<i><strong>Editor’s note</strong>: The NFL celebrates the U.S. armed forces throughout November in honor of Veterans Day, and we felt it appropriate to republish Herbie Teope’s 2008 salute to the NFL and military. Herm Edwards and Donnie Edwards are no longer with the Kansas City Chiefs, but the overall message remains relevant to the Nov. 11 holiday.</i></p><p>With Veterans Day approaching, I’m straying off course for a week to pay tribute to the NFL and men and women in uniform.</p><p>I walked more than a mile in the latter’s shoes during 20 years of active duty service before retiring in February 2006, so the holiday is special to me. </p><p>Some of my fondest memories in life are not from working at Time Warner Cable & Metro Sports or covering the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine. They pale in comparison to my time in Panama for combat operations during “Operation Just Cause,” a 1995 deployment to Haiti in support of “Operation Restore Democracy” and my two-year tour as an Army Drill Sergeant (1997-1999). </p><p>There is a bond unlike any other between members of the military. It is a bond most who never wore the uniform will come close to understanding.</p><p>However, I couldn’t resist smiling during past coverage and observations of Kansas City Chiefs’ practices and the team’s 2006 training camp.</p><p>Outside of armed conflict, I discovered the game generally parallels what uniformed personnel go through. The discipline required combined with tough physical and mental training one must endure is for one goal – the accomplishment of the mission.</p><p>Perhaps that explains the love affair between the military and the NFL, but also factor in the comfort troops find in following favorite teams during deployments or while stationed overseas, a fact not lost on the league.</p><p>“I’ve been fortunate enough to take NFL players overseas the past two years to first, Iraq, and then last year we went to Afghanistan,” said David Krichavsky, the league’s director of community relations. “It’s just such a meaningful experience. The point being is that through the experience of doing USO trips and a number of other things, we’ve seen how passionate members of the military are about the NFL.”</p><p>The league’s strong relationship with the military derives from 43 years of USO tours, which touches troops at all levels. But the NFL and 11 teams, to include the Chiefs, took it another level this season through a partnership with Topps, one of the country’s largest trading card companies, by recognizing an Armed Forces Fan of the Game.</p><p>The honor also comes with a card complete with a photo and bio.</p><p>“We always talk about the real heroes are the men and women who serve us,” Krichavsky said. “We saw an opportunity to show who the real heroes are.”</p><p>Army Staff Sgt. Wyat Tomlinson, a native of Platte Woods, Mo., and 1998 graduate of Park Hill High School, represented the Chiefs as the 2008 Armed Forces Fan of the Game.</p><p>He considers himself a die-hard fan and is currently serving as a recruiter in Lenexa, Kan., after successful tours at Fort Benning, Ga., Fort Drum, N.Y., Iraq and with the famous Old Guard in Washington, D.C. Tomlinson said he’s humbled by the national recognition, but appreciated the league’s support of the military and upcoming holiday.</p><p>“It’s absolutely amazing to have an organization take something that is sometimes overlooked by most and put so much emphasis on it,” Tolminson said. “It’s important to give the credit where credit is due for veterans of the past, and present as well.”</p><p>The Chiefs, long-time supporters of the military, paid an early Week 9 Veterans Day halftime tribute at Arrowhead Stadium and the holiday carries meaning to coach Herm Edwards, whose father served 30 years in the Army.