THE FRONT ROW WITH MARK NELKE: Sunday, May 24, 2015

Many of us are sons who lost their fathers way too soon.

Some, more brutally than others, but the common denominator is - they're still gone.

Someone sent me a video recently of a young local boy playing in soccer game, just hours before attending his father's funeral.

The national sports world is filled with stories of athletes playing on despite personal tragedy - Brett Favre throwing for 399 yards and four touchdowns in a romp at Oakland one night after his father passed away is one example that immediately comes to mind.

But those athletes are often grown men and women - not 12-year-olds still trying to come to grips with what happened.

I WATCHED the video of Dylon Moore playing for his Coeur d'Alene Sting team in the big local soccer tournament a couple of weekends ago. It would have been completely understandable if he chose to avoid the considerable spotlight and sit this one out, but he played because that was a way to honor his father Greg, a Coeur d'Alene Police officer killed in the line of duty.

Bravo.

That he was able, on this emotional day, to score a goal on a penalty kick, and have his teammates rush to congratulate him - and also assist on another score had to give him at least a little bit of pleasure on an otherwise trying day - and was a nice way to say goodbye to dad as well.

I've never met Dylon, but no matter - on that day, he represented the little kid in all of us, the son in many of us - and the athlete in most of us.

Well played, Dylon.

THOUGH MEMORIAL Day is meant to honor those who gave their lives protecting ours and defending us, it's often looked at as excuse to get out of town, and a chance to get an extra day off - with pay.

However you observe it, pause and take a moment this weekend to put yourself in Dylon's shoes.

If that causes you to score your own imaginary goal, and share a smile with someone you recently lost, even better.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter@CdAPressSports.