Sunday, June 14, 2009

Flag Day

We seem to be developing our traditions here at EIP, and here's another installment of same. This looks like it will be the "traditional" Flag Day post... or at least it will be until I come up with something better.
Flag Day

Old Glory on the stern of the USS Mason (DDG 87), Port Canaveral, Florida.
April, 2003.

I don’t have a “flyable” flag any longer… and no place to really fly one, even if I did… which is a break from long-standing tradition. I still have two flags in my possession, but neither is suitable for display. Or rather, I choose NOT to display them. The first is the flag that draped my father’s casket; the second is a small flag in a shadow box with mementos from my USAF career. My father’s flag is folded and put away for safe-keeping, the shadow box flag is…well, in the shadow box.

But I AM celebrating Flag Day. I hope you are, too.

Modifications to the above: Make that three flags vs. two. You've seen the flag I have draped just below the upstairs-bedroom-cum-music area... just four days ago, in fact. You may not have read the story behind that flag, though. It's a well-traveled Star Spangled Banner, that one.

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15 comments:

  1. alison14 June, 2009 13:54

    Red white and blue weekend all round then - woo hoo!

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  2. Moogie P14 June, 2009 14:20

    And a happy star-spangled banner day back atcha!

    We have one on the front porch (you've seen that oe on the blog) and one in a ashadow box that flew over Ft. Sam Houston on the day of my husband's retirement. There are a bunch of little ones stuck in flower pots around and about for the holidays.

    I like Flag Day/Army birthday. Nice, non-stressful, an d colorful!

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  3. JimmyT14 June, 2009 16:46

    Today is one of only 4-days a year I put up the "big" flag here at my abode in PA. Normally I fly what is called a 'weather ensign' which is simply a 3X5, in fact I usually fly two flags the national ensign and then either of the service flags I choose to honor, them being the Navy flag for my service, The USAF for SN1's ongoing duty or the USMC for SN2 (who by the way is in Helmend province Afghanistan with a touch of the runs and dehydration, like so many others in his unit the acclimation process is tough). My "Big" ensign is a huge 9' x 15' thing and looks great with a small breeze which is necessary for it to fly properly. I think it is too much flag for the pole I have so it does not get a lot of air time.

    I love seeing our flag. On my first ever translant on the USS Independence we had flown hard for maybe 5 or 6 days straight (I'm talking 20 hours per day as hard, given we did not have split shifts) and then there was a day where the first event was not until around 1100 hours. Of course I slept in and was finally out and about around 0800 or so and went up to the flight deck. The day was short because we were going to be along side a Fleet Oiler for both bunker and jet fuel, 10 million pounds of both.

    I remember coming up in the catwalk on the starboard side and looking down on the U.S.S Truckee (you look down upon all other ships if you are on an Aircraft Carrier), we had 4-sets of hose gear strung between the two ships. Passing Gas as it were. We were making 20 some knots in a easterly direction somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic.

    There was almost complete silence on deck, you could hear the ocean splitting between the two ships, the sounds of rigging from all the hose strung below and the whipping sound of flags in the air. I looked out over at the Truckee and she had a huge Ensign flying on her mainmast.

    It was a beautiful sight. I still have the picture I took that morning. Never fails to move me.

    BT: Jimmy T sends.

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  4. Liz14 June, 2009 17:08

    I haven't put a flag pole at this house yet - this post is a good reminder!

    I love the ritual of raising the flag in the morning and lowering at night. And we do have a beautiful flag!

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  5. Kris, in New England14 June, 2009 19:30

    We always have a flag flying on the front of our house. We recently added a "Don't Tread On Me" flag to the front of the shed in our backyard.

    Today? We did a very American thing - we went target shooting.

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  6. Bag Blog15 June, 2009 06:04

    Jimmy T, you tell some great stories.

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  7. Buck15 June, 2009 06:34

    Alison: And LONG may they wave... yours and ours!

    Moogie: Agreed, and you've caught me out. I should have acknowledged the Army's birthday, and it ain't like I didn't know.

    Ann: I've never had an honest-to-goodness flag pole. I've been deprived, LOL! But the raising and lowering of the flag IS quite the ritual. I used to love Retreat on Air Force bases... it always made me proud.

    Jimmy: I agree with Lou... you have the BEST stories. I'm sure I've said this before... but you'd be a natural blogger. And since you have all those photos... :D

    Kris: I like the "Don't Tread On Me!" idea... how cool! And I saw your target yesterday, I just didn't leave a comment. Churlish of me, no? I promise to do better.

    Lou: You're right.

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  8. Kris, in New England15 June, 2009 08:38

    Buck - we intended to buy the "Don't Tread on Me" flag from our local gun store when we went ammo shopping last Friday (there are .45s and 9mm to be found but limited to 1-5 boxes per customer). We discovered when we got home that the guy at the store didn't charge us for the flag - on purpose. He sold us our first guns earlier this year and I'm now looking at another one (for later this year). We guess he likes us!

    Not churlish at all (what a great word btw); people only have so much time. You are faithful even if you don't comment - I know this and it's nice.

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  9. AFMAJBUCK15 June, 2009 14:34

    Great day it was...and also Monique's Birthday too! They should be over today or tomorrow. I asked them to respect your privacy after our loss...

    ;)

    I'm off to perform for the IG! We're gonna kick this inspection's ass!

    Got word last night it's official: Afghanistan in September. Secret's out BTW, so it's fair conversation when Erm comes 'round.

    ILY

    SN1

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  10. Buck15 June, 2009 16:38

    Kris: That was REALLY good of your local firearms purveyor! It's a great good thing to have vendors like that.

    Buck: Noted, and thank you. We're almost over our lil pity-part. Almost.

    Interesting news on the Kandahar thing. I suspected as much, knowing the back-story. I gotta say I'm none too pleased, but that's The Biz, ain't it?

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  11. Buck15 June, 2009 16:39

    pity-partY. Sheesh.

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  12. JimmyT15 June, 2009 20:26

    Buck, Lou, thank you both for the kind words. And Yes, I have been pondering on starting my own Blog. I have been studying it (the engineer in me will grind out stuff like this)and trying to come up with a good schedule, for the time that it would require. The new job and all (they are sending me to the UAE) but the biggest problem is What do you name it!!!

    You will be the first to know if and when I go live.

    BT: Jimmy T sends.

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  13. Buck16 June, 2009 10:32

    Jimmy: I hear ya about the naming! I struggled with that for literally weeks. And I will NOT divulge some of the "alternatives considered," LOL!

    The UAE? When?

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  14. JimmyT16 June, 2009 11:34

    Buck, we are doing some work with the UAE Air Force and were to meet out at some air base in the desert but, with those kidnappings in Yemen last week they have moved the meeting to an air base just outside Abu Dahabi and they have assigned us some "agents" to drive us to and fro. I leave on Thrusday for a week but later in year if the schedule holds I'll go there for the installation which may take between 4 to 6 weeks.

    It is work but I do miss my War Hoovers!!!

    BT: Jimmy T sends.

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  15. Buck16 June, 2009 13:29

    Godspeed, Jimmy. I'm glad your company and the UAEAF are taking steps to protect you.

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Just be polite... that's all I ask.

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