March 29, 2024
Letter

Oppose flag amendment

As a Marine Corps veteran of World War II, I was in total agreement and very much impressed by a recent letter by Fred M. Griffith, “Protect speech and flag” (BDN, June 20), concerning the flag desecration amendment.

I too have a great love and enormous respect for the flag of my country. I cringe when it is made into shirts, neckties and goofy hats.

Our flag should be wrapped securely around the First Amendment, which guarantees all of our rights to speak freely and, yes, to protest too.

To quote Thoreau, “If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears however measured or far away.”

This doesn’t mean we have to like him, respect him or agree with him, or even listen to him, but we should defend his constitutional rights as we do our own.

I urge all veterans and all veterans organizations to sound off loud and clear in opposition to this misguided amendment attempt which may have more to do with politics than any real love and respect for the flag.

Many of us recall a noncom’s words when it came time to get a job done: “Let’s Go!”

Harlan H. Gardner

Marshfield


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