As a Marine combat veteran,who serve in VietNam and Desert Storm, I am always hurt, to see OUR FLAG being desecrated by some idiots.I would be happy to kick some butts, in fact it be honor to do it for my Fallen Brothers. ....Bruce

Comments: This is the most moving demonstration for saving our flag that I have ever seen. As an American Veteran, Past Commander of my American Legion Post, Past Commander of Macomb County 40 et 8 and a member of the VFW, current Assistant Nurses Training Director for the state of Michigan (40 et 8), and although I am retired and getting on in years, I have worked many hours to see that our flag be protected. I have faxed messages to our "liberal" representatives to no avail. I hope this message can be e-mailed to all of them many times over. Thanks for the great message. .........Sincerely Ralph

Sky and all others who have written to her, or passed this on.

I am in the Air Force currently deployed about 30 miles from the Iraqi border, and a long way away from my family. Your page was sent to me by a friend and fellow serviceman. Though I am not a Veteran of any war, I have served my country and OUR flag proudly for eight years. My friend sent me this to help me remember why I am here, and not home with my wonderful wife and children. I am here serving each and every one of you. I would like to thank you all for loving OUR Flag and Country as much as I do. Though I have not made the ultimate sacrifice, each and every service member has made sacrifices which the average U.S. citizen will never have to make. These sacrifices are even harder when it seems that no one cares if we make them or not. Your page allowed me the opportunity to believe in the people I serve again. Those people are each and every one of you. Unfortunately I also have to serve the misguided people who would burn OUR Flag. These people protest when we do our job. I can guarantee you these people would also be the first to cry if there ever was a day when we did not do our job.

Our job is to protect and defend Our Country, Our constitution, and OUR FLAG. To all of you who took the time out of your day to respond to this page, and especially you SKY, THANK YOU. Thank you for making my day bearable. Thank you for loving your Country and YOUR FLAG. I am here to protect and defend you. Thank you all for remembering me. Thank you especially for remembering our fallen comrades who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Thank you to all the VETs who went before me. Thank you to all the families who lost loved ones defending our wonderful Country and our wonderful Flag. Thank you to all the people who joined me in tying a yellow ribbon around whatever we could find to support our troops coming home from
a conflict in a far away place. THANK YOU!!!!!

To anyone who would like to burn our flag, Please come over here (30 miles from the Iraq border) and ask me. I am sure we can pass some time discussing the pros and cons of it. Better yet, go ask my wife who is trying very hard to keep our household together, and pursue her own career with no help from her husband. She is the real patriot here. Ask any of the wives of the thousands of service members deployed here and elsewhere in the world. Please ask one of them. "I dare you." ...... RICK

Wonderful tribute, brings tears to my eyes. As the
firstborn son of an immigrant family, USMC vet of Desert
Storm and father of a young boy, I wholeheartedly agree.
To those who wishes to use the flag as a symbol of their
speech, ask. Ask me and I'll give you my answer......Kenji

Hello Sky,

I am a 27year old Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force. I received an email today with your web site on it from a friend whom is a Green Beret.  It's funny that I got it of all days. Today I turned on CNN to see a furious F-16 crash at an airshow.

Well it happens that the pilot that died in the gruesome crash in front of so many people, was a friend of mine whom I was stationed with in South Korea. His call sign was "Moose".

Moose was a great fellow, one whom cared not only about himself or his fellow pilots, but about each and every enlisted person on base. He made us laugh and he made us learn more about our jobs and life in the military. Moose fought graciously in Desert Storm. He flew many combat missions over Kuwait and Iraq. A friend that I am currently stationed with also worked with Moose in South Carolina. He was in Desert Storm with him and knew what I was talking about when I said he took care of us enlisted people.
Everyday in Saudi, he came to work and saw the fear in the eyes of the enlisted men and women. He was quick to crack a joke to ease the tension and make life bearable.

Moose didn't die in combat, he died making hundreds of Americans see what it takes to serve this great country. He died doing what it was he did best, not flying a high speed fighter, but serving his country and showing the people of America that freedom comes from dedicated professionals like himself and the rest of us whom serve this great land.

Your page hit home today, a day when a flag draped casket will be handed to a loving wife who supoprted not only her husband, but each and everyone of us that served with him. I will not be there to see it, but I will be there in spirit and in mind.

Thanks for your support and dedication to this great nation

"Ferris"

SKY: My name is Bill, I live in Satsuma Fl. I just read the finest E Mail I have ever received and would like to share the following with you and anyone else who cares to read it. My Mother and Father were both immigrants from Ireland and Germany respectfully. They came to "God's Country" - (their words) in 1929. I could not count the times they both told me of this wonderful Land of Opportunity and how they loved it so. I served our Great Nation from 1961 to 1965. During my tenure I had occasions to serve in the color guard during funerals of men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice. I also served on the color guard during the Seattle World Fair when immigrants took their first oath of allegiance.

Our son Bob served for eight years as did his beautiful wife Donna; our grandson Erik is currently serving in Guam as I right this note. We were/are all Air Force. I subsequently served in the New York City Police Department for 20 years and proudly wore Old Glory throughout those years. In front of my home flies the most wonderful flag I have ever seen. And the greatest honor
anyone could bestow on me is to have Old Glory draped across my casket when I  have to leave this great nation.

To you I say THANKS FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS for that most beautiful  poem. God Bless You and GOD BLESS AMERICA..........Bill

, Sky

Very much enjoyed reading your flag page. About 8-9 years ago, twice a day I would pass a beautiful residence that was flying a damaged American Flag. Having spent 22 years in the Marine Corps, it ate away at my gut so that I finally sat down and wrote the owner a letter. The damaged flag was replaced immediately. Showed it to several friends who happened to be vets and law enforcement officers. Many asked for a copy so they could leave other copies where they too saw worn flags. It is amazing how fast that faded, worn, torn flag is replaced once the owner realizes how it is viewed by others. Two letters have since been prepared for places that display damaged American Flags, one for residences and the second for businesses. There is also a Thank You letter that is sometimes left after a damaged flag has been replaced. With your permission, I hope to add the last paragraph below to those letters. The basic letter is as follows:...............Jim

Dear Patriotic American,

Driving by your property, one can only appreciate the excellent care that you have given it. At the same time, it is also admirable to see you proudly fly the American Flag. This note is most definitely not meant to be critical of you but more in concern that your intent to show your respect for the flag is lost in part by its damaged condition.

Many Americans, including a lot of veterans, cannot help but have strong feelings about the flag and the way it is treated. Unfortunately, your flag has become faded ragged or torn which is considered by many to be as disrespectful as the actions of the radicals who might burn or otherwise desecrate it.

The inexpensive printed flags which are the type that many people use, normally last less than a few days before they begin to fade in the sun and not much longer before the end becomes frayed. This leads to tearing. Flag etiquette requires that such a damaged flag should be replaced quicky rather than bring disrespect to the symbol which it represents.

Some of our congressmen and senators make available, at cost plus shipping, various sizes of sewn American Flags that have been flown briefly above the US Capitol. That is a real bargain as each flag comes with a certificate verifying its authenticity. Some veterans groups, as well as discount hardware stores, sell sewn flags at a reasonable cost. Sewn flags, although more expensive, do not fade very fast and and are resistant to fraying. They can last up to six months unless there is a particularly windy period or storm, which can ruin most any flag.

Lastly, none of us appreciate having someone else tell us what to do on our own property but the flag belongs to everyone and hopefully, you will take these thoughts in the way they are meant to be expressed. Let's all continue to keep the American Flag flying proudly.

If you are interested, a website discussing flag desecration can be found at:

http://home.flash.net/~skyangel/ourflag/ourflag.html

Thank You

Comments: Dear Sky, I AM A COMBAT MARINE FROM WW2, HAVING SERVED IN THE 3RD MARINE DIVISION AND THE 1ST MARINE DIVISION in China. I cried real tears when I read this message about our flag. I can honestly say it is the truest message I have ever read. It makes me and all veterans sick and fighting mad when someone desecrates our flag. It is NOT A FREEDOM OF SPEECH. it is a cowardly act and will not be tolerated. A THOUGHT TO THOSE COWARDLY PEOPLE--- FREEDOM IS NOT FREE, TOO MANY GOOD MEN AND WOMEN GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR OUR COUNTRY. IF THEY DONT LIKE IT HERE, HAVE THEM LEAVE. ......LOU

Sky,

I have never fought in a war, I was not mistreated by my birth country (Canada), yet I was never happier since I have immigrated to the USA!!! Ever since I can remember, I always wanted to live in the USA! I don't know quite why, I guess it is the patriotism that I never felt from other Canadian, nor personally.

I think it is disgraceful that American Citizens want to burn/drag through the mud/spit on the Glorious Flag. Perhaps another person they should be required to ask permission to should be Betsy Ross, the woman who made the first flag! I am pretty sure she would tell them a thing or two.

My Parents and my Younger brother have now become naturalized US Citizens, and I am anxiously awaiting my turn in about a year. And, I agree that a Flag burner should attend one of these swearing in ceremonies! Mine in particular as I KNOW I am going to be shedding a tear of joy and Pride that I will FINALLY be what I have always wanted to be my whole life...an American Citizen!!

My husband served in the US Army and I sort of envy that experience as it taught him a lot! He didn't serve in any war, but just the survival tactics and the respect for fellow human beings and the cammaraderie he developed is great experience and life lessons themselves.

Just the thought of desecrating the US flag infuriates me!! I can remember when I lived in Canada, that at a sporting event, the US flag was mistakenly hung upside down. (It is still beyond me how anyone could have done that by accident!!) That infuriated me, yet my friends found it amusing. Right then I realized that I definitely did Not belong in Canada as I didn't have the pride for Canada that I felt for the US.

I have since learned through a relative doing our family tree, that our family originated here in the US. So, we are now back where we belong!! And, thanks to all the soldiers that fought the wars, we are able to enjoy the freedoms we have here in this great country of ours!!!

My heart and prayers go to all the military families, past and present and a heartfelt THANK YOU for enduring the missing your loved ones, the losing your loved ones and to those who were injured during the battles fought for freedom of this Grand Country, the USA, OUR freedoms that most taked for granted...myself included.

Thank you and God Bless you and God Bless the USA!!!

Laurie