Here in Texas

ARMED FORCES DAY - FLAG RETIREMENT

Yesterday was Armed Forces Day and the DAR & SAR held a Flag Retirement Ceremony along with the Scouts.  It was hot and windy.  As in I got a wind burn.  Sun screen doesn't help with that.

 Nice ceremony.  The Celine high school choir was there to sing and they did well - the wind did not drown them out. 

I'm sad the picture of the Buffalo Boys didn't come out very well.  They were both very nice.  The tall one received 3 purple hearts but only wears 2 of them.  Why?  Because even though his arm was injured, the soldier next to him lost a leg, therefore, to him, his arm injury wasn't worth was much as the lost leg.  Now that's a real sense of humility.

 

Special attention was given to a Tuskegee Airman, Buffalo Boys, a Pearl Harbor Survivor and VietNam veterans.  

Homer was part of the Tuskegee Airmen unit. He is a very sweet and gracious man and I think he really enjoyed the ceremony.  Several men had their pictures taken with him.  

One member from each branch was represented. It gets a little personal when you see real live people regardless of their age.  Emotional but not too emotional.  One woman had her father, husband, sons and grandsons & granddaughters in the military at one time or another. 

A tattered flag must be cut in 4 pieces but the blue area with stars can not be cut.  Each piece is rolled up tight and tied.  Then one by one, the pieces go into the fire while Taps is playing.  

 Everyone should go to at least one of these ceremonies.  It isn't publicized enough but probably because there would be protesters that don't recognize that because of those who served, they have the freedom to protest. 

 

I am so glad I went (I'm a DAR member and we had several DAR chapters there).  It means a lot to me.  I like our country even though it isn't perfect, it is ours.