I was sitting at a table enjoying breakfast with a couple of Veterans in the rural North Dakota community of Maddock. Having not been back to my hometown for quite a while, I would introduce myself and in turn these vets introduced themselves to me.
Later that day these 2 would be part of the Honor Guard that would lead the parade that celebrated the 125th Anniversary of Maddock. “I graduated with your brother, Rod” said the gentlemen who introduced himself as Brad Odden. I shared with him that my oldest brother Ken has passed away exactly 10 years prior at the young age of 65. For a while we talked about service and other veterans in the community I might have known.
A quick check of his watch alerted him it was time to head to downtown Maddock and get dressed for the parade. “Hey Brad, you know I have never had a chance to thank you for your service” I said, to which he replied, “well thank you, but you know what you should write about in that newspaper of yours?” Brad asked “you should write about all those folks who sit along the parade route and don’t stand when the American Flag goes by anymore.”
“Glad you mentioned it, Brad” I said “my article this week was going to talk about how we as Americans have kind of forgotten about standing when a color guard goes by. I noticed at the recent North Dakota State parade that there were several areas where people just sat in their lawn chairs and watched the American Flag go by.” “Wouldn’t haven’t happened when you and I were young” Brad said.
Brad’s comment reminded me that this tradition was taught to me long before that morning in Maddock, and it is a lesson I have carried from one parade route to the next.
A Young Man Learns
Once in a while a journalist has to get “out in the weeds” with a story, and perhaps that is where we are headed right now. But I have to share a story about a trip to Canada when I was “young” as Brad would say. We were in my Dad’s hometown of Killarney, Manitoba. For those of you who don’t know about Killarney, the city has an Irish heritage. The founder named the city Killarney because the area reminded him of Killarney, Ireland.
My family had arrived at the parade route on July 1st, Canada Day, similar to the 4th of July in the United States. I ran ahead to the parade route and found a spot where I could see the parade, and certainly I arrived in a nick of time as their color guard was not too far up the street. I stood and watched as the Canadian Flag Corps got closer. It was only a few feet up the street when all of a sudden I received a very swift and uplifting kick in the pants. Surprised, I turned and looked and there stood an older gentleman in his Canadian Forces uniform leaning on a walking stick. He looked down at me and sternly said “Stand at attention laddie and put your hand over your heart. That’s the Union Jack (the Canadian Flag of the time) out there.” I have to say my Dad was very patriotic, but that wasn’t the American flag. However, from that day on, and all the way through my Scouting years, and even to this day, I stand at attention as the American flag goes by, and I taught my kids the same respect.
The Power of 1…
What I have discovered through my years as a Scout leader, and citizen, is that it only takes one patriot to stand in respect for the American flag whether it be in a parade, in a show, or being raised on a flagpole, for the rest of the audience to stand beside him/her.
On Saturday I was seated about a block from where the parade turned the corner and headed up Main Street Maddock, and I put my theory to test. As soon as I got a glimpse of the Color Guard at the corner, I stood up and removed my hat. Everyone stood around me and pretty soon the entire crowd was standing. Then I heard a mother tell her son “take off your hat and put it over your heart until the flag goes by.” You guessed it, I had a bit of a flashback to my experience in Killarney, Canada.
I am guessing that most people would have stood for the American Legion Color Guard in Maddock, but it was certainly heartwarming to see the youngster in front of me with his hand over his heart, and every time a flag went by in the parade, both he and I, and most others, stood in respect.
A Tradition Not Forgotten
I had heard from several about my Memorial Day article remembering the white crosses adorned with American Flags. This weekend near the Maddock Public school, the American Legion had once again placed the memorial flags on display. There were many more flags now, and of course many more names that I recognized. The wind whispering through the flags was the only sound I heard as I walked and read those names. They all deserved to be a part of the celebration of 125 years of Maddock, and moreover the celebration of 250 years of the United States. Let them never be forgotten, because their service has given us the freedom to celebrate these special anniversaries.
That is why Brad’s request matters: one person standing can remind a whole crowd what respect looks like.
Ramblin’
I am certainly proud of and thankful for those volunteers who organized the 125th Anniversary Celebration in Maddock, North Dakota. There were many, many celebrations like the one in Maddock this year. When you are traveling and have the opportunity to slow down a bit and visit some of these small town museums and city parks you will certainly learn about the culture and heritage of the area.
Today’s Chuckle
The good old days: when you felt good and didn’t look old.
