My Flag

Posted by Roie R. Black on Tue 12 October 2010

Do you own a flag? I mean do you own a U.S. Flag? I have one flying in front of my house. It is my way of saying I am proud of my country. It is also a sign of respect for the country that I feel the need to show. I do not know where that feeling, or that need came from. When I was growing up, all my friends had dads who served in the military during World War II, and listening to their stories filled me with wonder, amazement, and a deep sense that serving in the military and helping protect our country was a good thing to do. So, I set off on my journey to become an aeronautical engineer, and decided very early that my career was going to be in the U. S. Air Force.

And it was! I served in the USAF for 20 years, and one of the proudest moments in my life was when the folks in my last organization presented me with my retirement flag. They managed to get me a flag that was flown over the U.S. Capital on July 4, 1993. How cool is that!

Here is a picture of me receiving my flag on my last day on active duty in the USAF.

My retirement

Many folks are proud of serving their country, and many of them fly the flag as well. At the beginning of October, this year, I took my wife to Boston to see fall colors (they hid from us), and to explore a bit of history. There is tons of history in and around Boston. On our last day exploring Boston, we visited the USS Constitution, the oldest ship in the U.S Navy. I have been on board that ship many times in my travels, but this was my wife’s first visit.

USS Constitution

As we neared the stern of the ship, I noticed an older man holding a folded flag across his chest standing near another younger man who was working a set of ropes. The young man was raising flags up to the top of one of the masts on the Constitution. You could buy a flag on the ship and get it flown on the ship that same day.

Man with flag

When his flag was raised, my wife saw tears in the eyes of the older man. I missed that, I was watching the flag go up. I would bet anything that he was a veteran, probably one who served in the U.S. Navy. I almost stopped him as we left the ship to ask, but out of respect for his moment on board that famous ship, I just watched him walk away.

Man with flag 2

Sir, I do not know your name, but thank you for sharing this moment with us. I understand the tears. My eyes tear up whenever I see the flag go by, or see a flag draped over a coffin, of even when I see a man having his own personal flag raised on the Constitution!

My flag sits proudly on a shelf in my home office. It will remain in its case until it serves one last duty for me, one I will never see.

Thank a vet today, many of them never hear anything from ordinary folks, and still they serve this fine country.

Respectfully,

Roie R. Black Major, USAF (Retired)

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tags: Veterans, Stories