Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 05/16/2005

Dear Sgt. Shaft,
Millions of Americans were very disappointed that the leadership of the Senate in the 108th Congress, after a great victory in the House, failed to have a vote on the Flag Amendment. That vote would have forced some Senators to explain to voters why they ignored the will of 75 percent of their constituents and voted against the right of the people to protect their flag. Why do they respect the will of the majority when it wears black robes, but ignore it when it wears working clothes?

The losers and winners may not agree on many of the campaign issues of the 2004 elections, but many do agree that it was a “V-lettered” election. When the victors made the “V” sign, that sign stood not only for victory, but in this election for the source of victory: veterans and values.

Veterans make up 13% of the population. But in this election they made up 18% of the vote. In other words, veterans voted 40% above their representation in the electorate.

Those numbers are enormous when you consider the margin of victory in many of the campaigns, especially the presidential campaign. Some of the big losers in last November’s election were supporters of flag burning. For the first time in many years a sitting Minority Leader in the Senate, Tom Daschle, was defeated, and a key issue in his defeat was his support of flag burning as speech.

It was not “the economy stupid,” that energized voters; it was values. Veterans and the values they represent determined victory. The flag symbolizes the Constitution our veterans died for, and the legalized desecration of Old Glory does not represent the values, or meaning, of that Constitution. Those who support flag burning, as speech would have had a hard sell in the last election.

The values factor has not been lost on the politicians today and we are seeing a significant change in their rhetoric on issues related to the values of the American people. Many prominent politicians are speaking with a different tone on values. This change in tone is vital for the flag effort and brings us closer to victory.

Nothing fits better with our cause than values. Legalized flag desecration is a domino in the devaluing of America along with other dominoes that also desecrate our Constitution: attacks by the judiciary on the Pledge of Allegiance, the Boy Scouts, prayer, the Ten Commandments, and marriage; and judges’ protection of pornography to include child pornography.

And that is why the flag amendment is so important. There is no other action with a chance of success that rebukes the excesses of the courts. The flag amendment can begin a slippery slope toward the restoration of our Constitution. Much more than the flag depends on it. We can help rescue our Constitution as we rescue our flag.

The Flag Amendment has been introduced into the 109th Congress. We have never been closer to victory, but our Senators and Representatives need to hear from us if we are to guarantee it.

Maj. Gen. Patrick H. Brady, USA (Ret.)
Chairman of the Board
Citizens Flag Alliance, Inc.

Dear General Brady,
As you know, Flag Day was proclaimed by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916 and is honored in communities throughout the nation. And flag etiquette states that the U.S. flag should always be treated with the utmost care and respect. The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal. The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying or delivering anything. When the flag is lowered no part of it should touch the ground or any other object. I sure wish that lawmakers who do. not support the patriotic legislation now before Congress, the amendment to protect the flag, learn Old Glory's protocol.

And as you General Brady have previously written “Most of our gratitude is expressed through symbols. Gravestones, obelisks, walls and the greatest of all symbols, Old Glory. Symbols are indispensable in a democracy and have been called the natural speech of the soul. In their darkest moments, in the midst of the horrifying loneliness of combat, surrounded by noise, fear, fatigue, and the terrifying, unmistakable, indescribable smell of blood, warriors turn to symbols for comfort -- a letter, a photo, a holy medal, a lock of hair.

And they look to the greatest conqueror of fear and loneliness, the greatest symbol of hope, their constant companion and their supreme inspiration -- Old Glory. It speaks to their soul. No other symbol, nothing, says better: You are not alone. Why? Because our flag symbolizes the Constitution which was written in their blood.

In Holy Communion some may see only red wine and white bread, but Christians see the body and blood of Jesus, goodness itself. In the flag some may only see the red, white, and blue of a cloth but patriots see the Constitution, the cause of goodness and justice and prosperity, of the beauty and bounty that is America.

The freedom to burn the American flag is not a legacy of our freedoms. Our struggle is symbolic and symbols define us as a people. Is there any symbol in America dearer to more people than the flag? Does any American have anything or anyone who is dear to them that they would not protect? When Old Glory flies, it waves the Constitution before all who see it. We should demand the right to protect the symbol of our Constitution.

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-462-4430 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

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