This weekend I had the privilege to be a judge in the American Legion Riders Post 2 Chili Cook-Off.

It was a great experience and a lot of fun to see just how different people make chili.

Being from Texas, I have had my fair share of chili in my lifetime and I was honored to be selected as a judge.

However, the experience was sullied just a shade when the director of the Legion Riders told me that a separate media organization had promised to be there to cover the event, only to call him Friday to inform him they would no longer be covering the event because "they had other things to do."

This is a shame to me, not only as a reporter, but also as a person.

As a reporter, I understand sometimes conflicts arise in our schedules, but there is always a chance to rearrange your schedule to fit everything in.

It was great to see so many people in the public show up to this event, along with all the other celebrations of our nation's veterans.

However, this was an event that could not be rescheduled and on top of that, it was Veterans Day, a great time to give the oldest legion post in the state some extra coverage.

I'm not quite sure what the "more important thing" was, but to me, backing out of covering the event, especially so soon, is a hit on not only reporters, but to also those heroes who worked hard and gave their lives to protect this country.