by Spc. Wes Landrum
Pentagram staff writer
Photo by Spc. Wes Landrum
WWE superstar Ron "Farooq" Simmons signs an autograph for airman Casey Crawford.
Some people might get to meet a celebrity maybe once in their lifetime. But, Soldiers and their families at Fort Myer, got to meet two celebrities -- twice in the same night. Sunday night, the Soldiers got to meet two superstars from World Wrestling Entertainment.
The stars, D-Von Dudley and Ron "Farooq" Simmons, came on behalf of the USO to meet and talk to Soldiers and their families. They also watched the WWE's January pay-per-view event, "The Royal Rumble" with them. Dudley said just being in the building with "real heroes and role models" is something he'll remember for a while.
"A lot of people look at us as role models," he said. "The real heroes are these guys who go all over the world fighting for the freedom of this country and other countries like Iraq.
These young men and women are putting their careers, bodies and lives on the line each time they step into the desert," Dudley continued. "They are the real role models."
Dudley said he missed the WWE's trip to Baghdad in December because of injuries, but said the superstars supported the Soldiers' endeavors "110 percent come hell or high water."
"If we were over there and a crisis arose, with the proper training, we'd pick up a weapon and fight alongside the Soldiers," he said.
Simmons said he's been to Iraq twice. He said before making trip , he used to "sit back and say what I thought was really going on over there like everyone is doing over here." He said a lot of people across the nation are doing the same thing he did.
"It's easy to criticize what's happening over there and then say 'God bless the troops," Simmons said. "That's very hypocritical."
However, he continued, his opinion changed once he landed in Iraq and experienced firsthand what was going on.
"I can't tell you what an experience it was," he said. "I now know the conditions they're under, what they're facing over there. I have nothing but respect for each man and woman who's over there putting their life on the line for us."
Dudley said WWE Chairman Vince McMahon knows the sacrifices Soldiers make when deployed. He said that's why the trips to the Middle East are made every year.
"Vince said if they can't come to us, we want to go to them," Dudley said. "As long as you guys are there, he'll make sure you get a show because we know there are many fans in our armed services."
Besides spending time with the armed services, the two men were here to promote the "Get Real Program." Dudley said all the superstars in the WWE are going to schools around the nation speaking on such topics as the importance of staying in school, staying focused and the importance of listening to authority. He said the superstars are targeting children labeled as "rebels without a cause."
"There are a lot of youth who act like there's no one around to help them out," Dudley said. "Myself, Ron and the other WWE Superstars go out and explain to them the reasons why they should stay in school or listen to your parents and teachers.
"There's a purpose for it," he said. "It will pay off in the long run."
Dudley said the goal is not to reach one child, but all children.
"I get letters from teachers and principals saying we touched people," he said.
"Some people say 'Well, if we can get through to just one kid,'" Dudley added. " My goal is to get to all of them. We want to let the kids know there are people out there who do care."
Credit: www.dcmilitary.com
