Dear Abby Wambach,

Dear Abby,

You recently appeared in a commercial for Gatorade, imploring us to forget you. You want us to forget your name. Forget your number. Forget you ever existed. You want us to forget the medals you’ve won. Forget the records you’ve broken. And forget the sacrifices you’ve made to achieve unprecedented greatness.

Well, Abby, I’m sorry. I’m sorry to break this to you. We will not grant your request; not now, and not ever. We’re not going to forget you, and here’s why:

In any movement that takes us to places we’ve never been, we remember the trailblazers. We exalt the pioneers, the ones who pave the way for the rest of us. We glorify those with the courage and audacity to challenge the status quo. We idolize those who splash water on the faces of those naysayers who said “you can’t.” We acknowledge the guts and determination that compels the rest of us to push beyond every conceivable boundary.

So, dear Abby, please embrace your immortality. Celebrate the medals you’ve won and the records you’ve broken. Most importantly, revel in the glory of how you have empowered girls and women to exploit the full potential of their humanity. We don’t have to forget you to carry on your legacy. We will succeed because you blazed the trail for us. You have lifted us up; we are standing on your shoulders.

Thank you, dear Abby. We will never forget you.