This story was written by my uncle Okey (Red) Miller, of Hurricane WV. I am sharing as a tribute to him and all that is stands for.

Grand Old Flag

Another Fourth of July is in the book. Independence Day. The day 224 years earlier when 56 brave men met in Philadelphia and voted for freedom when they signed their Declaration of Independence from that tyrant, King George III. A cursory review of that document indicates that they were not condemning England in general but, rather their hostility was directed at the symbol of England - King George III.

 The signers were all educated and prosperous men and were willing to give all to obtain freedom. Many of them did give their all. One of the signers, contemplating the seriousness of what they had done, said, “Well, we have done it. Now we must all hang together in this venture.” Benjamin Franklin, well known for his wit, overheard the comment and added, “Yes, we must all hang together or we most certainly will all hang separately.”

John Adams, knowing that Jefferson had completed the Declaration, anticipated that it would be signed on July 2nd and was so enthusiastic and excited at the prospect that he exclaimed, among other things, “Future generations will remember what we did here with parades, solemn devotions and luminations (fireworks).” I don’t know about the solemn devotions but parades and fireworks are much in evidence. Of course, the signing was delayed until July 4th and I am kind of glad. Celebrating July 2nd just doesn’t have the right ring to it.

I thought the parade down Main Street was one of the best in recent years and the fireworks later in the evening were spectacular. The organizers of the events are to be congratulated. I was especially glad to see that the American Flag led the parade down Main Street. I recall that a couple of years ago there was no flag in evidence. Admittedly, it does bother me when I see the flag being carried in a “dip” position. I want to see the standard the flag is affixed to always in a vertical position, never horizontal.  I am reminded of a courageous act by a United States athlete at the 1908 Olympic Games held in England. At the opening ceremonies, all of the participating nations were led into the stadium by flag bearers. As they passed in front of the reviewing stand where the King of England was seated, the flag bearers acknowledged his presence by “dipping” their flag. As he approached the reviewing stand, the American flag bearer was in a quandary as to what to do. He thought, “Didn’t we fight these people for our independence?” He made his decision quickly, saying to himself, “This flag dips to no man or foreign government.” He did not dip, and that ideal became a custom. I would like to give him credit but have forgotten his name.

As I returned to my car after the parade, I ran in to the flag who was taking a quick break. I would like to relate part of our conversation:

Me:    Good show, Flag.

Flag:   Thanks. I always enjoy the Fourth of July parades. They bring back so many memories for me.

Me:    I know what you mean.

Flag:  Yes, as I make my way down the street I love to see the smiling faces. I especially enjoy seeing “my boys.” Some writers refer to them as “grizzled old veterans”, but I just think of them as “my boys.” It always seems that they stand just a little taller when I go by. They still have respect for me and don’t seem to accept the notion that patriotism is no longer in vogue. That’s why I have been with them from the beginning.

Me:    From the beginning?

Flag:  I mean from the very first day of basic training or boot camp. I was by their side all through their military service. I entered Mexico City with them in 1847. I was with them at Antietam, Shiloh and Gettysburg. I went up San Juan Hill with Teddy. In the Argonne and Ch`ateau-Thierry in the “war to end war” and “to make the world safe for democracy.” That war obviously did not end war and soon my boys and I were together again at places like Bataan, Guadalcanal, Omaha Beach, Bastogne and Iwo Jima. Iwo Jima was difficult for all of us. Resistance was the fiercest of the war but some of my boys eventually made it to the top of Mt. Suribachi. The first thing they did was to raise me to a place of prominence. I was so proud of them. But, then, from my elevated position, I could look down the mountainside and see the terrible price that had been paid for that small piece of real estate — the prone bodies of so many of my other boys who did not make it to the top. Then, it was a time for sadness.

Soon we joined up again and I was with them in other strange sounding places —Inchon, “Frozen” Chosin, Porkchop Hill, Heartbreak Ridge. It was in this war that some of my countrymen learned finally that freedom was not free. It has a cost.

Me:    I understand. I’ve been to some of those places. But, when you said “from the beginning”, I assumed you meant from the first days “of the Republic for which you stand.”

Flag:  That too. I recall that in the very early days I wore many faces, so the Continental Congress met in 1777 and voted to give me a permanent face. George Washington, Robert Morris and George Ross approached Betsy Ross in Philadelphia and prevailed upon her to construct “the Stars and Stripes.”

Me:    I know. I’ve been to Betsy’s home. She sure didn’t have much room to work.

Flag:  I thought I saw you there. Anyway, I suppose you could say that was the day I was born. My stripes have remained constant through the years, one for each of the thirteen original colonies. My stars have been increased as each new state was added.

Me:    No doubt about it, you are the most recognizable flag in the world today. Tell me, are there any incidents in your long life that really stand out?

Flag:  Oh, there are so many. It would be hard to choose just one. I suppose that how I got my name would rate right up there.

Me:    How did that come about?

Flag:   Well, it was during the War of 1812. The British had taken Washington and burned several public buildings, including the White House. While they were in the neighborhood, they decided to go ahead and take Baltimore, Md. On their way out of Washington they had arrested a Dr. Beanes for some perceived offense and he was being held prisoner on a British ship. Friends of Dr. Beanes persuaded Francis Scott Key to go to the ship and negotiate for his release, which he did. The British agreed to release him but since he and Key had overheard their plans for attacking Baltimore, they were held on the ship for fear that they might give warning to their countrymen, but later in the day they were allowed to return to their own ship. Ft. McHenry had been built to protect the Port of Baltimore. On the afternoon of September 13, 1814, the British began lobbing bombs at the Fort. Some 1800 bombs fell in and around the Fort.

When the firing stopped at about one o’clock on the morning of the 14th, tension increased among Key, Beanes and the crew since they had no way of telling if the silence meant that the Fort had fallen or if the British had simply given up. They waited anxiously through the night and it was only after daybreak had come that they could look through the mist and drizzle and see that I was still there, flying triumphantly high over the Fort. I’ll tell you, that was a great moment for all of us. I was so proud that I felt 43 feet long. Come to think of it, I was 43 feet long. The commandant of Ft. McHenry wanted an oversized flag that could be seen at some distance. He went to a seamstress in Baltimore and gave her the dimensions he wanted. She sewed away for several weeks and was later paid $500.00 for her effort. That is how I came to be so large. Of course, over the years, so many souvenirs were cut off of me that I shrunk by 9 feet. That version of me now resides at the Smithsonian and they are adding that 9 feet back on so that I will be my original size. My friend, Mr. Key, was so overcome with emotion and patriotic fervor that he took an envelope from his pocket and put his feelings into verse on the back of it. And that is how I came to be called “A Star-Spangled Banner.” I take my mandate seriously, to always fly over “the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

Me:    Great story. If I understand what you have been saying, most of your memories seem to be of your war service years.

Flag:   Yes, and that is a matter of some concern to me. I would rather be thought of during peacetime a little more. But, I suppose as long as old men start wars that young men have to fight that is my destiny. I wish those old men would listen to one of “my boys” who said, after the Civil War, “I’m tired and sick of war. Its glory is all moonshine. It is only those who have never fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, more vengeance, more desolation. War is hell.”—General William T. Sherman. I think there is hope though. Several years ago when a lot of young people who had not lived, who had no idea what the freedom they enjoyed had cost, they actually tried to burn me. That was one of the low points in my life. Fortunately, some of my boys rescued me and nursed me back to health. Most of the scars have healed now, but it was a scary time for me. I don’t like to place all of the blame on them though. If their parents had taught them better at home they wouldn’t have acted in such a despicable manner.

Me:     I agree with General Sherman. Thanks for talking with me Flag. I see things a lot clearer now.

Flag:   I think you have always seen my function clearly.

Me:    Maybe. Well, I’ll see you at next year’s parade.

Flag:   Sure. I plan to be there. I also plan to be at every parade “from California to the New York Island, from the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters.” After all, this land was made for you and me.

Me:    I agree, again. Try to stay away from fire.

Flag:  I’ll try.

Also seen at: http://www.preservationhurricane.com/lh/400_Lawson_St_Hurricane_WV_25526-81.html

ORM

7-21-2000