Selflessly Assaulting Forward

Do you know the anatomy of the American Flag?

The blue field containing 50 stars, one for each State in the United States, is called the Canton, or Union.

Do you know why the Union faces forward on the shoulders of our nation's military, first responders, corporate, and other patriotic clothing you may see in the news, on websites, and out in public? If you haven't noticed, take the time to look. It is not an accident.

Think about what that Flag looks like on the center mast of a ship heading out to sea, on the front of diplomatic vehicles heading down the road, soldiers and first responders running into danger, carried by mounted cavalry, color guard at rodeos, parades, and military events. In all cases, when the Flag is moving forward waving in the breeze or wind, the Union is at the highest position of honor -- always assaulting forward, advancing, or otherwise leading the way.

Whether you're not interested in history at all, know some history, or are an amateur or professional historian, consider the following question:

In the last twenty years, since and including the day of 9/11 events, how many stories of people selflessly advancing into danger in order to help others come to mind?

When the twin towers came down, people of all types ran into danger in order to selflessly help other people out of the attack radius, out of those buildings, and to search for survivors thereafter.

When the Pentagon was attacked, I distinctly remember footage of soldiers running from the blast, and after realizing what happened, and without a moment of consideration, ran back into danger, to selflessly help others who may not have made it out.

When Flight 93 crashed over Pennsylvania, regular, every day passengers aboard that flight decided to selflessly assault forward to try and retake the plane and prevent it from being used against the United States.

When two F-16 fighter pilots learned about Flight 93 and the probability of the airliner being used as an attack on the United States, they realized there wasn't enough time to arm their aircraft and intercept the passenger jet. So, they consciously and purposefully planned to ram their jets into the airliner in order to prevent another attack on American soil, killing themselves in the process. Another example of a selfless assault forward.

And what about the most recent non-government sponsored, ex-military and private citizen actions to get Americans and American allies out of Afghanistan when there was no other way out? Selflessly assaulting forward.

Instead of counting the number of people who have died, the money spent, the people and families broken in an attempt to assign a cost for the last twenty years of action, I choose to focus on a handful of stories illustrating ordinary people selflessly assaulting forward. People who realized that action, even if it cost everything, is more favorable than inaction.

You see, I believe the Union facing forward on the United States Flag represents the best of our people in this country and her history.

When ordinary people in this country, understanding there is a need, and knowing the cost may be everything they have to give, still choose to advance forward into danger in order to help others, it is only then that the real meaning of our American Flag becomes apparent to those that choose to see.

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Author's Note: This article isn't a political statement. Nor is it an opinion on geopolitics, war, forms of government, diplomacy, the role of military, intelligence, nation building, peace-keeping, positioning, posturing, chess, or the history of leaders in any country, ever. It is a celebration of people. The kinds of people who, whether everyone knows about them, likes them, appreciates them, or even want to acknowledge them, selflessly choose to run into danger in order to help others -- knowing that said danger, may be their final act on this earth. This article is a celebration of the selfless human spirit exhibited by action after action after action of people serving people for the last twenty years -- and for the history of this country.

American Flag Glossary. https://www.legion.org/flag/glossary

Brown, Lee. 'Pineapple Express': US vets volunteer to secretly rescue allies in Afghanistan. New York Post. August 27, 2021 1458h.

O'Donnell, Norah. Fighter pilots recall mission to take down Flight 93 on 9/11. CBS News. September 8, 2021 1915h.

The American Flag. https://www.usa.gov/flag

The Gettysburg Address. https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/gettysburg-address

Rouhandeh, Alex J. More People Died of 9/11-Related Illnesses Than in the Initial Attack: Report. Newsweek. September 7, 2021 1448h EDT.