Letter: Flags (in honor of Flag Day)

Posted 6/14/18

To the editor:

Meant to represent country or belief and not designed to offend as often happens in the end

Consider the banner of Chamberlains’ 20h Maine, heroes of Little Round Top …

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Letter: Flags (in honor of Flag Day)

Posted

To the editor:

Meant to represent country or belief and not designed to offend as often happens in the end

Consider the banner of Chamberlains’ 20h Maine, heroes of Little Round Top who endured such pain

Fascination I closely admit for the Gray who carried their flag so gallantly into the unwinnable fray. The pride and conviction of this long ago time, today being redefined

Of course it remains difficult to admire the skull and cross bone as they blackly stand alone. Nonetheless, these men were a band of brothers, sparingly like few others

Immediately recognizable - the swastika was evil and meant to scare, until good pierced the veil with will and dare. The 1,000 year Reich in the end never to fear

Of Marine Corps lore and symbolic of the brave - the Mt. Suribachi Flag raising found many a Marine at St. Peter’s Gate, declaring sadness and shock at their ultimate fate

With Fort Sumter under attack Francis Scott Key through the smoke and glare penned a song forever making Americans aware

Banners may designate while Patriots may celebrate…..carrying a symbol meaningful for but a relative few…..does it include you

As a child of a military man I possess a natural respect for the Red, White and Blue. Stroll any cemetery - observe the flags so many - representing humanity who served for you. It is why at their final grave they are cloaked in Old Glory for all they gave

Yet, I have come to accept the American right to burn the same with fire even though it piques my ire, for freedom is not always simple to define and can be an amorphous line

Immigrants we all are under countless flags to be unified under a symbolic One, as these Stars and Stripes declare a unity designed for the long-run

Let us do whatever we must to retain fierce pride in our roots, still understanding why we are willingly here and not there, perhaps the opportunity to be free was but threadbare. Like the various ores used in forging steel this Melting Pot too shall be the foundation of National mores

So, retain our banners, our flags and identify with their signs, always yet recognizing none shall fly higher of any kind 

James M. Meehan

Barrington

Mr. Meehan wrote this in honor of Flag Day, June 14, 2018.

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