Long May She Wave,
The Red,White, and Blue
Flag Flyin', Florida FReeper FRegards for a Wonderful Fourth of July!
Some of Florida's Finest FReepers!
(Gonzo's behind the camera!)
Love them Florida FReepers!
Posted on 07/04/2002 5:34:58 PM PDT by Howlin
Share your 4th of July experiences and thoughts with the rest of us!
Long May She Wave,
The Red,White, and Blue
Flag Flyin', Florida FReeper FRegards for a Wonderful Fourth of July!
Some of Florida's Finest FReepers!
(Gonzo's behind the camera!)
Love them Florida FReepers!
And on our many journeys, we were in Boston for the 4th. It was great, despite us being mashed in. We ended up sitting on half of a beach towel & my feet fell asleep. My favorite part of the night was walking to our car & some guy panhandling--and some guy yelling out, GET A JOB! We snickered all the way back to the wheels.
I was watching "Pops Goes the Fourth" on A&E. When Miss America sang the anthem I got teary like I always do. She did it proud,
Then I found out that Britney Spears was on HBO. Then I got teary because I'm not 20 years younger!
The sight of that flag always made me think that I could do anything, and so many times it proved my feeling right. I used to take the flag down at our house when I was a kid. I remember feeling the stitches and thinking that it is a piece of many cloths, sowen together by delicate threat. But, when it was all together it was a symbol of the greatest love, and the greatest strength this world has ever seen.I remember thinking that as long as I could see that flag I would always be home.
When I was a young lad of 19 years I went half way around the world to fight a war for that flag, and all it stood for. I was scared, and I was lonely, till I saw that flag, then I was home. I was eating dinner with my family, I was kissing my girl goodnight, I was looking at the stars in my backyard. As we left base camp for a 3 week patrol I would stand, silent and still, for a moment looking at the flag. A tear would come to my eye, and a prayer on my lips..."God, make me good enough to die for my country if I must, and make me good enough to live for it if I can".
Well, He must of had a higher purpose for me, because here I am, typing this. Today I raised that flag, just after dawn. I took it in my hands and I looked at those little stitches that hold together those pieces of cloth. I had a shutter of life run up my spine, and a tear came to my eye. A great banner of many cloths held together by those little stitches. That flag protects me, and my family. It makes us feel safe, it brings us home, it gives us comfort, it binds us together and makes us one. Those little stitches holding together those pieces of varied cloth, they bring me home and protect me.
As my flag took it's first breath of the morning breeze it snapped and started flying, proudly in that breeze. I felt so safe standing there under it. It was shouting it's defiance against enemies, it was waving it's call of unity and freedom for all Americans. It reminded me that I was a part of the greatest thing that mankind has ever done. I could almost hear those little stitches say..."We'll hold these pieces of cloth together, and we'll do it as long as it takes. When we are done, and we can't do it anymore there will be more of us to do this thing again, and again, and again". These are the little stitches that keep our nation together. They are you and I, they are your neighbor, and your crazy cousin. They are Freepers, and the Robinsons, and all the "faithful". We're all little stitches that hold together the pieces of cloth that make up our nation. When we see it, we feel safe, and we walk home, unafraid.
Timy
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