What the Flag Means To Me
As a child I remember the time my Father and I sat on the river bank our fishing poles resting on branches cut from a nearby tree. My Father was a quiet and compassionate man with a heart larger than himself. I knew of his service to this country in World War II but never heard of him speak of the events and his experience during that time of his life. That day the fish were hiding from anything that resembled food so I took the opportunity to ask him what happened when he was in the war. I feel that day was the time in my life I realized the meaning of the flag, our country and what our fathers and grandfathers endured to make this country free.
He began with telling me about the Sullivan Brothers, 5 brothers lost on the same ship in November of 1942. He then proceeded to say did you know they were from our home town, Waterloo Iowa? Did you know your uncle Rich, Ralph, Russ and I were inducted the same day as the Sullivan Brothers? Not waiting for my answer he said, I even have a picture of us together that day. You even have an uncle that was General Smiths and General Eisenhower’s private cook during the war. He asked did you know your uncle Ralph and Russ both died together on the USS Sims the same year the Sullivan Brothers died.
I must say I was struck with a feeling I will never forget. I asked my father what did you do in the war? My father opened up to me that day and told me he was in the Battle of the Bulge in the glider division. He told me his division was dropped at night during the winter months landing in a swamp. I could see his eyes tear as he continued to explain that only a handful of his friends made it. His feet were frozen and by the time he made it back he had to spend weeks in the hospital.
Then as any child would, I asked him if he had seen people die, he answered that’s something I will tell you when your a man. I knew the answer without any explanation.
I walked away that day looking at my Father in a different light, and not until I was in high school did I realize the sacrifice families, had made to keep this nation free.
Every time I look at the flag I see my fathers face. I reflect back on the day we sat in the calm of the day as he told me of the events before I was born.
I see freedom as the right to walk alone on the streets, my freedom of speech and my right to vote and make the choice to whom stands as leaders of this great country. I see the gift of life that was given to me by all those that served this country.
I remember the day the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon were struck by terrorists. I was heart sick watching my fellow fireman, law enforcement personnel and innocent bystanders die at the hands of evil. Yet what followed was a nation joined together as one nation, no matter what views each one had, for the first time in my life Americans stood proud with nothing but the American Flag swaying in the wind next to them.
I then knew why my father fought for freedom why he held no grudge for losing his brothers.
On August 21st a gift was presented to the Warsaw Lincoln Ambulance District.
It is the symbol of this country.
It stands for what and who we are.
It’s the constant reminder of freedom.
It’s a reminder of those who died so we can call this great nation America.
What better gift can be given than the pole to fly and the flag that we call old glory.
Thank you to Wilber and Frances Wright of Lincoln Missouri.
Your donation to the district will stand as a symbol and a reminder for all, of the sacrifice many paid to have this great free nation.
Michael Gardner
Warsaw Lincoln Ambulance District
As a child I remember the time my Father and I sat on the river bank our fishing poles resting on branches cut from a nearby tree. My Father was a quiet and compassionate man with a heart larger than himself. I knew of his service to this country in World War II but never heard of him speak of the events and his experience during that time of his life. That day the fish were hiding from anything that resembled food so I took the opportunity to ask him what happened when he was in the war. I feel that day was the time in my life I realized the meaning of the flag, our country and what our fathers and grandfathers endured to make this country free.
He began with telling me about the Sullivan Brothers, 5 brothers lost on the same ship in November of 1942. He then proceeded to say did you know they were from our home town, Waterloo Iowa? Did you know your uncle Rich, Ralph, Russ and I were inducted the same day as the Sullivan Brothers? Not waiting for my answer he said, I even have a picture of us together that day. You even have an uncle that was General Smiths and General Eisenhower’s private cook during the war. He asked did you know your uncle Ralph and Russ both died together on the USS Sims the same year the Sullivan Brothers died.
I must say I was struck with a feeling I will never forget. I asked my father what did you do in the war? My father opened up to me that day and told me he was in the Battle of the Bulge in the glider division. He told me his division was dropped at night during the winter months landing in a swamp. I could see his eyes tear as he continued to explain that only a handful of his friends made it. His feet were frozen and by the time he made it back he had to spend weeks in the hospital.
Then as any child would, I asked him if he had seen people die, he answered that’s something I will tell you when your a man. I knew the answer without any explanation.
I walked away that day looking at my Father in a different light, and not until I was in high school did I realize the sacrifice families, had made to keep this nation free.
Every time I look at the flag I see my fathers face. I reflect back on the day we sat in the calm of the day as he told me of the events before I was born.
I see freedom as the right to walk alone on the streets, my freedom of speech and my right to vote and make the choice to whom stands as leaders of this great country. I see the gift of life that was given to me by all those that served this country.
I remember the day the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon were struck by terrorists. I was heart sick watching my fellow fireman, law enforcement personnel and innocent bystanders die at the hands of evil. Yet what followed was a nation joined together as one nation, no matter what views each one had, for the first time in my life Americans stood proud with nothing but the American Flag swaying in the wind next to them.
I then knew why my father fought for freedom why he held no grudge for losing his brothers.
On August 21st a gift was presented to the Warsaw Lincoln Ambulance District.
It is the symbol of this country.
It stands for what and who we are.
It’s the constant reminder of freedom.
It’s a reminder of those who died so we can call this great nation America.
What better gift can be given than the pole to fly and the flag that we call old glory.
Thank you to Wilber and Frances Wright of Lincoln Missouri.
Your donation to the district will stand as a symbol and a reminder for all, of the sacrifice many paid to have this great free nation.
Michael Gardner
Warsaw Lincoln Ambulance District
Article Published in September 2004
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