The American Flag
November 15th 2006 12:42
While speaking with a friend after the election, I was troubled when he told me he was taking down his flags. I understand his reasons and his frustration with the situation. We are in bad shape and many don't understand why we are so troubled.
I remember shortly after US troops entered Iraq, my husband and I were driving down a back road on our way to visit friends and as we came to a stop there was a house on the otherside of the road from us. The flag was hung upside down. For anyone who doesn't understand the symbolism there, an American flag hung in such a manner is a sign that America is in distress. I'll never forget the look on my husbands face that day. he was angered but I think the deeper emotion was pain.
Over the summer we were in Greenville Michigan for The Danish Festival. My husband had been talked into participating in the parade much to his chagrin...OK, I begged him to do this for me. I wanted him to see the support of this particular community that I had experienced when he was gone, I think he agreed just so I would quit nagging. This parade is huge and goes on forever or so it seems. My husband had been near the front and was highly upset by his placement in this parade. The Color Guard had been placed behind him and the other troops that participated. This was less than acceptable to him. He kept insisting the color guard needed to be first but the parade is set in a particular way and it can't be changed. It was headed by the troops who also had the flags on their floats and vehicles but for my husband this was not acceptable, the color guard should have gone before the troops, period.
Anyway, I digress: After my husband was done with his portion of the parade we began to walk down the street to go find something to eat and get a soda. Another soldier was with us and as the children along the street turned to stare at the two soldiers in uniform walking past them, I noticed both men suddenly stop and stand at attention. I have to admit, I hadn't seen it coming. The fife and drum corps were coming down the street and of course in the front of the group was an American Flag. As people walked past and around these two men neither moved until the flag had passed. It didn't matter to them that most everyone around them continued to talk and play, it didn't matter that only a few of the older people in the crowd took off their hats, none of that mattered. These men had given up a piece of thier lives for that flag and nothing else mattered to them, that was their flag, they defended that flag and they were proud to stand at attention and salute as she passed by.
To me the flag has little to do with the anyone in DC, for me it will always be about two men, standing on a sidewalk in the midst of people who didn't even consider them as they talked and laughed and all the other men and women like them. It's about the ones that didn't come home and the ones that willingly left home knowing they may never see home again.
So, I ask all of you before you decide to take your flag down or just simply never put one up, think about the soldier that may drive by and see that flag and for just a moment that soldier will know that someone understand the sacrifice that comes with the freedom to fly that flag.
One final note: Tommorow the second soldier in this story will be leaving his home again to serve his country and defend our flag. Greg, we love you, we will miss you and you will always be in our thoughts and prayers.
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