Do you still grab a piece of red, white and blue fabric every Fourth of July morning and attach it to a pole, porch or door?
Why?
Singers and actors refuse to recognize it. Football players kneel in public disrespect instead of saluting it. And recently Gwen Berry, a hammer thrower hopeful turned her back on it at the U.S. Olympic time trials.
It seems the cool kids are shunning Old Glory while not taking part in the antiquated ritual of honoring and flying theflag, not even on holidays like Independence Day.
The cool kids think the day is about hotdogs, ballparks, fireworks water parks and fun. I’m glad I’m not a cool kid.
Wake up. Get dressed. Put the flag out.
That was the annual Fourth of July tradition at my house growing up. That carried over into my young adulthood.
If it wasn’t a patent, usually my mom, Betty, it was I, displaying Old Glory, on the Troglen porch. I love our flag. I’d die for it.
I’m a former marine who always salutes the flag and National Anthem.
My family flies a flag in honor of all those who fought and lived, and fought and died, for America’s independence.
Coming from a military family, I have several relatives who served our country, with at least two who died.
Our flags will fly for them.
During the Revolutionary War one of my relatives, William Trogdon (one of the three spellings of my last name.) fought for our independence.
William fought directly under Gen. George Washington. When William was weary of fighting and not being able get anyone to harvest his crops, he put down his weapon and went home.
The second William was not given the chance to return home.
According to my family’s legend, the second William was killed in 1783, the last year of the war.
William was at Sandy Creek, N.C. He was ambushed by several Tories, which were sympathizers of the British. William was shot and killed while he was watering his horse by a stream.
Our flags will fly for him.
And it’s not just those who fought in the Battle of Independence who are honored by my family on Independence Day.
Every war, in one way or another is for independence.
Air Force Staff Sergeant Jackie Wayne Troglen was a crew member on a C-130A ‘Spectre Gunship’ in 1969 in Vietnam.
Jackie was also my first cousin. He was assigned to the 16th Special Operations Squadron, 8th Tactical Fighter Wingin Thailand.
Jackie was killed on May 24, 1969 while on an armed reconnaissance mission along Route 92A in Laos. Aircraft, SN54-1629, according to military records.
“The Arbitrator,” was piloted by Lt. Colonel W. H. Schwehm who managed to fly the aircraft back to their base while suffering from loss of lateral control. As they approached Ubon, the pilot ordered the crew to bail out.
A good friend of Jackie’s, SSgt. Cecil Franklin Taylor realized my cousin was badly injured or worse.
“Taylor refused to bailout and both were killed in the aftermath of the crash as the plane exploded andcaught fire.
My cousin’s home is now Vietnam Memorial Wall Panel 24W, Line 99. Our flags will fly forthese two men.
And finally our flag will fly for the marines in my unit, who long after I was discharged, hit the desert on patrol, beforebeing ambushed and killed.
Semper Fi.
Our flags will fly for them.
Let’s make no mistake, dear reader. War has been declared on our symbol of freedom. Every person Imentioned, including myself, was willing to fight and die for their freedom.
If that’s the case, surely we can push back with our own operation called “Fly Flag on July Fourth.”
Make no mistake. A war has been declared against the flag.
It’s up to us to show our support for that symbol of American freedom.
Join me in flying our flag Sunday. Please, feel free to take pictures with a camera or cell phone and post it to ourFacebook page with a caption of why you’re flying it.
Let our flag know we support her. Happy Independence Day.