On May 22nd, 2002

the U.S. Navy ordered all ships to display the First Navy Jack during the War on Terrorism.


For the official document authorizing this display go here .
It is interesting to note that this Flag is also flown to indicate a court martial is in progress, and as the President's and Secretary of the Navy's personal flag.

Thoughts of days gone by...

Today I watched President Bush repeat the Oath of Office for the 2nd time and then watched bits and pieces of the parade. As I did so, another long lost memory popped up in my head. I wonder where all this stuff is stored, I really don't have that big of head.
Anyhow, I remembered back 36 years ago to a long bus ride from Tulsa, OK with the Young Tulsans, a concert and marching band, to Washington, DC to march in Pres. Nixon's 1st Inaugural parade. I played the bassoon, but for the purposes of the parade I was one of two banner carriers. It was Jan. 20, 1969 and very cold. We all had on long johns and turtleneck shirts and the bottom half of our uniforms were white, including the shoes. And as fate will have it, we marched behind the Comanche Horse Squad which made some side stepping necessary from time to time.
This was a time of great unrest for our country. The Vietnam War was in full swing. The Hippies were out in force and across the road from them were the Yippies. Yippies were members of the Youth International Party, which was officially formed in January of 1968 by founding members Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin in Washington, D.C. They were sort of a spin off from the SDS and their biggest claim to fame was the threat during the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago to contaminate the city's water supply with LSD. The founders were subsequently arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit violence. After they were sent to prison in 1970, the Yippies were pretty much defunct.
It was also a time when desegregation was still being put into place in parts of the country. The fact that my banner carrying partner (and friend) was black did not go over well with some people. Forced busing of students did not start occurring in many places until 1971, the year I graduated from HS.
Because of the unrest from the Hippies, the Yippies, the SDS (go here for an interesting story of the University of Kansas during the time my Hubby was a student there), the Black Panthers and other groups, we had a Marine escort the entire time we were in DC. Unfortunately, the unrest also made it impossible to visit any tourist attractions as they were shut down for security reasons.
I vaguely remember as we were starting the long ride back home watching fancy dressed people going into hotels and other places for the Inaugural Balls. I thought how much fun that would be, to hobnob with all those famous people. Turns out those famous people are just like you and me. Contribute a little or a lot, buy a ticket or two and you too can get all gussied up and attend a ball. My Hubby and I have been "invited" to attend Inaugural Balls several times in the last 26 years but have never been able to. But tonight, a family member will attend in our place and we are very excited to hear about all the "famous" people, the beautiful surroundings and if the President and First Lady really show up.
When I think back to what seems like so long ago (before most of you were born), I am reminded that somethings don't change. There have been and always will be protests and unrest. There will always be tightened security during events such as these, maybe more so as we fight to remain free. There will always be excited HS and College Marching Bands chosen to march for the President. And God willing there will always be the thrill of an Inauguration which though but a short moment in time reminds us that we are still a Free Nation.
God Bless America!!!