The first time I raised our national flag was as a Cub Scout—it was a thrill. Many years later, I was an Air Force Law Enforcement Security Policeman at Elmendorf AFB, in Anchorage Alaska, when it became my duty.
Now in Southwest Missouri, on our forty acres, it is my privilege to fly the flag. About eight years ago, my wife, Pam, gave me a 30-foot pole for my birthday. It was magnificent to watch it wave. We eventually put in a light to illuminate the flag at night, so we didn’t have to take it down. It was even more magnificent! Pulling down our half-mile driveway, it is the first thing you see. It welcomes us home, just as it has done to our military members returning from overseas for a long time.
Once, when we had just gotten our dog, Annie, she ran in front of me and I swerved. Bang! I hit the flag pole. Honestly, it reminded me of the statue of the Marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima—there was that much tilt. Eventually, Pam replaced the bent pole for me and it’s back to flying high and proud. And, we surrounded it with rocks so it doesn’t get hit again.
We don’t fly it in bad weather; partially out of respect and partially because of the cost of replacing a flag. You see, Pam and I feel responsible for the privilege of being able to fly it. When we post the flag, we are solemn… and we salute it at the end. When we retire it, we salute and then bring it down.
Not because we have, not because someone is watching, but because you are supposed to. We own the flag pole, we don’t own the flag—America does. It has been bought with blood and sacrifice… we are caregivers to the flag, it’s our responsibility. One we welcome.
I remember after 9/11, flags were flown at most businesses, most cars and in front of many homes. Six months later, I was stopping along the roadside to pick up flags that people had forgotten about, and seeing flags that had been shredded by wind, and weather. Some folks have asked me, “Why did you do that?”
My answer, “Why did you not?”
This Flag Day, ours will be flying high and proud and revered. Will yours?