Old Glory

The flag of the United States doesnt look like a priority for politicians.  I mean Santorum doesnt have one for his lapel, Mitt doesnt have one on his lapel, and neither does Newt.  Obama always has his on.

My neighbor has his flag outside every chance he gets, come holidays, its the first thing he does in the morning.  I have one that has lights in the pole and the lights are red, white and blue.  I have one that flew over the capital, its part of my shrine, my awards and decorations lay next to it, the pictures of all the veterans in the family and friends can be found there.

Weve had some interesting arguments over the years regarding the flag, my wife thinks that Americans who burn the flag should be hung, I think that it is a freedom of speech right.  One day she wouldnt give and I asked, "if your son came home in a casket with a flag draped over him, do you think you would burn it then?"  She cried and said I didnt play fair.

My son has since been deployed four times and his wife is deployed now.  Those of us who have served always deploy mentally, spiritually, and watch and listen for our soldiers.  We know that survival is best achieved when one is detached and how difficult if not impossible it is to come home and reintegrate.  War, combat, requires 100% of your attention anything less and you might not come home.  When you do get home you are not the same person, when you fail to encapsulate those experiences and put them away .... you will have bad dreams, nightmares, you will drift from peacetime to wartime.  The more it happens the more likely it is that you will snap and become psychotic.  So therapy is needed and the intervention will be most effective the sooner it is initiated.  This is what they call PTSD, the term is not complete.  People start the stress with the first phone call.

When the phone rings and it is an activation, people faint, cry, try to get out of the commitment and fear of death overcomes those that are not prepared.  Take Maj. Irene Dunn, when we were called up, she left with us but every chance she had she would go AWOL return to WBAMC and check into the hospital.  She did this several times and none of the leadership acted .... She did not go and absolutely no action was taken.  Upon our return she presented as if nothing had gone wrong and continued getting her check and not one officer said or did anything about it.  This was the Fornicating 44th Evac Hosp.

My boss, Melva Davis, fainted. In the days prior to deployment she came to me for advise on how to avoid her duty.  So she claimed a hardship, her daughters, and was left behind.  Others didnt go, Edward Juarez, MD. Others found ways to return as soon as the opportunity presented itself, they got pregnant.  So a lot of people got divorced, love was in the air ... although it smelled more like napalm.

Napalm is a fragrance that is hard to describe but it is unforgettable, the word napalm means, "takes your breath away".  It doesnt have to hit you, it consumes the oxygen, even that in your lungs, and so you die. It is a phantom smell of war that triggers some of those nightmares.

Soldiers wear the flag on their uniform, first time soldiers returning for the hot LZ, like to wear their blues and show their medals, you can see them constantly adjusting their clothes, making sure everything is as it should be.

In one California schools the students took down the US flag and put up the Mexican flag, without any consequences.  The protesters march down the streets waving Mexican flags.  Some of our buildings display the Mexican flag, in one performance sponsored by the Hispanic Doctors Association, they began the performance with the Mexican National Anthem, and then followed with the US national anthem.

I dont think Mitt fly's Old Glory, I dont think Santorum does, I dont think Newt fly's the flag.  Im sure Pat Robertson doesnt fly the flag.  Im sure Rush has never flown the flag.  How different we are, retired military and veterans have an intimate relationship with our flag.  I just dont see Foxwothy, or walker Texas Ranger flying a flag.  Birds of a feather ... go figure.

This year is the anniversary of the Star Spangled Banner and the commemorative coins are jewels to behold.  I cant wait for mine.