Veteran's Day, poppies and Fred Bowar
10/12/03 12:07 PM
Fred Bowar. I expect he was the American Legion Commander when I was a little girl. Traditionally, several little girls were chosen to be the annual "poppy girls" and it was our duty to sell the poppies. As I think back, I’m sure the adults also sold them, but to this little girl, selling those poppies was very serious business over there in Reliance. Today if the Poppy Ladies don’t find me, I find them … I want them to sell all of their poppies.
Veteran’s Day always makes me very patriotic and I remember to appreciate all that they have done for us. Seems to me I remember that everyday before classes started we grade school children went outside to raise the flag, salute it and repeat the Pledge of Allegiance with our hands over our hearts. Patriotism was a part of school life. I don’t remember who took the flag down at the end of the day, but it was probably the kids. As I think about it, maybe one of the lower grades had the responsibility of raising it and another grade was responsible for taking it back in in the afternoon. I do remember learning the proper way to fold the flag and also remember disposing of a tattered flag properly. Do the schools even do this anymore? I don't know.
Word on the street Monday was that (during the State A tournament in Sioux Falls over the past weekend) although the announcer reminded everyone that the proper procedure when the national anthem was playing was to stand, remove your hat or cap and place your hand over your heart until the music stopped. Apparently, several people failed to hear the announcement. I wonder how many children noticed.
Our Bill was very patriotic from the time he was five or six years old. He saw to it that we bought a flag and it was displayed proudly in our yard. Today we have a small stand in the house with a U.S. flag and Navy flag that we keep for Bill. They are getting old and look a little saggy, but we will keep them as long as we can. Maybe I can put them at his grave in the cemetery … yes … that’s a good idea ... no, the wind will rip them to shreds.