Those Who Want To Burn The Flag !
Then just ask Permission...

Does the first amnedment gives us the right to
desecrate the American flag. Or is the flag a
sacred symbol of our Nation, deserving protection by law?

Tough call?

"The Solution"

For those who want to light Old Glory on fire,
stomp all over, or spit on it to make some kind
of "statement," I say let them do it!

But under one condition:

They MUST get permission from three sponsors.

First, you need permission of a war veteran.
Perhapes a Marine who fought at Iwo Jima?
The American flag was raised over Mount Surabachi
upon the bodies of thousands of dead buddies.

Each night spent on Iwo Meant half of everone
you knew would be dead tomorrow, a coin flip
away from a bloody end upon a patch of sand your
mother couldn't find on a map.

Or maybe ask a Vietnam vet who spent years
tortured in a small, filthy cell unfit for a dog.
Or a Korean War soldier who helped rescue half
a nation from Communism, or a Desert Strom
warrior who repulsed a bloody dictator from
raping a pillaging an innocent country.

That flag represented your mother and father,
your sister, your brother, our friends,
neighbors and everyone at home.

I wonder what they would say if somone asked
them permission to burn the American flag?

Next, you need a signature from an immigrant.
Their brothers, and sisters may still languish
in their native land, often under tyranny, poerty
and misery.

Or maybe they died on the way here, never to
touch our shores. Some have seen friends and
family get torured and murdered by their own
government for daring to do things we take for
granted every day. For those who risked
everything simply for the chance to become an American...

What kind of feelings do they have for the flag
when they Pledge Allegiance the first time?

Go to a naturalization ceremony and see for yourself,
the tears of pride, the thanks, the love and respect
of this nation, as they finally embrace the American
flag as their own. Ask one of them if it would be
OK to tear up the flag.

Last, you should get the signature of a mother.
Not just any mother. You need a mother of someone
who gave their life for America. It doesn't even
have to be from a war. It could be a Cop.
Or a Fireman. Maybe a Secret Service or NSA agent.
Then again, it could be a common Foot Soldier as well.
When that son or daughter is laid to rest, their
family is given one gift by the American people;
An American flag. Go on. I dare you.
Ask that mother to spit on her flag.

I wonder what the founding fathers thought of the
American flag as they drafted the Declaration of Independence?
They knew this act would drag America into war with England,
the greatest power on earth. They also knew failure
meant more than just a dissappointment.
It meant a noose snugly stretched around their necks.
But they needed a symbol, something to represent
the seriousness, the purpose and conviction that we
held our new idea of individual freedom.
Something worth living for. Something worth dying for.
I wonder how they'd feel if someone asked them
permission to toss their flag in a mud puddle?

Away from family, away from the precious shores of home,
in the face of overwhelming odds and often in the
face of death, the American flag inpsired those who
believe in the American dream, the American promise,
the American vision...

Americans who don't appreciate the flag, don't
appreciate this nation. And those who appreciate
this nation, appreciate the American flag.
Those who fought, fought for that flag.
Those who died, died for that flag.
And those who love America, love that flag.
And defend it.

So if you want to desecrate the American flag,
before you spit on it or before your burn it...

I have on simple request.
Just ask permission.
Not from the Constitution.
Not from some obscure law,
Not from the politicians or the pundits.
Instead, ask those who defended our
nation so that we may be free today.
Ask those who struggled to reach our
shores so that they may join us in the American dream.
And ask those who clutch a flag in place of their
sacrificed sons and daughters, given to this nation
so that others may be free.

For we cannot ask permission from those who died
wishing they could, just once...or once again...see,
touch or kiss the flag that stands for our nation.
The United States of America...

From The Very First American's

To The Present!
We Say!

America The Beautiful!

"The Things They Carried"

They carried P-38 can openers and heat tabs,
watches and dog tags, insect repellent, gum,
cigaretes, Zipo lighters, salt tablets, compress
bandages, ponchos, Kool-Aid, two or three canteens
of water, iodine tablets, sterno, LRRP-rations, and
C-rations stuffed in socks.

They carried standard fatigues, jungle boots,
bush hats, flak jackets and steel pots.
They carried the M-16 assault rifle.
They carried trip flares and Claymore mines,
IM-60 machine guns, the M-70 grenade launcher,
M-14's, CAR-15's, Stoners, Swedish K's, 66 mm Laws,
shotguns, .45 caliber pistols, silencers, the sound
of bullets, rockets, and choppers, and sometimes
the sound of silence.

They carried C-4 plastic explosives, and assortment
of hand grenades, PRC-25 radios, knives and machetes.
Not all at once. Some carried napalm, CBU's and
large bombs; some risked their lives to rescue others.
Some escaped the fear, but dealt with the death and damage.

Some made very hard decisions, and some just tried to survive.
They carried malaria, dysentery, ringworms, and leaches.
They carried the land itself as it hardened on their boots.
They carried stationery, pencils and pictures of their
loved ones-real and imagined.

They carried love for people in the real world and love
for one another. And sometimes they disguised that love:
"Don't mean nothin'!" They carried memories for the
most part, they carried themselves with poise and a
kind of dignity. Now and then, there were times when
panic set in, and people squealed or wanted to,
but couldn't; when they twitched and made moaning sounds
and covered their heads and said "Dear God".
They hugged the earth and fired their weapons blindly
and cringed and begged for the noise to stop.
Went wild and made stupid promises to themselves and
God and their parents, hoping not to die.

They carried the traditions of the United States
military, and memories and images of those
who served before them. They carried grief, terror,
longing and their reputations. They carried the
solier's greatest fear; the embarrassment of dishonor.
They crawled into tunnels, walked point, and advanced
under fire, so as not to die of embarrassment.
They were afraid of dying, but too afraid to show it.
They carried the emotional baggage of men and women
who might die at any moment.
They carried the weight of the world.

THEY CARRIED EACH OTHER

Author Unknown, Remember them this Memorial Day

God Bless and I Salute You...

Srg/Maj Johm Murdock
USMC

"A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO THE MEN AND WOMEN
OF
THE UNITED STATES MILITARY

You're now in the Armed Forces of a Nation Free
and Proud, and amoung our U.S. citizens you
stand above the crowd.

For you, my friend, have chosen to let the whole
world know that you will fight for Freedom where
ever you may go.

So serve with Honor and with Pride in all you say
and do, and know that we American's are Very PROUD of YOU.

Because of YOU we all are safe and remain
Forever FREE. That's why I send to ALL of YOU this
Heartfelt THANKS from me.

God Bless ALL Our Men and Women now serving
in Our Armed Forces, here at Home and around the World.

I Pray God Keeps YOU ALL Safe and please accept
my deepest Thank You for Serving to Defend this
Nation and for your willingness to help anyone,
anywhere, gain and keep their Freedom.

To Our Veteran's of this Nation, A Special
Thank You and God Bless You and Give you Peace.
With Love and Angel Hugs....Kathie Audet

A Proud and Grateful American

PLEASE REMEMBER OUR POW/MIA's AND THANK OUR VET's

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It was not until just recently that I discovered
the importance these very Special Veteran's played
in the whole picture. When I did find out,
This Tribute to Our Veteran's would not have been complete,
without mention of them.

Please click on the two banner below to visit two more sites,

Never Miss an opportunity to Hug and Thank a Veteran,
for the Freedom we have in this Country.

Please DO NOT forget our Disabled American Veteran's

I am going to close this Tribute with a challenge
to every American that reads this Tribute.
Please get involved, and force our Government
to Declare an offical "Welcome Home" for our
Vietnam Veteran's, if you are interested in
getting involved, and doing something in your area.

Please email me, and I will see you get the information
you need, to do that, which should of been done many years ago.
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let me know your thoughts.

You Have a great day!

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