Today was the ninth anniversary of the attack on our country. I got up this morning and I wanted to do something to show my honor to this great country. I went into the closet and unwrapped the American Flag that had been draped over my fathers casket. It was still neatly folded and I wondered if I should use this flag. I thought about it a minute and decided that Dad would be honored if I used it today.
I went to the basement and found a ''tree trimmer'' and removed the cutting head. The tree trimmer is a fiberglass pole that extends out to about 14 feet. I figured it should do fine for a flag pole. I put the flag and the tree trimmer in the car and headed out for a overpass on I-40. I headed east until I came to Lenoir Ryan Boulevard that crosses over I-40. I turned off of 40 and crossed the bridge and parked on the ''return'' lane to I-40. As I got out of the car a sprinkle of rain hit the back of my neck and I was glad I was wearing my Tillie hat because it is almost waterproof for a few minutes, sometimes. This is the kind of rain we call a ''dry drizzle'' because it gets you wet very slowly and you hardly notice being wet until you are soaked to the skin. With rope I attached the flag to the top of the flag pole and I was very careful to fold the flag over my shoulder so that it did not touch the ground. I walked out on the bridge and with my flagpole extended to the max I started waving Old Glory at the passing cars and trucks down on I-40. I will tell you now that this flag is heavy. It has to be over four feet wide and probably eight feet long.
The cars and trucks on the super highway would honk and wave and flash their lights at me as I waved the flag in the slow drizzle . The people on Lenoir Ryan Boulevard were even more friendly. There was a stop light at one end of the bridge and cars and trucks would pack up there and they always tooted and waved as they passed me. Even the cars going the other way on the Boulevard would honk and wave. It was amazing how many military salutes I got and I naturally returned same with pride. I was photographed at least several times. One young lady stopped and took several pix of me and the flag and told me that her husband was serving in Afghanistan and she would send him the pictures. Two young men stopped and asked why I was standing in the rain waving an American Flag. ''Duuuuuuuuaaahhhhh'' 9/11 pal. Where have you been all your life?'' They left without comment.
After about two hours the ''misting rain'' was filling my sneakers and my flag was approaching the gross weight of half a ton I decided it was time for me to go before ''misting rain'' drowned me. As I was about to ''fold my colors'' I noticed an old pickup making the turn on to the Boulevard from I-40. On the front bumper was a ''tag'' with U.S.M.C. WWII engraved on it. Beside me on the bridge there was a turn lane for traffic to access I-40 East bound. The old truck pulled up beside me and stopped. An elderly gentleman stepped out of the truck and walked toward me. I noticed a slight metallic 'click' as he approached. I immediately came to attention as he walked up to me. He stood there before me for a few seconds looking at the flag and he reached out with his right hand and touched the fabric. I could swear I saw tears well up in his eyes. He then came to attention and saluted the colors for a long minute. He lowered his hand and extended it to me and I immediately shook hands with this piece of living history.
''You was a Marine son?''
''No sir, United States Navy sir.''
''Well, I guess I can forgive you for that, a Navy corpsman saved my life on Iwo a long time ago.''
By now a couple of cars had pulled up behind his truck and one honked and the guy stuck his head out of his window and made suggestive remark to the old Marine. With this the Marine invited the man to perform a sexual act with himself that is physically impossible due to the limitations of the spinal column. I bit my lip to keep from laughing for fear I might offend him and he might toss me over the railing. He told me that while on Iwo he had been hit and lost his right leg below the knee and didnt even know it. He said a corpsman grabbed him and laid him down. The corpsman applied sulfur and a battle dressing,.. put a tourniquet on his leg and gave him a 'serrate ' of morphine and 'tagged him'. He raised his pants leg and showed me a artificial leg. More cars were stacking up behind his truck as he again saluted the colors and shook hands with me again.
''I better get on. You are doing a good thing Sailor. God bless this nation 'cause it really needs it.''
He got in his pick up and went on down the Boulevard.
I draped the flag over my shoulder and shortened the flag pole and headed back to my car. I had touched history today.............
God bless our troops and bring them home soon and safe.
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