There is a photo going around on Facebook of a man in a wheel chair standing at attention while Old Glory passes by in a parade. He is the ONLY one standing.
Why is that? I was raised by one of the "Greatest Generation." He taught me so many things that I have passed on to my children. Why aren't the children from others of that same generation teaching their children and they teaching their children?
(When I shared the photo, I wrote something similar to the following:)
Maybe it's because I'm the granddaughter of a man who served in both world wars and who was the American commandant of Spandau Prison. Maybe it's because I'm also the granddaughter of a naturalized citizen who loved and cherished his American citizenship. Maybe it's because I'm the daughter of one of the Greatest Generation who was a naval aviator in the second world war. Maybe it's because I was a military wife who lived in Germany right before the Wall came down and after reunification. Maybe it's because I'm the mother of a soldier-in-training.
Maybe. Maybe not.
I was also blessed in high school to have a wonderful history and government teacher who taught me as well. Many times as I was witnessing history first hand in Germany, I was drawn to the memories of his classroom discussions.
I remember the day that we took a trip to the former Czechoslovakia six months before the "Velvet Divorce." It was my first time in a formerly communist country and I remember thinking that even the trees still felt oppressed--and this was almost three years after the Velvet Revolution and a year after the USSR collapsed. On our way back to Vilseck where we lived, we passed another American kasern, or military base. I remember seeing Old Glory on a flagpole and understanding completely how blessed I was to be an American citizen. Old Glory represents that to me in such a strong way. Every time I see her in a parade or sing the National Anthem at a sporting event, I am reminded of my experiences.
So....
I will never, ever show any kind of disrespect for the Stars and Stripes. Never.
Not like these people.
I had and still have quite a few of highly judgmental thoughts about these two.
And just a stone's throw away stood this family. Look at the shirt of the woman standing in the middle of the photo. I took this photo after the flag went by...
The flag represents so much... Love of country, loss, sacrifice... How can we NOT respect it? I know, I know. Freedom of speech and all that. People died so that we might live and be morons if we so choose. There was a day, though--in MY lifetime, even--where people "got it" and weren't so...selfish? *heavy sigh*
Anyway... /soapbox.
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