VIEW: 19-22: Memorial Day Reflections

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By Bob McDowell (Born Neil Carson) Number 19-22
MEMORIAL DAY REFLECTIONS Week of 2019/06/03
As this is written, one day following the annual observance of Memorial Day, a
whole week-end, my thoughts have returned to the events beginning on Saturday
Morning. For those not familiar with the goings-on each Memorial Weekend for the
past 47 years this is information to remember for the future. For that long the Floral
Haven cemetery and funeral home in Broken Arrow has had an "Avenue of Flags" for
the whole period. The 3,942 flags from the previous year were raised by area Boy
Scouts on Friday at 10:00 AM. On Saturday the ceremonies began at 10:00 and
ended with 143 new flags being raised, bringing the total number of flags to 4,985
flying, each on its own pole with a plate showing the name and burial location of the
person for whom the flag was donated.
Also on Saturday beginning at 1:00 PM cadets from the Broken Arrow
Squadron of Civil Air Patrol begin replicating the Guards of the Tomb Of The
Unknown in front of a full size replica of the Tomb in Arlington. These cadets have
been trained by the Tomb guards and visit Arlington at least every three years for
training of the new members. They guard around the clock until 5:00 PM Monday
when the scouts begin the retrieval of the flags and poles to be stored until next year.
This is the ONLY unit permitted to perform this in the Nation!! The flags are
inspected, washed if needed, replaced if needed, and stored in alphabetical order,
as are the poles, until next year.
As an addition, they had just learned on Thursday at the meeting of the W W
II Vets, now All Veterans Association, a little known fact is that at Arlington the
Sargent of the Guard on noticing a person perceived to be a veteran will scrape
his/her heel as a 'salute'. So few are aware of this that a return is rarely, if ever
executed. On Saturday morning while watching a 'changing' this salute was
rendered to me by the sergeant of the guard doing the change and, expecting it, was
promptly and properly returned, according to military protocol. After the changing
was done, the sergeant approached the audience to answer any questions. In talking
with her following the questions she stated to me that she hopes to gain admission to
the Air Force Academy, a university with which it has been my honor, privilege, and
pleasure to have had a lengthy association, beginning with its founding at Lowry AFB
in Denver in the mid-1950s. It is assumed she has received the necessary
Congressional nomination, if not are you reading his Cong. Hern?
All in all this has been very uplifting and encouraging to me as mentioned before.
To see the dedication to 'duty' and exemplary performance exhibited by these young
citizens is most re-assuring and comforting. With upcoming groups such as those
mentioned, and others in my awareness, it appears there may be hope for the future
of the USA as a freedom providing REPRESENTATIVE REPUBLIC. We still do
need more of them and in more locations around the Nation!!
As most are aware, there has been excessive rainfall in our, as well as other,
area. Because of that it, unfortunately, became necessary for Memorial Park
Cemetery to cancel it's planned Memorial Day Observance that had been
scheduled for later Monday in cooperation with American Legion Post No. 1.
Back to reality, there is continuing LOCAL news coverage of the flood
conditions along the Arkansas River in and through Tulsa and suburbs.
Particularly in Sand Springs and West Tulsa the concern is for a series of levies that
were built sixty and more years ago and have not been properly maintained or
upgraded, just like was the case in New Orleans a few years ago when a hurricane
came through there.
Unfortunately, it seems that calls from staff for funds to improve to meet the
increasing potential for damage from more recently built 'flood control and
generation' dams up-stream have been unheeded. Politicians and bureaucrats seem
to be unable to understand the necessity to upgrade protection facilities to keep up
with the development in the area, such as has occurred in those areas. Hopefully,
with the "new sheriff in town" in the White House we will see a turn-around in that
attitude, we pray before it is too late!!
END
Composed May 28, 2019
Robert W. McDowell, Jr. 841 Lynwood Lane
918-451-1051 Broken Arrow OK 74011-8608
Email: abdmcfpi@localnet.com