My other full-time job is as the Committee Chairman for my son's Boy Scout troop here in Palmdale, CA. We were asked by the local Elk's Lodge to assist in their Flag Day ceremony today. They needed 8 of our boys to be a color guard as well as carry 8 of the flags our country has used over the years while a history of our flag was presented.
Now, I've only been in this troop since March as my son and his patrol just bridged over from the Cub Scouts and it seems like since joining, we've had something going on every other day. I was looking forward to a quiet Father's Day ... NOT!! Instead my son and I both learned a couple of lessons ...
Lesson #1: Don't Volunteer for Something Without Informing Everyone Involved!
As I said before, I was planning on a weekend to myself with the family ... I've been in the Boy Scout uniform so much over the last few months I'm getting sick of tan and green! However, I found out on Wednesday that my son had put our name down to assist with this event. I was asked to be the responsible leader since my son was going. I was caught off guard. Once again I'm in a position where I didn't say 'no' fast enough. I guess I'm supervising a Flag Day ceremony. "Don't worry!" I'm told, "It's only a half hour." Right. Turns out it's at least two hours. My wife had other plans. My son just threw me under a bus.
Lesson #2: You Learn About the Flag in School. You Learn About Patriotism From the People Who Fought for the Flag.
After getting over the initial frustration of losing 'my' day, I focused on the task at hand. I, along with the other two dads that were in the same position I was in assigned the flags to the boys, went over the ceremony with the top Elk, and waited for the event to begin.
As the narrator announced each flag and gave the history behind it, my irritation began melting away. The men of the Elk's Lodge were all veterans of various wars and it was obvious that they were moved as the Scouts advanced and stood at attention holding their flags.
The top Elk gave a speech after the ceremony and reminded us all that our flag has seen much and stands for everything we take for granted in this country. His strongest point was this ...
No matter what your own personal feelings are about the war currently going on, there are many who are volunteering to go overseas (and some more than once). He asked the audience why that is. His answer to his own question was this ...
The soldiers know that this is a moral war against an immoral enemy. Look around your cities and see what a hard time law enforcement has controlling gangs ... imagine the damage terrorists would do if they were to come actively onto our soil. Our soldiers know this. They've seen the carnage. This is why they fight. This is why they return.
The local paper asked me for a quote ... I gave her Lesson #2. Our freedom is not free. Many have paid for it with their own blood. Thank you to all who have and are serving. Every time I see a flag I have you in my prayers.
Son, thanks for throwing me under the bus today, but in the future, please remember Lesson #1.
- James
* Photo courtesy of GeekPhilosopher.com
Comments(1)