Ljw 102013 02

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Sunday, October 20, 2013

LAWRENCE

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L AWRENCE J OURNAL -W ORLD

Flags

a moment of silence, but the most stirring part of the ceremony was some of the final words by the CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A commander overseeing !"!"! the proceedings. They’re the same at every AmeriThere are at least two can Legion flag retirelarge flag-burning cerement ceremony: monies in eastern Kansas “A flag may be a flimsy each year. The Lawrence bit of printed gauze or American Legion Posts a beautiful banner of holds one in rural Dougfinest silk. Its intrinsic las County on the grounds value may be trifling or of the Fraternal Order great; but its real value of Police lodge, and one is beyond price, for it is is held in Garnett. Flags a precious symbol of all from Wyandotte County that we and our comrades in the north to Bourbon have worked for and lived in the south are brought for, and died for — a free to the ceremony. They nation of free men and largely are collected from women, true to the faith the drop boxes that exist of the past, devoted to at almost every American John Young/Journal-World Photos the ideals and practice Legion post, including the of justice, freedom and CADET STAFF SERGENT ELLIE PAGE, OF LAWRENCE, of the Lawrence Composite Squadron, one near Sixth and Kasold tends to a fire as torn and tattered United States flags are disposed of during a flag disposal cer- democracy.� in Lawrence. Then, the flag went emony Oct. 13 at the Fraternal Order of Police firing range in rural southeast Douglas County “It is great that people into the flames to be near Lone Star Lake. BELOW: Don Dalquest, of Overbrook, prepares a flag for disposal. are flying a flag, but it consumed. The thousands the work. “But I tell them that followed were burnt is disrespectful to fly it is our honor to do this. I in a slightly more effione that is not in good People always shape,� said Tim Russell, cient fashion. Volunteers thank us for this. But really do mean that.� There are younger a Baldwin City resident quickly looked at each I tell them it is our volunteers, too, some and commander of the flag, placed one or two honor to do this. I re- just teenagers who are American Legion’s 2nd on the end of a charred members of the Civilian District. wooden pole held by ally do mean that.� Air Patrol. Based on the number another volunteer. Volun“It teaches a lot of reof flags that showed up teers, taking some care to — Don Weiss, a 22-year Navy spect,� said Capt. Timoat this ceremony, lots of not let the flags touch the veteran thy Thornton, who overpeople understand the ground, walked them to sees the dozen or so area the flames. sentiment. American Leyouths in the air patrol. gion officials weren’t surSimple, really. Nothing “It is a good reminder prised. They said they’ve at our home after my that there are some things seen a definite uptick in husband was killed in that are important enough patriotism, perhaps beAfghanistan in 2010.� to have a ceremony over.� cause American soldiers That’s when the eyes As for the ceremony, have been sent off to mul- Figuring out what to do of several men around there is a brief moment tiple conflicts around the with the old one is the the fire — veterans of of formality with all this. world in recent years. tricky part. They knew it war, veterans of combat At 10 a.m., a handful of “The flag still means shouldn’t go in the Dump- — started to get a little leaders in the American something,� said Emery ster with the trash. Many moist. McKimmy, the state’s know that burning is conYes, the flag still means Legion took their places in straight lines and disvice commander for the sidered the proper way something. !"!"! played the colors of the American Legion. to retire a flag, but where various military branches. Russell, though, said that service is provided About 30 volunteers A single, tattered he still sees a significant isn’t well known. participated in this recent American flag was prenumber of flags that fly That was the gist of ceremony. There were sented to the group to in poor condition. Some the letter that volunteers those like Don Weiss, represent the thousands Lawrence American found inside a flag last a 22-year Navy veteran of flags that sat in cardLegion members have year. The writer — she who sees flags in a way board boxes just a few taken it upon themselves signed her name Bev — most of us never will. feet away. The flag was to mention flag etiquette thanked the Legion for He’s a member of the loformally handed — with to area businesses that fly providing the service. cal honor guard that does salutes and proclamatattered flags. The Legion For the longest time she sells flags or can find a didn’t know where to take flag presentation ceremo- tions — to three different way to replace a flag if her flags that had become nies at veterans’ funerals. members of the group to inspect. All three declared somebody can’t afford to worn. Now she knew, and Anymore, he often does that the flags had become do so. she was grateful. It was a multiple ceremonies per “unserviceable in a worLegion members said simple thank you note — week. “People always thank thy cause.� most businesses are until the last sentence. us for this,� Weiss said of There was a prayer and happy to replace the flag. “I flew these flags

“

|ĉ›Ÿğ VŸńŸ|ÄźÂ›ä ŚĤŸğĹ’Ĺ„ VÂźÂ›Ä’ÄƒÄƒÂźÄ‰ÂŽ Âź |Ĺ„ ڟ|ĉ |Ĺ„ ĤÄ’Ĺ„Ĺ„ĂŞÂ?ڟ Âź ĤäźĹ„ê›|ÚÚź |›ŒêŜŸ Ă?Ä’Äź |Ĺ’ ڟ|Ĺ„Ĺ’ Ĺ—Ćƒ ÄƒĂŞÄ‰Ĺ&#x;ŒŸń | ÂŽ|Ĺş ŜĒêŽ Ĺ„Ĺ&#x;Ă–|ğź ŽğêĉáĹ„ <ĂŞÄƒĂŞĹ’ ›ĒĉńĹ&#x;ăĤŒêĒĉ Ä’Ă? ŸĉŸğĂ–Ĺş ÂŽÂźĂ?ŸĉńŸ Ă?Ä’Ä’ÂŽĹ„

fancy or too ceremonial about it. And that was fine. The beauty of the flag, after all, isn’t in its eloquence, but rather in the simple emotion it brings out in us: pride. That really was the message of that handwritten note, which legion members keep framed at the Lawrence post. Bev, the writer, signed it: “the proud wife of Sgt. Robert W. Crow Jr.� I found the obituary of Sgt. Crow. He was 42 when he died after his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. In addition to his wife, he left behind six children. And a flag, flying above his home. Both the soldier and the flag have done their duty now. They made us proud. — Each Sunday, Lawhorn’s Lawrence focuses on the people, places or past of Lawrence and the surrounding area. If you have a story idea, send it to Chad at clawhorn@ljworld.com.

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