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April 8, 2012

Flag thieves don’t understand symbol

The Norman Transcript

NORMAN — Editor, The Transcript:

Last Sunday night or early Monday morning, you and/or one or more of your fellow cowards stole the American flag from the pole in my front yard.

You may have thought you were playing an April Fools’ joke, but in reality you are simply a spineless crook.

The flag you stole reflects the history, heritage and unity of the United States.

The original founding states are represented in the 13 stripes.

The red stripes represent the blood that was shed during the birth and later the preservation of the nation.

The white stripes stand for the freedoms of our democracy — the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

The 50 white stars represent the 50 individual states, standing steadfast in the field of blue.

That flag in flying in my yard honors those who have served this nation. Closest to me are my father and uncles who served during World War II, Korean and the Cold War of the 1950s.

That flag remembers my cousin and nearly two dozen classmates who gave their lives in the hills and valleys of Vietnam. That flag recognizes the pain of mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, spouses and children who had to bury their fallen soldiers.

That flag also remembers those who came home physically broken, seriously ill and/or emotionally and mentally decimated.

Finally, that flag flies in honor of men and women serving in the Oklahoma National Guard.

These are the citizens who respond to assist neighbors in the aftermath of tornadoes, fires, floods, blizzards and ice storms, prison riots.

These are among the first to respond when a bomb is detonated in downtown Oklahoma City. And, these are the soldiers who stand for our country in mountains of Korea and the deserts of the Middle East.

Very soon, an American flag just like the one you took under the cloak of darkness will fly in its place to honor those who serve our country and safeguarded our democracy.

BILL HUNTINGTON

Norman

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