organizers estimate that one-third of those who participate in the tournament do not return to homelessness. No one is quite sure why.
It may have something to do with the dynamic of belonging. It could be linked to the dignity that comes from knowing that others are depending on you. Perhaps a renewed sense of pride and self-esteem is at play or the feeling of being connected to a bigger picture? Whatever the reason, the men who make up the St. Louis Roadies are some of the greatest people I’ve ever met. Whether they will belong to the fortunate one-third who leave homelessness behind as a result of playing soccer remains to be seen. Until then, you can bet on one thing — like all of us, their past is prologue and their future holds the promise of hope.
| August Featured Stories |
|
|
|
|
|
