To all of “Those” that refuse to stand for the Flag of the United States of America……….. this is my nephew Arek Trenholm, he has “spina bifida” he used his arms to “STAND” from his wheelchair as our Flag passed by!! He will never be able to “play” football, if he could, he would “Stand” as the flag passed or when the “National Anthem” is played. Take a lesson!
A 16-year-old Florida has gone viral after his uncle shared a photo of him shaming anthem protesters refusing to stand. In the picture (below) we see Arek Trenholm, 16, hoisting himself up in his wheelchair in an attempt to stand for the National Anthem even though Arek has spina bifida, a birth defect that results when there is an ‘incomplete closing of the backbone and membranes around the spinal cord’. This is a birth defect that has rendered Arek unable to stand or walk, and he spends his life confined to a wheelchair.
Here’s that photo that has gone viral overnight:
with the caption:
To all of “Those” that refuse to stand for the Flag of the United States of America……….. this is my nephew Arek Trenholm, he has “spina bifida” he used his arms to “STAND” from his wheelchair as our Flag passed by!! He will never be able to “play” football, if he could, he would “Stand” as the flag passed or when the “National Anthem” is played. Take a lesson!
Arek’s reason for standing? His uncle Myron spoke with FOX5NY about this:
“He’s making that effort, where so many … that have legs, that could stand, are sitting or kneeling,” said Leggett, “and not using their ‘well legs’ to stand and respect those who have fought and died for our flag and for our country.”
Arek is a little shy and soft spoken, but he did tell us why he stood on that warm October afternoon.
“I didn’t want to be disrespectful, and I always stand up when … they do the flag.”
A small gesture, from a kid with a big heart.
The photo has already been shared and ‘liked’ thousands of times on Facebook since Arek’s uncle Myron Leggett first shared it on October 14th, and Arek’s story has even been featured in the NYPost:
The football comment refers to San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who has been choosing to sit during the national anthem as a protest over the treatment of African-Americans. He has also inspired several others to do so in recent weeks.
The decision to try to stand for the first time in seven years to pay his respects had social media users lauding Trenholm, who hails from Leesburg, Florida, about an hour northwest of Orlando.
“Arek, I am a US Navy veteran who spent three years in Iraq and Afghanistan…and I just want you to know that you are MY hero,” wrote Facebook user Sean Holden.
Maureen Huebel added, “Mr. Leggett — I am the adult child of a Disabled Veteran and also the reigning Mrs. Florida USA Earth. Please send my kuddos to your nephew Arek and let him know it would be an honor to shake his hand someday.”
I’m not sure it’s cool of the kid’s uncle (who is a photographer) to use an image of him to make a nationwide political statement, but that didn’t stop it from happening, and it’s rustling jimmies all across social media. Don’t believe me? Just check out the comments on that Facebook post!
…(h/t NYPost)…