Home : Blogs : Monika McGillicuddy~REALTOR®~ N.H. Real Estate Broker & Trainer : New Hampshire Real Estate Sales and Training Blog

Flag Man Found

Friday was a pretty emotional day for me. The guy with the flag and his wife Pamela,who just happens to be a real estate agent in Massachusetts, came to Hampstead New Hampshire to meet me. If you haven't read my story about when Hate came to Hampstead please take a few moments and read it so that this will make sense to you.

Our meeting was recorded by the Union Leader Newspaper which is the largest newspaper in NH. They also interviewed me last week about my original Hate post and I posted about that experience on my blog.

Over this last week I've had a lot of people e-mail me and comment on my post...all wanting to know who the guy holding the flag was so they could shake his hand and say Thank You. He remained a mystery...no one seemed to know who he was.

(Frank the Flag Guy & his wife Pamela)
This past Monday, he came to my office, Prudential Verani Realty in Hampstead but I was away teaching in Vermont. He left me a yellow rose but no contact information. The mystery deepened.

Finally he decided to come forward...the guy I called gruffy in my Hate post the guy who held the flag.

He is a member of the Patriot Guard Riders out of Massachusetts and came that day to pay tribute by showing respect for our fallen hometown hero being buried that day. Mr McGruffy (aka Frank Downs) arrived a little late and experienced for the first time this hateful group of uninvited guests (UG's) standing on our street corner.

I'm not sure how many Patriot Guard members were in town that day but I do know that the 7 Hampstead members were joined by many more from all across NH and New England. They provided a human shield preventing the family and mourners from seeing the hateful scene being played out down the road. For that I am so grateful. The thought, that the family might see these people polluting our town was just too much to bare. The Patriot Guard Riders were there making sure that would not happen.

Prior to this I really didn't even know they existed. My good friend and fellow NH blogger Ann Cummings had posted about them in her post called Wreaths Across America other than that I knew nothing. My education was about to begin! Guess what my next post will be about??? The PGR!

This post is about Frank Downs. He gave us something that day, a small act that seemed so big and for those of us on the corner that day he made a difference.

What he did by holding that flag and staring quietly at those hateful people gave us hope. little things can make a difference...ordinary people can make a difference. Thank you Frank and Thank you to all the Patriot Guard members across the nation... you all make a difference. (Patriot Guard Riders marching photo courtesy of Arline Grant)

Me and Mr McGruffy...Frank Downs

www.monikamcgillicuddytrainer.com

Not only NH Real Estate Training but customized training programs available your location or mine.

ABR* Agency* Ethics* New Agent Skill Building* Professional Guidelines* Negotiations* Mediation

Posted by Monika McGillicuddy~REALTOR®~ N.H. Real Estate Broker & Trainer on 04/29/2007 11:38 AM

Comments (36)

hampstead new hampshire, nh, monika mcgillicuddy, patriot guard riders, pgr, prudential vearni realty, nh real estate training

This post has been included in New Hampshire Information Rockingham County, NH Information Hampstead, NH Information
Post is included in group: Live Free or Die
Post is included in group: Rain For Change

36 Comments on Flag Man Found

APR

2007

This better get two gold stars! Thanks for sharing Monika! You all look so good in red, white and blue!

Monika- What a guy .. to stand alone is never easy.. I don't mind protest in fact I think it is one of the things that makes this country the best in the world.. what I mind is viciousness in the guise of protest.. You labeled it dead right it is hate not protest. No one has the right to disrupt a private memorial to a fallen soldier.. he was a son, a brother, a nephew, grandchild,friend, neighbor.. These young people who fight our battles for us are unsung heroes.. whether you approve or disapprove of the war.. these men and women are to be celebrated for their courage.. Mr McGruffy (aka Frank Downs) is a class guy.

Thank you FRANK DOWNS and Thank you Monika - as a foreigner that has been received by this incredible country with open arms it means more than the world that people like Frank and the PGR stand for our rights, for our freedom with such suttle statements that make me get goose pumps. Thanks again for everything you do and for this powerful message, makes me proud to be an American.

Chris...Thank you. It was pretty exciting when he finally came forward. What a mystery he was!

Kaye..Thank so much! Mr McGruffy was pretty brave! I hope he gets to read your comments...he'll probably blush! It doesn't matter where you stand as long as you stand and support those that fight our battles. Well said Kaye Thank You!

Ines... Wow...Thank you, your words are right on. As you know I am also an immigrant and have been given opportunities that I might not ever have had. Freedom something to cherish. Your words warm my heart Ines.

I really enjoyed meeting Frank and his REALTOR wife. I too was surprised to see that Pamela sells real estate how ironic was that. Frank is a dedicated Marine and once a Marine always a Marine. I read the news aticle about him this morning and learned that he was born on Veterans Day. How prolific is that? Frank is Cool..

God Bless you Frank and your family. Keep up the great work you do for our Veteran heroes.

Hi Monika - my eyes are watering all over again as I read this post. How wonderful to get to meet that awesome man and his wife! What a great feeling that must have been to give him such heartfelt thanks. You thanked him for all of us who will never meet him, yet who know him in our hearts and in our spirit.

Thank you for mentioning my post that I wrote awhile back. I almost mentioned that on your first post about this, but forgot. Thank you - the Patriot Guard Riders are a magnificent example of what this great country of ours is all about.

I hope Frank and his wife somehow find your posts, Monika - a great tribute to him and to all Patriot Guard Riders and our military.

Ann

Monika

The hatred described in your first post is so inexplicable and ugly. You've done a great job portraying this situation and making us all aware. Thank you!

We allow freedom of speech, but in this case it was not just abused, it was treason and should be dealt with as treason. I know some local Patriot Riders, all good men and women. It is a shame they are needed.

Okay...I cried...it made all the ill feelings about hateful people I have come across lately go away! Feel sorry for ..yes.

These men were more of a compassionate human being than those protestors could ever be....They literally FORCED their opinions on people so blatantly such as the first post of Hate came to Hamstead. How could they actually think they could make a difference when their opinions are so hateful??

I am literally crying.

How very cool that you were able to meet him in person. What a class act. Loooking forward to your PGR post!

Wow, Monika - What an amazing story. I am so happy that you were able to meet the Flag Man. What an impact he made - all across the country- thanks to you, Monika.

Ann...Frank told me he is new to this computer stuff but I think he'll find this. I'm going to send him a link. Your words "You thanked him for all of us who will never meet him, yet who know him in our hearts and in our spirit." are so powerful. I'm touched and I know he'll be touched as well. Thank you!

Ed...Thank you for commenting, I'm sure Frank will be touched when he reads all these comments.

Jim...A shame indeed but thank god they (PGR) exist!

Sally...Those people have to be sick!!!! What they were saying made no sense and their signs...just disgusting!

Dena...Thank you for being so caring! I went through a few boxes of tissues myself!

Debi...Thanks, he is a class act...Mr McGruffy!!

Mariana... He was pretty shocked when he read about the impact he made! It was an amazing day and then his wife is an agent...how cool is that?

Monika-Wow! How did you feel? I bet it was overwhelming, I am teary eyed, the good kind though! You and he brought this beautiful story to life and it is really needed and appreciated. He probably has no idea just what kind of impact he left on so many people, for him it's probably natural and nothing extraordinary to him. He is amazing and so are you! Great job in capturing a wonderful piece of history.

I'm glad Frank came forward to receive his well deserved thanks.

Midori...Oh what a feeling it was. I cried when they arrived <gg> silly of me, I know, but I did. He was still a bit shocked by the reaction and humble, like it was no big deal what he did. It was an emotional day for sure.

Sue...Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!

Monika, it sounds like you have had a defining moment... Thank you for sharing this with me and the other members of our community. I am looking forward to hearing more abour the PGR.

I am inspired by this followup and so glad we had the opportunity to meet this great patriot! It give me hope that good will always prevail. Thanks for keeping introducing us to this real hero.

Hi Monika, Thank you for shinning the light on the good in our country. It's sad that so many aren't aware of the people who are doing this type of thing. They are all around us! Unfortunately, we probably won't see it in main stream media.

Valerie...Thank you for commenting and yes it was a big defining moment. I hope my future post about the PGR does them justice.

Joan...Thanks so much. Can you imagine those awful people flying to our state to do this??? I was sooo mad! Good does prevail Joan...Thank god!

Doreen...It was my pleasure to shin the light even if I had no clue I was doing so when I wrote my post. I hope to make people aware of this group and good they do. Thanks so much for commenting Doreen.

See? He made a difference by not uttering a word but instead standing stoically in the face of evil, and you made a difference by writing about your true, raw emotion. I'm so delighted and a little heartened about this crazy world we live in, because of Frank and of you.

APR

2007

Thank you Leigh. Silence can be very powerful.

Thank you for sharing this, Monika. It is hard to understand such hatred, and so difficult when it is expressed so vividly - your previous post on this was tough to read. Thank you to Frank for his willingness to stand up against such negativity. His presence alone said more than words can express.

Jeff

What a great man, Frank. Thank you for sharing Monica. My father and grandfather would have been ashamed of the action of those people - and proud of Frank. Heck, they would have been right beside him.

As an ex-military wife, I know I am proud of America and the true spirit of what the flag represents. Frank is an awesome patriot, a true American. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful post.

I wish I could personally shake Frank's hand and tell him how much it means to me that he's doing what he is. Somebody standing for truth and righteousness and protecting those hurting families from this ugliness is a HUGE act of kindness and faith. Yes, one person CAN and DID make a difference!

Jeff...Thanks so much for reading my post and commenting. It is hard for me to understand those people and what they did! Just horrible.

No Name person...Frank was awesome and a sight to see holding our Flag as he did. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Kay...Frank is Patriotic right down to his toes according to his wife...fittingly so as his birthday is Veterans Day.

Ryan...I'll be sure that Frank hears your words! Thank you so much for commenting.

MAY

2007

Monika,

I'm so glad you met Frank. I don't know him personally, but I'm proud to call him brother. Before you do you blog on the PGR, here's a few National News videos that might give you even more insight on how humbled we are to do what we do.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15160959/

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/VideoPlayer/videoPlayer.php?vidId=99096&catId=513

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=2771359&page=1

Lisa (Gran) N.Texas PGR

MAY

2007

Thanks so much Lisa for the links. Those links provide a wealth of information for my PGR post! I appreciate it very much.

MAY

2007

The whole story gives me goosebumps! I want to hear MORE! Keep em coming!

Linda...I have more to tell! I've been away with limited internet but now I'm home...finally!

MAY

2007

What an amazing and moving series of posts. Thank you to Frank and all of the PGR members across the nation.

Bill, Thank you so much for commenting. The PGR are truly amazing!

JUN

2007

Thank you for this post. It is very amazing and moving

NOV

2007

I still get choked up and the water works start when I read the posts about this. I left a link on your other post about a church that just got smacked for 10 million for disrupting funerals.

Thank you Dale...I'm not sure how I missed your comment. It was incredible when he came forward.

Thanks Chris. It was pretty moving!

Leave a response…

Name:

Email:
(optional)

Comment:

What does the graphic say?