I hung an American Flag up at my house this week.
It will stay up 24-hours a day, seven-days a week.
Yes, I was a Boy Scout. And, yes I know flags are to be taken down at dusk and raised every morning at dawn – unless artificially lighted at night.
I once pointed out this bit of American Flag etiquette to my daddy about the flag at our house.
My daddy was career military - Air Force all the way. He flew on heavy bombers in Europe and then B-29s in the Pacific. He performed maintenance on multi-engine aircraft in Korea, Vietnam and anywhere else Uncle Sam sent him.
He paused as he considered the conversation of his teenage boy.
“There will be men somewhere in this world serving under this flag while you sleep tonight, son,” he said looking at me, but thinking about somewhere else. “Let's keep it up to remind everybody of them.”
War on terror
We haven’t heard much about the War on Terror recently. A new terror has reared its head and the world and this country, this state and this city have cowered in the face of COVID-19.
This country will always need men and women who are willing to fight “its enemies, foreign and domestic.”
No, terrorism has not gone away. Neither has communism, fascism, vandalism or botulism.
So when does a war or battle end?
I’ve watched many say it’s time to open up the economy and living with COVID-19 (or -20 or -21) is something we must get used to. I’ve heard others who want to sound the alarm and usher us all into the air-raid shelter and tell us to hunker down as they promise to take care of us.
Who do you think I believe?
But regardless of your views on coronavirus, I think we all agree we are blessed to have those who are willing to put on a uniform, pick up a weapon and vow to keep us safe.
There are 28,500 U.S. military personnel getting combat pay in a country called South Korea. We have seven times that many serving in Europe and thousands more in such wonderful locations as Thule, Greenland and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
Yes, the fight against coronavirus may be winding down, but it won't be long until some power-drunk dictator or crazy terrorist will decide he wants to pick a fight with the biggest guy in the bar.
And once again the rest of the world will cower and whine in righteous indignation as we send in the best warriors on the face of this planet to kick butt and take names.
Let us never forget
The news shifted away from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan years ago. The economy, COVID-19 and binge-watching on Netflix have the eye of the American public now.
A check of the Pentagon's website this week revealed we have 480,000 men and women on active duty with the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. We have another 10,000 National Guard personnel in hometowns across this great state, including many from The Delta.
We have all seen the surge in patriotism ebb and flow. We’ve seen our country bestow the title of hero on everyone from waiters to grocery check-out clerks. We are a country looking for a hero.
Regardless of your politics, religion or personal beliefs, I hope you won't ever forget the men and women who are serving your country at this very moment.
I hope we will continue to pray for the safety of those wearing our uniform.
I'm going to keep my flag up day and night. I'm going to leave it out rain or shine, hot or cold.
When it gets a little torn and tattered I will try to remember there are those serving us in a torn and tattered part of the world.
You see, I want to remember. I want to remember they are doing it for us.
Floyd Ingram is the managing editor of your Clarksdale Press Register. He can be reached at 662-624-1012 or at his home at 504 West Second - it’s the one with The Flag out front.
