What an incredible experience we had this week. I worked all summer with Mike Ritland to set up an assembly for our students as a reward for doubling our summer reading goal (which in itself was huge).
Mike is absolutely amazing. Here is a quick snippet about him:
Mike Ritland joined the Navy at age 17 in 1996, after being inspired by his grandfathers—both of whom had served in World War II. He graduated with BUD/S class 215 and became a member of SEAL Team 3.
In April 2003, Ritland’s 16-member SEAL Team was deployed to Iraq along with the First Marine Division, and they were tasked with taking the city of Tikrit. During one clearing operation, he observed a group of Marines approaching a cave-like structure in a rural area outside the city. After searching thousands of buildings and similar structures without issue, they were tempted to assume that all was clear, but the platoon was alerted to danger by an explosive-detector dog. Ritland learned later that a grenade booby trap had been set in the doorway and would certainly have killed the first marines to enter. He knew instantly that he wanted to work with dogs such as the one he’d seen, and learn to harness their remarkable abilities to defeat the tools of modern warfare.
After 12 years of active duty as a U.S. Navy SEAL, Ritland became a BUD/S instructor and started his own company, Trikos International, to train dogs for the SEAL teams. Today he continues to supply working and protection dogs to a host of clients, including to the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs, Border Patrol, TSA and the Department of Defense. He has trained hundreds of working dogs, and has over 15 years of experience in importing, breeding, raising, and training multiple breeds of working dogs. He also started the Warrior Dog Foundation to help retired Special Operations dogs live long and happy lives after their service.
He GRACIOUSLY agreed to come speak to the kids about being a SEAL, being an author, and all about his dogs. Not only that, but he came for free! Most authors cost anywhere from $500-$2000, which we could never afford as all library funding was cut. I was nervous sick about the whole thing but it was a huge success! The school has never had anyone like this come visit! We had kids lining up the walkway with their books to just catch a glimpse of him arriving.
After the assembly, he came to the library and signed autographs for over 2 hours! Almost every kid wanted an autograph (so he signed about 500-600!) he signed books (we sold out of the 50 we got for the assembly), hats, papers, planners, hands, and even foreheads.
This guy served in Iraq at the same time Mike was there, so he got his books signed and had mike take a pic with his family. It was really cool.
He didn’t just sign books, he asked the kids what they wanted to be when they grew up and wrote personal messages to every kid!!!
His dog, Tigo, was beautiful! He let every kid pet him and even take selfies with him.
The kids were in heaven. The COOLEST thing was that Tigo autographed hard cover books!! If a kid had a hard cover, then Mike would stand up, Tigo would jump up and grab onto the book with his teeth, they would wrestle, then Mike would give the command to let go and the kid would get the book back with slobber and bite marks and they became the envy of the school!!
After hours of signing, he and I were talking before he left (he was heading to Purdue for 2 speaking engagements there). A 7th grade student came into the library, his eyes were all teary. He said, “Sir, it would be an honor for me to shake your hand. My family donated $40 to your Warrior Dog Foundation and I just wanted to thank you for your service and let you know you are my hero”. He left in tears and I started to cry. Clearly, Mike affected the kids in a deep manner.
His theme and most important thought he left them with was “I have seen things I hope you will NEVER have to see. But if you remember anything from this presentation, remember this…Freedom is a high price to pay, but it’s worth the fight.” It was an incredibly powerful message. (I did tape the presentation and Ill try to post)
We made the paper (although I was super ticked at the article, long story)
THANK YOU MIKE RITLAND!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment