After reading Charles Bennett’s letter about the American Flag, I started to do some research.
I found just how much the American Flag meant to Maine soldiers during the Civil War.
In the Memories of Maine, November of 2007 issue, was a story of The Sixteenth Maine Regiment that was sent to fight in the Civil War and was captured by the Southern forces.
When about to be captured, each Maine soldier tore up a piece of the Regiment’s colors, which were the American and Maine Flags and hid the pieces in their clothing, so that the South could not capture said colors. These soldiers carried their colors through Southern prisons and then back to Maine.
They did not want their colors to become battle trophies for their enemies.
The Flag remnants were later bequeathed to the soldier’s descendants.
Gen. Joshua Chamberlain, after the Civil War, praised the 16th Regiment’s flag remnant saving, as the symbol of the Country’s honor, power, law, and life.
So why is it today that so many believe that our American flag is meaningless?
Why do so many people degrade the flag and it’s symbolism?
Those brave men of the 16th Regiment were simple men. All volunteers. Yet they cared enough for our American flag to save it from degradation in the field.
I wish more Americans had that courage today.
Bob Harper
Farmington
Thanks Bob—very well said!!!!!
Interesting article Bob. I didnt know about this bit of history.My dad fought and was badly wounded in France in ww2, and the flag was very important to him over there. The reason so many people degrade our flag and believe its meaningless is because they never had to fight or sacrifice for the very freedoms they enjoy so much. We are raising a whole generation who do not know the meaning of sacrifice or going without. Our flag is a symbol of the Country’s honor, power, law, and life., as well as hope and freedom. Long may it wave.
i’m confused. is this satire? or are you really trying to support mr. bennett’s advocacy for a law banning mutilation of the flag by citing an historical account of american soldiers… mutilating the flag? want to know what really degrades the american flag and its symbolism, i mean besides blowing your nose on those hankies or wiping your barbecue sauce covered mouth with those napkins? american foreign policy, our corrupt government and out own national arrogance.
by the way, steve whittier thinks that women shouldn’t be able to go topless if they aren’t up to his personal standards of attractiveness–i’m going to extend this reasoning to the current matter and propose that real patriots will work to prohibit the display of the american flag on t-shirts stretched over obese men’s flesh aprons. exactly whose physique is suitable enough to display said shirts, i will leave to be determined by steve’s omniscient judgment in the realm of aesthetics.
Excellent letter, Bob. We have lost so much real patriotic spirit in this contemporary culture. Thank you for the details.
jonboy, you remind me of one of my kids when they went through a contrarian stage. If you would apply these skills to the stock market, it might make you money.
It seems to be the story of real men saving the flag from the enemy, one piece at a time. Had the enemy captured the flag, far worse things would have been done to it, I am sure. Having even a small piece of the flag, seems to have given great comfort to each man. What better way to save the flag? When in a prison camp, I bet the closeness of that remnant gave each man the strength to forge on and survive the hostile environment.
Maybe some people should be exposed to hazards more dangerous then reading the dictionary or thesaurus.
Bob:
Nice article, yeah they tore the flag up after being out flanked near the railroad cut at Gettysburgh on the first day I believe. This area had some boys who served in the 16th.
Take is easy jonboy. We are talking about the flag here , not boobgate.But now that you mention it, most reasonable people would agree some women walking around naked would be scarier than others…………………..I have never heard the term “flesh aprons”, sounds pretty nasty tho…………………………Tell you what, since you have crowned me a judge, I guess I can step up and fill this important position,……….but I’ll judge the women, you judge the men,……that flesh apron thing freaks me out.
Steve,
Don’t fret the flesh aprons thing. Nothing can make jonboy happy. Maybe his pabulum each morning gives him a belly ache while watching the adults are eating bacon and eggs?
A Vet
steve: it’s not about what your weak stomach finds scary. if one person can go without a shirt then you can’t say his or her ugly sibling can’t. that wouldn’t be very american. as for the job, you’ll have to put your fear of flab aside–the flesh apron is a universal phenomenon, especially here in these great united states.
vet: now who’s using a thesaurus? and or the record, arguing makes me happy.
jonboy,
What is a Renys? ( from your earlier post on Mr Bennett’s flag letter)
Don’t let jonboy get to you. Sounds like he would support any cause that would subvert our precious history. After all, you wouldn’t have “boobgate” if it were not for the GREAT VETERANS who have fought to protect our freedoms!!!!
yankee: where exactly have i “subverted” your “precious history?” if you don’t see the irony in mr. harper’s letter, i suggest you have your head examined.
vet: don’t get out of the v.f.w. much, do you? reny’s is where all true patriots go to get their disposable american flag paper products.
jonboy,
Tell me YOU begrudge a poor soldiers need for comfort while in a prison camp and then tell me YOU are a patriot! Talk to former POWs and ask them how much a piece of America would have meant to them as they were being tortured and confined in squalor. Those brave men of the 16th, earned the right to a piece of the flag because they were fighting for what it means. They did not burn the flag. They did not sit on the flag. They did not step on the flag. The hearts of every soldier in the 16th was in that flag.
So, jonboy, while you are fighting over the guilt of paper napkins, think of the soldiers that are in the field now, defending your imaginary predisposition, that you are a patriot!
moth: that’s an excellent rant, but i wonder if you have read any comment of mine where i have “begrudge[d] a poor soldiers need for comfort?” have i ever condoned the destruction or the disrespect of the american flag, or have i ever participated in these activities myself? the answer is no. i have certainly mocked the knee-jerk mentality of those that hold the flag as a sacred object representative of all of america’s greatness and none of its faults. tell me, if the flag represents and embodies our freedoms and liberties, sacred values to most americans, so that it is worthy of worship and idolatry, why are people like you so upset when people exercise those freedoms and liberties? the general argument seems to be, that americans fought and died for your freedom, including the freedoms of speech and assembly, but we would prefer if you stayed home and didn’t exercise those freedoms. regarding the paper napkins, i don’t feel guilty at all, because i would never wipe my gob on the flag. until i see a group of veterans standing out in front of downtown business demanding that they stop violating the flag code by using it for marketing purposes and on items meant to be destroyed and soiled, i will continue to view the arguments of mr. bennet and mr. harper with very little gravitas. you seem to be angry at me because i’m pointing out a contradiction. rest assured, moth, that my patriotism is no more imaginary than yours.
jonboy:
Whatever are you rambling on about now???
great, intelligent response, moth. i can see you put a lot of thought into it. if you’re just going to behave like a brick wall that’s the way i’ll talk to you.