thedrifter
08-30-09, 08:55 AM
Turner: Old Glory still kicks butt
Staff Writer
Farmington Daily Times
Posted:08/30/2009 12:00:00 AM MDT
It was an interesting week here for Old Glory.
First came the news that two local men who served our country died. One was killed days ago fighting against terrorism in Afghanistan, the other was an aging veteran of World War II who had survived the horrid Bataan Death March.
Then came the front-page news that the New Mexico secretary of education is going to ease back on her thoughts to change the state's requirement for students to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance, and instead leave it to the school districts to make the right decision.
Right there in the middle of all this news was Old Glory.
***
Our American flag is a special thing of beauty and proudly deserves the name of Old Glory.
If you look at it and it doesn't mean something to you, it's you who has the problem.
Many of our nation's most moving images are those with Old Glory in the snapshot.
Remember the scene that inspired Frances Scott Key to write our national anthem? Even in the thick of battle in a tough fight: "Oh say, can you see ... that star-spangled banner yet wave?"
What about the photo of Marines raising the flag on that remote, rocky, blood-strewn Pacific island in World War II as they fought their way one inch at a time?
New heights for Old Glory came when an American, yes an American, was the first to step on the moon. Soon after, he was standing there saluting Old Glory.
The first step toward recovery in the infamous attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, when the World Trade Center and thousands of innocent lives were destroyed came when rescue workers raised our flag on top of the rubble. It showed that once again, we're not quitters and when the call comes, we know how to unite for America.
Old Glory has a pretty effective history flying behind her.
She's more than a flag.
***
New Mexico Secretary of Education Veronica Garcia announced Aug. 21 that she would not make any changes to the Pledge of Allegiance Rule after earlier suggesting that it needed to reflect "part of a cleanup" of old rules. Apparently, she thought requiring students to say the pledge was too old-fashioned for today's newer and seemingly too accepted do-what-you-please version of American liberties.
As any grandmother would say, you can put perfume on a skunk, but that doesn't hide the smell.
The bottom line is that Garcia messed up, and she was called on it.
"A majority of school districts appear to have policies in place that address this issue," she said in a wise back-tracking statement. "Based on the numerous public comments we received, I feel any change in the current rule could create the impression that the pledge is not important in New Mexico's classrooms, which was never the intent of the proposed rule change.
"The department believes that the existing rule and practice in schools respects the rights of all students. Any issues related to rights of students will be handled at the local school district level."
Our local school district promptly said it will stick to the old rule of requiring students to recognize the flag and Pledge of Allegiance unless given written objections by a student's parents.
Freedom of speech dictates that an objector can earn the right to be heard.
Old Glory, however, already has paid the price and most certainly earned the right to be respected.
***
How important is Old Glory to those who serve under her?
Probably no one around here knew Robert Erland Sr. of Port Jefferson, N.Y.
Mr. Erland served as a quartermaster aboard a battleship during World War II.
It happened to be the USS New Mexico, which proudly served from 1917 to 1946 when battleships ruled the seas.
Mr. Erland heard about plans to commission a new USS New Mexico, a nuclear submarine ready to take on its duties within the next year. He had in his possession something very special: the battleflag from the former ship.
"When my father found out the Navy was naming a submarine New Mexico, he wanted them to have the battle flag. It was his dying wish," said Erland's son, Robert Erland Jr. of Maryland.
The senior Erland died in May of 2005 at the age of 90.
The new USS New Mexico was built, put to sea and soon awaits her first orders. Aboard her will be Old Glory, old and new.
There was a paragraph toward the end of an editorial we published Wednesday in tribute to the two servicemen our community buried last week. I couldn't let it go at that without using the spotlight these men earned to help enlighten so many other everyday issues we face.
Maybe you read it:
"These two deaths last week and the military honors accompanying their services remind us that every time we see that American flag, whether high on the poll flapping proudly in the wind or quiet in the solemn still while covering a coffin, we have much over which to say thanks."
There are many things wrong in America today.
Old Glory stands tall and proud for everything in America that is right.
You're damn straight she deserves a pledge in return.
Troy Turner is the editor of The Daily Times. He can be contacted at P.O. Box 450, Farmington, N.M. 87499; or at tturner@daily-times.com.
Ellie
Staff Writer
Farmington Daily Times
Posted:08/30/2009 12:00:00 AM MDT
It was an interesting week here for Old Glory.
First came the news that two local men who served our country died. One was killed days ago fighting against terrorism in Afghanistan, the other was an aging veteran of World War II who had survived the horrid Bataan Death March.
Then came the front-page news that the New Mexico secretary of education is going to ease back on her thoughts to change the state's requirement for students to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance, and instead leave it to the school districts to make the right decision.
Right there in the middle of all this news was Old Glory.
***
Our American flag is a special thing of beauty and proudly deserves the name of Old Glory.
If you look at it and it doesn't mean something to you, it's you who has the problem.
Many of our nation's most moving images are those with Old Glory in the snapshot.
Remember the scene that inspired Frances Scott Key to write our national anthem? Even in the thick of battle in a tough fight: "Oh say, can you see ... that star-spangled banner yet wave?"
What about the photo of Marines raising the flag on that remote, rocky, blood-strewn Pacific island in World War II as they fought their way one inch at a time?
New heights for Old Glory came when an American, yes an American, was the first to step on the moon. Soon after, he was standing there saluting Old Glory.
The first step toward recovery in the infamous attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, when the World Trade Center and thousands of innocent lives were destroyed came when rescue workers raised our flag on top of the rubble. It showed that once again, we're not quitters and when the call comes, we know how to unite for America.
Old Glory has a pretty effective history flying behind her.
She's more than a flag.
***
New Mexico Secretary of Education Veronica Garcia announced Aug. 21 that she would not make any changes to the Pledge of Allegiance Rule after earlier suggesting that it needed to reflect "part of a cleanup" of old rules. Apparently, she thought requiring students to say the pledge was too old-fashioned for today's newer and seemingly too accepted do-what-you-please version of American liberties.
As any grandmother would say, you can put perfume on a skunk, but that doesn't hide the smell.
The bottom line is that Garcia messed up, and she was called on it.
"A majority of school districts appear to have policies in place that address this issue," she said in a wise back-tracking statement. "Based on the numerous public comments we received, I feel any change in the current rule could create the impression that the pledge is not important in New Mexico's classrooms, which was never the intent of the proposed rule change.
"The department believes that the existing rule and practice in schools respects the rights of all students. Any issues related to rights of students will be handled at the local school district level."
Our local school district promptly said it will stick to the old rule of requiring students to recognize the flag and Pledge of Allegiance unless given written objections by a student's parents.
Freedom of speech dictates that an objector can earn the right to be heard.
Old Glory, however, already has paid the price and most certainly earned the right to be respected.
***
How important is Old Glory to those who serve under her?
Probably no one around here knew Robert Erland Sr. of Port Jefferson, N.Y.
Mr. Erland served as a quartermaster aboard a battleship during World War II.
It happened to be the USS New Mexico, which proudly served from 1917 to 1946 when battleships ruled the seas.
Mr. Erland heard about plans to commission a new USS New Mexico, a nuclear submarine ready to take on its duties within the next year. He had in his possession something very special: the battleflag from the former ship.
"When my father found out the Navy was naming a submarine New Mexico, he wanted them to have the battle flag. It was his dying wish," said Erland's son, Robert Erland Jr. of Maryland.
The senior Erland died in May of 2005 at the age of 90.
The new USS New Mexico was built, put to sea and soon awaits her first orders. Aboard her will be Old Glory, old and new.
There was a paragraph toward the end of an editorial we published Wednesday in tribute to the two servicemen our community buried last week. I couldn't let it go at that without using the spotlight these men earned to help enlighten so many other everyday issues we face.
Maybe you read it:
"These two deaths last week and the military honors accompanying their services remind us that every time we see that American flag, whether high on the poll flapping proudly in the wind or quiet in the solemn still while covering a coffin, we have much over which to say thanks."
There are many things wrong in America today.
Old Glory stands tall and proud for everything in America that is right.
You're damn straight she deserves a pledge in return.
Troy Turner is the editor of The Daily Times. He can be contacted at P.O. Box 450, Farmington, N.M. 87499; or at tturner@daily-times.com.
Ellie