Big impact with small gestures

It is often believed that simple gestures go a long way.
Whether it’s doing a neighbor a small favor, helping someone grab an item off of a tall shelf in a grocery store or just telling someone “hello” randomly.
People remember the small, nice things that people do.
However, it’s the big and outward gestures that often stand out and people remember.
Eunice High School head volleyball coach Wayne Fontenot has a big way to celebrate the 13 soldiers who lost their lives in the Afghanistan crisis.
Recently, they lost their lives in an airport attack by a suicide bomber in Kabul, Afghanistan, as they attempted to evacuate stranded American and Afghani citizens.
Fontenot wants to make sure their names aren’t forgotten in a beautiful way.
He is ordering his team a uniform they will wear at some point this week during a home game.
They will be army green, feature camouflage sleeves and each uniform will feature the last name of one of the fallen soldiers.
“It was a combined effort as fast as the idea for this to be put in place,” he said. “The idea game to my head after a Tuesday game against Westlake and the fact that the men and women aren’t being honored as they should be.”
It’s a matter that strikes near and dear to Fontenot, whose father is a Vietnam vet and coming from a family that features representation of nearly every military branch.
And what a beautiful tribute it is from a man I know personally.
Teaching at Eunice High, Wayne is right across the hall from me. I see him every day. To say he is passionate about coaching and the kids he coaches would be an understatement.
He’s also successful, leading EHS to its first playoff appearance in volleyball last season.
But, for all the things Fontenot has done well as the head volleyball coach, remember the biggest and most important gesture he will do may be this one.
Not only is it a touching and fitting tribute to those fallen soldiers, but it’s also a possibility to give back monetarily.
As of now, Fontenot has no plans to auction off or sell the uniforms. But, imagine the good he can do in selling those uniforms and then making a donation to a charity like Wounded Warriors.
Not only would the gesture make an immediate statement, but also a lasting impact.