Flag Day

Today is the day we honor our flag.

My Mother was a flag bearer and marched in parades with the American Legion Auxillary.

Here a few more flags.

A flag on Bunker Hill

Flags at Hector International Airport in Fargo ND

Avenue of flags in Detroit Lakes Minnesota

When I was in sixth grade in a two room schoolhouse we had a flag pole and our teacher Mr Martin Cox taught us proper flag ettiquette.  I didn’t know at the time but he was a Veteran and after he served his time at various army bases and a year in Korea he was honorably discharged and took advantage of the GI Bill to further his eduation and become a teacher.

This was the old school house: fifth grade on the left and sixth grade on the right!  In later years it became a Community Center and nowadays it is a rental.

I am certain that the time Mr Cox spent teaching us how to honor and care for The American Flag touched more students than just me. Mr Cox died last winter he was 83 years old.  I wondered then how many students did he teach flag ettiquette to over the course of 32 years?

Bunker Hill Flags

The flags were changed yesterday at Bunker Hill.  The tradition continues, Howard said yesterday “I will go on until I cannot, I know it sure helped me so my hope it that it helps other Veterans too.”

The view from Bunker Hill looking over the prairie.  There was smoke from the wildfires in the air enough so that it blotted out the sun.

The flags were collected and fresh ones put up one by one.  Some of the Veterans are getting older and it was windy.

Uncle Archie saluting the POW MIA Flag.

My cousin Scott’s daughter Bailey read one of her original poems about a Veteran.  Bailey is involved with the BentProp Project which tries to return the remains of Missing In Action Veterans to family.

The new flags will fly on Bunker Hill until next August.

The old flags were burned properly as indicated by flag disposal rules.

There were many old people in attendance.  There was a people mover and several golf carts that moved people up and down the hill.  We took a ride up but walked back down again.  Trudy serves a picnic after the “doings” but we didn’t stay.

Although Howard is a Marine and a Vietnam Veteran, Bunker Hill honors all branches of The Armed Forces and all the Wars/Conflicts.

Thanks Veterans!

If you are a Veteran…Thank You for your service.

In my family we have four Veterans.

My baby brother and his son were/are both in the Navy.  My Dad was in the Army and served in Korea.  My husband was in the Air Force and North Dakota Air National Guard for 26 years.

A few years ago the traveling Vietnam Wall was in a nearby town.  It was an awesome experience.  Since my husband served during the Vietnam era we know how hard it was to be a soldier and a soldiers family during that time.

Here is a link to the wall where you can search for soldiers who gave their lives in Vietnam.  In some cases there are comments…by old girlfriends, sisters, brothers and fellow soldiers.  On Vincent Shepersky’s page I read a note from an old friend of mine who has since died by his own hand after serving in Vietnam.

There were three soldiers from the Park Rapids Minnesota area on the wall a few years ago.

Donald Green  died May 31, 1966.

Vincent Lloyd Shepersky died August 14, 1969.

Gary Lee Rehn died November 9, 1967.

Since then James Wesley Ashley’s name has been added.

James Wesley Ashley died June 1, 1967

Gary Lee Rehn’s body was never recovered.  You can still get POW/Mia bracelets.

Take some time to thank a soldier or to read about one on the Vietnam Wall this Veteran’s Day.

Changing the Flags

We have been going to the changing of the flags since 2008, I first wrote about it that year.

One Man’s Dream

In 2009 I called the blog post

Bunker Hill

In 2010 my Dad helped raise the Army Flag

Vietnam Memorial on the Prairie

In 2011 my Dad lowered the Army Flag

The Flags of August

In 2012 Far Guy raised the Air Force Flag

War Memorial

In 2013  Far Guy lowered the Air Force Flag

Bunker Hill

Yesterday was the day.  The flags would be changed again.

The Marine Color Guard group called Star of the North giving the rifle salute.

Far Guy and his Uncle Archie lowered the old Air Force Flag and raised the new one.  It was a cool cloudy day with rain threatening.  So what if we got wet…soldiers through the years have been wet, cold and tired ..so what is a little rain.  I am not sweet enough to melt.

 

Between these two men they have over 50 years of service.

During the ceremony one of the Marines became ill. A couple of nurses in the crowd took care of him.  He is going to be okay.

Carsonville Fire and Rescue was on the way.

Bunker Hill sits up on a hill and you can see for miles.

The flags were burned this year, last year it was to windy to burn them.

Once again Trudy prepared a wonderful lunch…you name it and it was there homemade buns with turkey, ham or hot turkey, pasta salads, baked beans, cole slaw, fruit salads and desserts…every kind of cake imaginable.

We met new friends Lani and Connie from Laporte there, they are new to the area and Lani is a Vietnam Vet. Lani said the ceremony brought some old feelings to the surface…not all good ones.

Those memories of war is what built this memorial on Bunker Hill, something good that came out of bad memories of young men in a horrid war.

We should never forget.

Bunker Hill

Yesterday  the flags were changed out at Bunker Hill.  Bunker Hill is a Vietnam Memorial that was dreamt of and started by a Marine who did a tour in Vietnam.

Bunker Hill overlooks the prairie.  The day was hot but the gale force winds from the south made the day bearable. 

Far Guy and another fellow that served in the Air Force took down the Air Force flag.

Uncle Archie and another fellow put up the new Air Force flag.

One by on the flags were changed out.  Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, POW ~ MIA and the American flag.

There are still about 2,000 soldiers that have not been accounted for in Vietnam.  It seems that most of them have been forgotten by the government, but not by the soldiers that served with them, or their families. 

I cannot imagine the not knowing, the wondering what happened to a family member…it must be almost too much to bear.

The flags were not burned today, it was too windy.  They will be properly disposed of when the wind dies down.

Many thanks to Howard and Trudy who invite the public to share this day with them.  Trudy cooks for days and a picnic lunch was served after the ceremony:)

War Memorial

Yesterday was the changing of the flags up on Bunker Hill up on the edge of the prairie.

This year Far Guy was asked to assist with the Air Force flag.

That is him in the red shirt.  The Coast Guard Guys are in the way.

My baby brother and his wife were able to attend..he was in the Navy.  All of our “neighborhood” showed up along with Andy, Jen and the grand boys.

The bunker on Bunker Hill. 

The flags were disposed of properly.

It was a thought filled day up on Bunker Hill..remembering all the Veterans the ones that returned and the ones that didn’t:(

The Flags of August

Every year we try to go up to Howard and Trudy’s for the flag ceremony.

Howard built a Vietnam War Memorial on the side of the hill near their home.  Every year in August the flags are changed.  Yesterday was the day.

 

Dave on the left and my Dad on the right.

My Dad helped to put the Army Flag up last year, so he was on hand to take it down this year.  Far Guys Uncle Archie took down the Air Force Flag.

The Marine Color Guard was there.

 

  Cousin Elmer put up the American Flag.

 

The old flags were disposed of properly.

The new flags hung limp in the summer air.  Old men and young men and women all took part in the ceremony.  It was a good day to remember all the Veterans that have fought for our freedom. It was a good day high on a hill on the edge of the prairie:)

2008 One Man’s Dream

2009 Bunker Hill

2010 Vietnam Memorial on the Prairie

Vietnam Memorial on the Prairie

This is a well traveled road on the third Saturday in August. The memorial is directly in the center of this photograph, on the hillside overlooking the prairie. The third Saturday in August always signals the changing of the flags at this local Vietnam Memorial. Once a year the old flags are changed out for new ones.

My Dad, raising the Army Flag.

  This year was special, my Dad who is a Korean War Veteran and Dave  a Vietnam Veteran who happens to be married to Ann one of my faithful blog readers were in charge of raising the brand new Army flag.
Far Guys Uncle Archie helped to raise the Air Force Flag.
  There was one World War II Veteran.


There were little boys whose Grandpa bought them Marine T Shirts. Howard said in his opening remarks “Everyone should bring their children, so that they will remember that many men fought for their freedom.”


This is the third time that we have attended.  This tiny little Memorial service is getting more attention every year.. I have written about it before. 
One Man’s Dream August 2008
Bunker Hill in August 2009
This year many people attended for the first time, one couple was from out of state and just happened to hear about it and decided to stay in the area an extra couple of days..why? Because he was a Vietnam Vet. 


We should never forget:)