Patriot Salute

In the midst of this dreadful, and for too many, death-dealing coronavirus crisis,  out came the ever-ready-to-pounce chorus of progressives, first claiming that President Trump was too slow to react, too little too late.  Then, with their shrill voices fully in force, their concern, as could be anticipated, quickly shifted to displeasure over the comprehensive steps taken by the Administration to hopefully blunt the virus’s negative impact on Americans and the American economy, so that now the progressive are complaining that the President is acting dictatorial (and a “racist, of course”).  Actually, dear distortion-prone left-siders, what you are witnessing is neither “racist” nor dictatorial, but rather something, perhaps new to you, called leadership.

So, in the midst of all that froth, with our nation now on psychological lock-down (if not, actual, in some cities), how timely and refreshing it was to come across two men, in separate settings, who displayed genuine patriotism, with no concern whatsoever whether anyone was watching. In appropriate holiday or ceremonial situations, true patriots usually display their feelings for America, openly and proudly. While at other times, such is done more quietly so.  True patriots are, in fact, very often silent, but thankfully they are vast in number among us.  Now, two examples of perhaps simple deeds, yet always welcome and refreshing, acts of quiet patriotism.

It was wintertime in Maine.  A Marine Corps Gulf War veteran’s home was socked-in following a heavy snowstorm with high winds.  He was low on propane for heat.  His home was located down a dirt road deeply covered with snow. Because of the storm, he was staying elsewhere temporarily, hoping that somehow, that propane delivery could be made.  Then, at one point, his cell phone alerted him to his home security cameras.  As he watched, that hoped-for delivery driver trudged through the snow toward his house, pulling that heavy propone hose with him, as the wind continued to howl.  Then, as he got nearer to the house, he noticed that the owner’s American flag had been blown down by the wind. With that, the delivery guy stopped, picked up the flag, brushed the snow off, and set it back up in its assigned place.  All this, before reaching the house for his primary assigned mission, the propane delivery.  In the midst of a storm, respect for our fallen flag.  No fanfare, no show, and no one watching (he thought).  A selfless display of silent patriotism.

Next, another delivery driver.  This time, FedEx. Again, a security camera, the doorbell cam, alerted and witnessed via cell phone.  As the homeowner watched the delivery driver approach the house, he noticed that he had stopped.  He quickly realized why.  Likely the fault of a New Jersey winter wind, the homeowner’s flagpole had fallen over, with the American flag now lying on the ground.  The FedEx driver bent down to retrieve the flag.  He then carefully removed it from the fallen pole and began to fold it in the manner called for by military and federal regulation, so that, when finished, only a visible triangle of stars remained.  He had learned that, he later said, by watching past flag-folding ceremonies, “locking it away in my head.” He then carefully placed the folded flag on the porch near the homeowner’s front door.

The homeowner had erected the flagpole in his yard following 9/11.  In an amazing coincidence, that FedEx driver’s Dad was a first responder following the fanatical Islamic terrorist attack impacting New York City, and elsewhere, on 9/11!

Said the FedEx employee, Chris Oslovich, when interviewed later: “When you see the flag on the ground, that’s a sign of disrespect…so you have to stop, you have to do something, whether people are watching or not.” FedEx issued a statement in praise of its Chris Oslovich: “We commend the actions of this employee, who went above and beyond by carefully, and respectfully securing the flag on the homeowner’s behalf.”  No question, Mr. Oslovich exhibited definite respect for our fallen flag, these days, sadly, not an action always to be taken for granted.

Two examples of busy delivery men who immediately determined that they were not so busy that they couldn’t right an obvious wrong when it came to our flag. It just feels good and is definitely special to see evidence of American patriotism, often silent, but in so many of us, always there.

(Propane delivery via foxnews.com, Julia Musto, 3-3-20; FedEx delivery via breitbart.com, Amy Furr, 2-23-20).