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Fly a yellow ribbon
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Location: Blogs Now We're Talking |
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| Posted by: Joe Byrnes |
8/22/2007 7:51 AM |
From the Wednesday, Aug. 22, column.
Marion County will fly a yellow flag at the Veterans Memorial Park in support of U.S. troops serving in harm's way.
The decision - a unanimous vote of the County Commission - came following a request by Barry Barnett. The Palm Coast artist is on a months-long campaign to have Florida's local governments fly that flag.
"Our goal is to see the yellow flag flying from every county flag pole without the county spending one dollar on the flag," Barnett said after the vote. He said it is totally non-political and unrelated to the nationwide debate about bringing the troops home from Iraq.
"I could care less what the policies are," Barnett said. "I care about the person who is standing watch on a ship or on guard on land ... or in the air."
The 3-by-5-foot yellow flag will have these markings in black: the county's logo, the insignia of the service branches and the statements: "We remember our armed forces" and "We stand the wall with you."
Barnett said he and a flag maker in Daytona Beach are working to get clearance for use of the military insignia. Each flag will cost $30 to $45, he said, and should fly until U.S. troops come home from Iraq.
Barnett said he is making no money on the flag.
A number of Florida cities have signed on to fly it. St. Augustine, however, did not. In July, city commissioners said residents told them they didn't want it. Commissioner George Gardner said the yellow flag "was more of a political statement than a straight support-our-troops message."
They also were concerned that other people with other messages might legally claim a place on the city's flag poles.
For some people, I suppose, the yellow flag could signify support of the Iraq war. On the other hand, what it actually says is something most Americans can get behind, and that message is increasingly important as the Iraq war becomes more and more unpopular.
So I see no harm - and even some good - in flying the yellow flag.
On the other hand, it is an ugly-looking thing, and we already have an absolutely beautiful flag that represents the yellow one's message - and much more.
I mean, of course, the Stars and Stripes.
It signifies a country worth fighting for - on the battlefield; on the streets; in the home; in schools; in churches, temples and synagogues; and, especially, in the arena of politics. So fight for the America you believe in.
As I see it, when we fly the American flag or pin it to a lapel, we are making a promise to a soldier in a Humvee on the streets of Baghdad: We have sent you there and we will not forget you.
Joe Byrnes may be reached at joe@ocala.com or 352-867-4112.
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