I bring this essay out of the archives today in honor of my father and in response to the left’s new idea to burn the flag in response to our president-elect’s newest Trumpery. To burn the flag may be a response to him–whatever. It is also an insult to all those who have served our nation, including my father, my brother, and my husband. There are many appropriate ways to register dissent, and I will support my fellow citizens in practicing them. #wearebetterthanthis–Carolyn M Crane
My father died six days after the eleventh of September, 2001, and he was well enough for most of those days to glimpse the television, which for some horrible reason they encouraged him to watch. He couldn’t speak—first, they thought, because of a breathing tube, but once it was removed, they realized he couldn’t talk anyway, because he’d had a stroke. He was too weak to write. So he lay there in his bed, mute, watching the crisis unfold. No wonder his blood pressure went from dangerously low to normal.
Frank Edward Brooks
Army Air Corps 1942
My father was an Air Force Colonel and a World War Two veteran. He was one of the Sergeant Pilots in the Army Air Corps, before the Air Force branched off. When it did, he became the youngest officer in the European Theater. He was a Republican his whole life. My father also never stopped learning, never closed his mind. A few days before he got sick he was at my house telling me about the book he was reading: Lies My Teacher Told Me. He had a list of three more books like that he wanted to read; he left the list with me at my request so I’d know what to buy him on whatever was the next occasion. My father respected Jerry Mander and hated the BIA. And the only things that disgusted him more than George W. Bush were the US Supreme Court and his own people for allowing a political coup without so much as a skirmish.
My father loved the American flag for what it represented for him: the history it accompanied in his memory. I wish I could have driven around with him after the eleventh, gotten his take on the reactionary epidemic of Old Glory on every antenna, windshield, and bumper. If the past were any indication, my dad’s reaction would have been thoughtful and hard to put in a box.
When the military police escorted my family onto Fort Huachuca to bury my dad, we saw lots of flags. I wondered how many of them were there before the eleventh. When I sat under the awning in the military cemetery, staring at the six foot long cotton flag the honor guard had unfolded in front of the four of us—his immediate family, I saw for the first time ever an integrity my father saw. The breeze blew faintly and the bugle played “Taps”. The air still echoed from the three rallies of rifle-shot.
When the spokesman for the honor guard knelt on one knee and delivered to my mother my father’s flag, he thanked her on behalf of our nation for my father’s devotion to this country. The flag was perfectly folded, a tight, star-studded triangle, when he placed it in my mother’s hands. She nodded, tears of dignity and pride gracing her cheeks. My arm was around her.
As we headed out of the cemetery I wanted badly to ask something, felt that child-like fear of asking too much. In my little girl voice I ventured, “Mama, could I hold Daddy’s flag?” She turned and smiled. “I’d like nothing more,” she said, handing it to me. I cradled it tightly all the way home.
A wonderful and timely post. I totally respect your position though I disagree that burning the flag is necessarily an insult to anyone. I don’t advocate it, but I don’t consider it outside the realm of possibility either. In my opinion what your father and so many others fought for was for the freedom that we enjoy in this country, for the people who live in this country, for the right to protest and dissent, and less so for a symbol of that freedom. In any event, no one should ever feel compelled to burn a flag to make a point. In my opinion it comes from a deeper place of sorrow about what is happening in our country. It would be interesting to hear what actual veterans have to say about this matter.
I hear you, and I agree there may be circumstances that warrant such an extreme action. I don’t think we are there yet, though, by any means. I see this “civil war” we have entered is a minority war; the 45% who expressed apathy by not voting hasn’t shown up for battle. Incendiary choices like flag-burning aren’t likely to convince them to pursue the path of liberty and justice for all. Whatever our beliefs, we all need to be careful right now to act in a way that builds bridges and changes minds, not causes further division. It’s a complicated matter, and I certainly don’t have the answers. But I know the thought of burning my flag because of something that might happen, even may probably happen, hurts my heart. I think now more than ever that what the flag represents must be protected. Most importantly, I also know that I treasure you, our discussions, and our friendship.
Thanks hon. You make some good points. I am concerned about complacency early in the game but I don’t know what the answers are either.
what a beautiful moment, when your mother handed you that folded flag…brings tears to my eyes.
Thank you, Kim. I was lucky to have many beautiful moments with my mom, and this is one of the most poignant.
I always appreciate hearing your voice, Carolyn. Thanks for sharing this tribute to your father, and for calling us to be thoughtful in how we dissent.
Thank you, Carmen. I appreciate you being here with me.
CC,
I got chills reading this lovely memoir. I am saddened for you that you lost your father at such a time, but I can see that you have taken much of his pride for his country with you.
I don’t agree with the flag-burning, but I do understand what has caused things like this to happen. Even in my understanding, I believe burning the flag is no way to show love for our country or our disdain for the President-elect. Behind that flag are many men and women who have fought for our freedoms and burning a flag is only a disservice to their dedication.
I do have pride in this country, Cassie, but I must say I also have the ability to clearly separate “country” from “government”. I think it is the duty of a patriot to scrutinize the government, and our representative democracy suffers from a lack of citizens doing so. I am though, for better or worse, something of an old 20th century nationalist, although I think our days are numbered. Thanks for writing.