When I started grade school and until I graduated, I said the pledge of allegiance and saluted the flag every morning. When I enlisted in the Navy I did the same thing. We were 10 thousand miles from home and the eree soundof the Bo'sun Whistle cam over the PA system. You knew an order or anannouncement would soon follow.

Then it came. NOW HEAR THIS

NOW HEAR THIS

ALL HANDS MAN THE RAILS

ALL HANDS MAN THE RAILS

Everyone not vital to th operation of the ship was to assemble at the rail near the gagplank. A gurney apeared with a flag draped over it. I knew who it was because he was from my division. He had paid the ultimate price and his family would get the wire "We are sorry to infor you -". The Executive Officer appeared and read a couple of passages from a book he carried. The bugler played TAPS and the body and flag were hoisted over the rail. Every one of the 300 men there stood at rigid attention and no one bent a knee.

Did you know a bugle could cry? Next Memorial Day when they play taps, listen carefully and you will hear it weep.

Over 600 Marines died on IWO JIMA and while the battle still raged a US flag was raised on Mt. Suribachi. A great cheer went up from all Army, Navy, and Marines. You can rest assured that no oe bent a knee.

One dark, dark night I was walking down a wharf in Chile and needless to say I was a little anxious, wondering when a bboogeyman might jump ou at me. Then as I proceeded I cam upon a sleek "Man Of War" tied up to the wharf and I thought, that looks like a US Destroyer, I wonder if they got it from the US.  I proceededon thd approached the stern of the ship and there flying off the fantail was "Old Glory".  Like that, all of my anxieties disappeared. Here was my flag protecting me like it has protected me and millions all over the earth.

When I see someone trampling or burning th flag, it really hits me in th gut. I wonder, didn't these people ever goto school or if they did, didn't they learn anything? Was it the school's fault? A million people become new resident citizens here every year, millions more would like to. Maybe we could do a sweep out. Just the thought of what they would have to leave and where they would have to go would probably change many minds and attitudes.

One other procedure that rancles my old conservative brain is the so called "bending of the knee", I call it disrespecting the flag and what it stands for when it is performed and directed toweards the flag of the USA. So far it has been mostly professional athleres and Hollywood performers.

Don't Disrespect My Flag

Don't Disrespect Your Flag

Don't Disrespect OUr Flag

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