As this is written, one day following the annual observance of Memorial Day – a whole week-end – my thoughts have returned to the events beginning on Saturday morning.  For those not familiar with the goings-on each Memorial Weekend for the past 47 years, this is information to remember for the future. 

For that long period of time, the Floral Haven Cemetery and Funeral Home in Broken Arrow  has had an “Avenue of Flags” for the whole weekend. The 3,942 flags from the previous year were raised by area Boy Scouts on Friday at 10 a.m. On Saturday, the ceremonies began at 10 a.m. and ended with 143 new flags being raised, bringing the total number of flags to 4,985 flying, each on its own pole with a plate showing the name and burial location of the person for whom the flag was donated.

Also on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m., cadets from Oklahoma Wing of the Civil Air Patrol from all over Northeastern Oklahoma began replicating the Guards of the Tomb Of The Unknown in front of a full size replica of the Tomb in Arlington. 

These cadets have been trained by the Tomb guards and visit Arlington at least every three years for training of the new members.  They guard around the clock until 5 p.m. Monday when the scouts begin the retrieval of the flags and poles to be stored until next year.

This is the only unit permitted to perform this in the nation.  The flags are inspected, washed if needed, replaced if needed, and stored in alphabetical order, as are the poles, until next year.

As an addition, they had just learned on last Thursday at the meeting of the World War II Vets (now All Veterans Association), a little known fact is that at Arlington, the Sergeant of the Guard on noticing a person perceived to be a veteran will scrape his/her heel as a salute.  So few are aware of this that a return is rarely, if ever executed.  On Saturday morning, while watching a “changing.” this salute was rendered to me by the sergeant of the guard doing the change and, expecting it, was promptly and properly returned, according to military protocol. 

After the changing was done, the sergeant approached the audience to answer any questions.  In talking with her following the questions, she stated to me that she hopes to gain admission to the Air Force Academy, a university with which it has been my honor, privilege and pleasure to have had a lengthy association, beginning with its founding at Lowry AFB in Denver in the mid-1950s.  It is assumed she has received the necessary Congressional nomination – if not are you reading his Congressman Kevin Hern?

All in all this has been very uplifting and encouraging to me as mentioned before. To see the dedication to duty and exemplary performance exhibited by these young citizens is most reassuring and comforting.   With upcoming groups such as those mentioned, and others in my awareness, it appears there may be hope for the future of the United States as a freedom-providing representative republic.  We still do need more of them and in more locations around the nation.

As most are aware, there has been excessive rainfall in our, as well as other, area.  Because of that it, unfortunately, became necessary for Memorial Park Cemetery to cancel it’s planned Memorial Day Observance  that had been scheduled for later Monday in cooperation with American Legion Post No. 1.

Back to reality, there is continuing local news coverage of the flood conditions along the Arkansas River in and through Tulsa and suburbs. Particularly in Sand Springs and West Tulsa the concern is for a series of levies that were built 60 and more years ago and have not been properly maintained or upgraded, just like was the case in New Orleans a few years ago when Hurricane Katrina came through there.

Unfortunately, it seems that calls from staff for funds to improve to meet the increasing potential for damage from more recently built ‘flood control and generation’ dams up-stream have been unheeded.  Politicians and bureaucrats seem to be unable to understand the necessity to upgrade protection facilities to keep up with the development in the area, such as has occurred in those areas. 

Hopefully, with the “new sheriff in town” in the White House, we will see a turn-around in that attitude, we pray before it is too late.