The Flag!

When we park this RV one of my first tasks is to mount two flags. The US Flag, our Stars and Stripes is first. I always salute it, then I raise the Flag of the US Navy. The Navy is the branch of service in which I spent the most time. I also honor it with a salute. The salute to the USN flag is cursory because of the many good times I enjoyed while serving.

But the salute to the Stars and Stripes is a very serious one, and one of love and honor. I love that flag and the country for which it stands. Every country has its moments of history for which it is not proud. We would like to sweep the dishonorable times under the rug. We have realists who think the bad times should be displayed like a badge of honor. I do not. It is like in a case of personal history, would you like your least honorable moments to be the ones folks remember about you most? Nay, you would appreciate it if your friends who know about it, would put them in the far recesses of their minds. I think we all have at least one incident we would like to forget, whether an action, thought or stupid decision.

So it is with my country. If you are not an American, I would be disappointed in you if you did not love your flag and country. I have known sailors who learned quickly that Brit’s are proud of their country. No matter where the bar, where both US and British sailors are pulling liberty, let one stupid Yank say, “____ the Queen!” The idiot has just purchased a front row seat to the dance, and the ball starts.

(Out my window right now this is what I see!)

As I salute this flag I think of friends and family who did, or were willing to, suffer and die for the cause it stands for, ‘Freedom’. As a marine, I thought of my Brother in Law Lefty, who landed on Iwo Jima (and lived), of a nephew, Ted who served honorably in ‘Nam’.. As a Sailor as ‘Colors were sounded’, I thought of my brother a Gunner’s mate on a DE, and another BIL with three tours in NAM. I have a dear friend in Bagdad. I could name more. (The right or wrong of any war is not my debate nor decision, the men serve where they are sent, God Bless ‘em!).
As I type, I am watching that flag fly, I am proud to be an American and proud of that flag. Let Freedom RING! Don’t tell me I am about to lose it, I won’t believe it, This is my country I will be FREE!
Nite Shipslog
PS:

You won’t hear this anymore!

Go out to the well and draw a bucket of water so I can wash dishes. Don't turn the radio on now, I want the battery to be up when the Grand Ole Opry comes on.

No! I don't have 10 cents for you to go to the show. Do you think money grows on trees?