Out of the Silence a 
Song
by : Tom Cooney
They gathered in the tunnel where giant boom boxes blasted out their tune. The ear-splitting thunder was keeping time with their gyrations. There were big smiles on their faces. These 150 Deaf and Blind students of Ray’s army were ready to be thrust into the spotlight. They were surrounded by pomp and circumstance, which had little meaning to them. Imagine their delight to imagine their anticipation.
Fantasy soon became reality as they moved out. Little did they know what awaited them. Celebrities, entertainers, players, and security came into view as they made their way onto the field. Spread out before their eyes were the people, a sea of varied colors blending with the twilight. Suddenly it hit them; goose bumps ran up their arms as they took their places on the stage. Standing in rows (wearing tan pants and their sky blue shirts emblazoned with Florida School for the Deaf and Blind) they took it all in. This was one of the biggest and most exciting opportunities they would encounter in their lifetime.
He made millions of people smile and thrilled millions more with his music.
The tribute started with salutation of Mr. Charles life. The late jazz Titan's picture flashed and glittered as a musical eulogy of sorts played on the big jumbotron above the field, and was capped as out of the silence up raised hands on the field a song stirred and America the Beautiful came to life with a symphony of gestures.
Suddenly it was time; Priscilla's hands came alive in unison with Alicia Keys’ voice and then the remaining 149 young people slowly on cue joined the 73,000 paying tribute to Ray Charles. A collage of the life of Mr. Ray Charles’ life flashed on the big jumbotron above. They honored his life. The land where he spent his first tender years. Where his roots were forged long before he went off into the world to seek his fortune.
They had been silent all their lives, yet this night they spoke louder than any voice could ever convey. Graceful motions of hands keeping time to the words flowed all over; sitting above was Ray- way up above. Everyone could feel his presence. He had a bearish tone style all his own and America the Beautiful was his daddy. He saw every sign, heard every word and was so very proud of his, Alma Mater.
My deaf body with was overwhelmed with the sweetest music I had never heard in my life. I have no way of knowing how many of us had tears in our eyes. All I saw as I took in the moment were people swaying, and what had the biggest impact on me was their hands talking to the group shouting out their gratitude with a frenzy of I Love You signs and shaking up-raised arms. For a few magical moments the deaf had taken over the stadium.
As they ran off the field each of them realized they had experienced a feeling they could not describe, one of belonging, one that a few of their peers would ever realize.
The words of Pete Roselle former commissioner of the NFL came to my mind:
" The Super Bowl has to be an experience people remember for the rest of their lives ".
I think this conveys an opportunity of history one that the NFL presented to the Deaf community. We appreciate it, all 28 million of us. This was a golden opportunity to introduce sign language to untold millions of people around the world, and reinforce our heritage with the ones who are familiar with deafness and is constant with Lily the Love Frogs purpose of unlocking the silence through knowledge and understanding.
We can never thank the National Football League enough for providing a showcase to enable the Deaf Community to reach so many, allowing us to share Sign Language with the world.
I know personally people have remarked to me that the Super Bowl was so awesome with the songs in sign language. For a pure Deaf person to stand with hearing people on the same level is a tremendous advancement in the Deaf world. Gone are the days of deaf and dumb, the ignorance hearing people had for the deaf, gone are the cliches and sound bites of yesteryear; I can do anything except hear. From Deaf President Now march at Gallaudet, we have come a long way in gaining respect and it is my belief that someday we will live together with our hearing counterparts and there will be no mention of deafness.
-- Tom
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