FLAG DAY

June 14, 2007


In the early days of the 1970s, there were events in America that captured everyone’s attention. In large cities, groups of rebellious teenagers and young adults began tearing down flags and destroying them. Since the police either couldn’t or wouldn’t stop them, groups of ‘Hard Hats’ (construction workers) left their jobs and began to set matters straight.



I was, at that time, attending a night seminar in creative writing at a local Junior College. Most of the class was made up of college age students who simply couldn’t understand why those workers got so worked up over a ‘piece of cloth’.



I tried to explain it in an essay to be read to the class for critiquing. In it, I explained that these workers were from that segment of the population that had recently risked their lives fighting a war to save the country represented by that flag, so that those rebels could enjoy its freedoms. They had seen comrades die and had seen the sacrifices made to keep that flag flying.



The disrespect shown to the flag was disrespect for that friend who was held on the battlefield or ship deck, while he breathed his last breath. They were the ones who had thrilled, in the midst of battle, to see the Stars and Stripes raised on Iwo Jima and battlefields around the world.


I have not always been pleased with everything done under the cover of that banner, but nevertheless, it still represents the Land of My Birth . While I may never be privileged to see the whole of the land itself, I can respect and honor the flag which is the symbol for all the ideals for which she stands.

freddie