Call Me Unashamedly Patriotic

The S. L. Clark Family
4 July 2012

It's safe to say - our family is patriotic. Ask any one of us what our favorite holiday is and its a good bet you'll hear, "Independence Day." 

We're proud to be Americans and we have gratitude filled hearts for the men and women who serve to defend and protect our freedom.

Photo by Bryan F. Tidlund
Idaho Falls, Idaho 4 July 2012

We love fireworks and the National Anthem and our flag. It's not about picnics and parades, it's sacred. It's about liberty and independence and understanding the sacrifices that have been made so we can live the way we choose. Our roots trace back through every war this country has been engaged in. Our ancestor patriots fought for the right to pursue life, liberty, and happiness in a God-fearing and free country. You could say it's in our cellular memory to love and revere this country and the freedoms it provides. Stand beside us when we're singing the National Anthem and you'll probably discover we're just a little teary. It may be cliche' but it's us!

We take the pursuit of happiness very seriously, so it's not every day I get all fired up about something. I'm truly a pretty chill individual. But mess with my flag and I get a little over-heated. This past weekend we drove past a business in West Yellowstone that had posted a line of altered American flags. They clearly felt they were being patriotic by blending images of what they were passionate about overlaid on the flag they love. Sadly, their actions were inappropriate. It got me a little agitated, I'm not gonna lie.

Photo by Stuart L. Clark
 USS Arizona Memorial- Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
10 May 2012

Far too often of late I have driven by businesses and seen the flag of the United States desecrated with some form of advertising overlaying the flag. Or I've seen people in parades wearing shirts obviously cut from a flag. Or I've seen the flag altered so a logo can reside where the field of blue should be. Clever, gimmicky, perhaps even fueled by well meaning intent, but desecration none the less.

Elsewhere, I've driven by businesses, schools, churches and more who are flying a flag that is faded, tattered, and torn. I've seen flags posted and unlit, left standing alone in the dark. Call me unashamedly patriotic - I love our flag. I love our country. I love our troops. I love everything our flag symbolizes and when it is defaced I feel sick inside. Don't misunderstand. This is not a diatribe against any one particular person, political party, or organization. This is simply a plea for Americans to remember and display an ongoing respect for Old Glory. 

US Marine Memorial (Iwo Jima)
Arlington Cemetery, Washington DC

In a world where our flag is being desecrated and burned by those who fully intend to bring us harm, shouldn't we - as a nation - be showing greater respect for our flag? I don't care what your political views are, as a nation we have men and women representing us who are risking their lives every day to insure our flag still waves as a symbol of liberty and hope for the world. When some are giving so much, can we give any less?

I have a friend who drove past a local high school and saw the stripes of their flag were starting to separate. She didn't just tell them to replace it, she went out and bought them a new flag and hand delivered it; then asked them to respectfully discard of the old one. Her action took my breath away. Can you imagine the impact if we all acted in such a way? 

Photo by Taunalee Clark
BYU Idaho - 11 September 2012

Come on America! Step up - show some pride. If you know someone who has some great marketing idea to overlay on the flag - tell them it's not okay. Let businesses and organizations know it's not okay for them to alter the flag for their marketing purposes. Take the time to let someone know when their flag is too worn to be flown. Buy them a new flag. Offer to help them discard the old one respectfully. We may not have global impact as individuals, but we can do this. 

Honor, cherish, and protect our flag!

In the spirit of 'knowledge is power' here's some links for your review.

We all learned about flag codes and etiquette in grade school, but if all that knowledge has begun to fade you can read up on it here: http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/04C1.txt

Did you know you can purchase a flag that has flown over the US capital? You can even request the day it's flown. I've done it. We fly a flag that was posted on our wedding anniversary. (3 July) We gave such a flag to my parents as well. I love it. This is a quality flag with embroidered stars and stitched stripes - pure class. You can purchase your own flag this way.  Go to this website to find out how: http://www.usflag.org/capitol.flag.html

Photo by Rachel Clark
Idaho Falls Parade
4 July 2012

Eventually, flags need to be retired. This symbol of freedom and liberty must be discarded with the utmost respect. Here's how to make sure you're honoring the flag you retire. From USA FLAG SITE:

http://www.usa-flag-site.org/forum/proper-flag-disposal-964.html

There are several ways in which you may give your American flag the proper retirement without showing disgrace to this great country. If you would like to dispose of the flag yourself then the most fitting way is to hold your own, private ceremony. The U.S. Flag Code states, "The flag, when it is in such a condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferable by burning." After your flag has been burned, the ashes should be buried. If you cannot burn and bury the flag yourself, then there are several organizations that will retire your flag in a proper and respectful ceremony. Among them are:
VFW @ vfw.org
American Legion @ legion.org
Boy Scouts of America @ scouting.org
Girl Scouts of America @ girlscouts.org
Marine Corps League @ mcleague.com
Contact one of the organizations obove and they will be able to direct you to a local post, troop or location near you.

~ May God Bless America ~

Utah this weekend!

SAD BREAKING NEWS: (Pun intended) My brakes failed - I've had to cancel. 

Please go to these events and enjoy them anyway!!!

A Tale from the Decameron by John William Waterhouse 1916

I'm telling stories at the Utah Valley Renaissance Faire (in costume) at the Timpanogos Park in Provo Canyon from 11 - 12 am this Friday the 21st.

Pioneer Children of my gr. gr. grandma, Catharine Houtz Boyer
Lydia Meleta, Francis Christian, Mariah Catherine
John Sell, Emma Elisabeth, Philip Henry

I'm also telling stories at the Utah Genealogical Fall Conference. The conference will be held at the Sandy Campus (Larry H. Miller) of Salt Lake Community College near the 10600 South off ramp of I-15. 

Friday Evening they are offering some evening activities for Families. I'll be leading a hands-on workshop on family memory at 6:15 pm and performing an hour of family friendly stories at 7:30 pm.

I'll be a part of the keynote panel and presenting two workshops on Saturday morning as well.

I'd love to see you at any of these events!

If you want more information about the Renaissance Faire go here: http://utahvalleyrenaissancefaire.com/tickets/

If you want more information about the UGA Conference go here: http://www.infouga.org/aem.php?eid=5

Gold Star Mother Tea

 It's no secret I love what I do. There is an indescribable satisfaction that comes to my heart when I am able to share stories with others. You can't see it, but there's a heart line that forms between the listener and teller that bonds them together during the story. The storyteller is no longer simply telling a story, the storyteller and listener are sharing an experience. The experience refills my soul every time. I always feel blessed when I am invited to partake of such a moment.

Yesterday, however, the blessing went beyond the norm. I was invited to share a story at a Gold Star Mothers tea presented at The Stillwater est. 1997. The gold star represents those who have lost a son or daughter in battle. Every guest at the tea was someone who had experienced such a loss. Miss Tonia had told me that she had felt a tangible reverence as she had been preparing for the tea, so I thought I knew how I would feel. In truth, I didn't have a clue.

The emotion in the room was palatable. Pride, pain, peace, anger, ache, longing, celebration, love, wisdom, support, yearning, satisfaction - I could go on and on - it all swirled through the room. As I looked into the eyes of my listeners I realized I may have an academic understanding of the last 10+ years of war our country has been engaged in, but it's all been sterilized somehow. But yesterday, I felt the emotions these people carry in their hearts each and every day. Reverence is an understatement.

In truth I felt reverence and so much more. I also felt an overwhelming wave of pride and shame.







Pride because our nation has a completely volunteer army. There are those who claim this negates the honor somehow, as if they are all mercenaries, not patriots. Nothing could be further from the truth. A sentiment I heard voiced over and over is that these warriors were there because they felt it was where they should be. One mother shared the peace she felt from a picture of her son taken just the day before he died. The image is of children reaching out to her son [in full battle array] with obvious gratitude on their faces. The son's arm is outstretched back to the children, the look on his face is one of pure love and joy. A burned out building creates a stunning backdrop to the image. She declared the picture brought comfort because it reminded her that he was where he knew he was supposed to be serving to make the world a better place for those children and for all of us.


Shame because as a nation we've turned this into a silent war. We support the troops, we put the yellow ribbons on our cars and we thank those in uniform we see....but what of those we lose? Someone expressed to me the helplessness she feels when she sees the gold star. "I don't know what to say, nothing I say will help them, so I say nothing." I don't think she is alone in her discomfort. Can you imagine the deafening silence such an act creates in the lives of those who mourn a soldier?

I read an article yesterday that declared on average we've lost a soldier a day. Statistically, that's a dramatic improvement over the losses our nation suffered in past wars, but statistics mean nothing to the families of those dead soldiers.

I was deeply honored to spend time with these valiant survivors. The last Sunday in September is Gold Star Mother's Day in the United States. I'm pretty certain it wouldn't be too hard to find such a mother, sister, brother, father, wife, husband, cousin, or friend, near you. It seems to me a hug and a 'thank you' is a good place to begin to break the silence. Ask them to share their story. Let them tell you about their fallen hero, I promise as you listen you'll discover a heart line forming a bond for you both.

To learn more about the Gold Star Moms organization visit:
http://www.goldstarmoms.com/
http://www.goldstarmoms.com/whoweare/history/history.htm