THE PRICE FOR FREEDOM

The Price for Freedom-Video Fourteen-Robin Williams as The Flag-We’ll Stand

Posted on September 29, 2017December 31, 2017 by pastorappreciationblog

I can’t explain it … but … I “discovered” this video in my files … a video I had seen, years ago, but was unable to “save” it, or unable to transfer it in a format that I could share it …

I have often been in this folder, on my Desktop, where I save videos for future use … in fact, I was just there a couple of days ago … but, it wasn’t there …

It was there … today … as I began to work on the latest installment in “The Price for Freedom” series.

Here goes …

Our fourteenth video in this series features the amazing talent of Robin Williams, captured in a live performance on
March 22, 1982 … this was 35 years ago … 35 years ago …

All of the production credits are included in the video …

Throughout this series, I have, in this introduction, featured quotes or text from the featured video.
The subject of “The Flag” has been in the news a lot, lately … As a sports fan, I am aware of this …
I guess, even if you’re not a sports fan, you are aware of news about “The Flag.”

Funny … I really haven’t, even once, been asked about “my stand” on this situation …
I guess … people don’t have to ask … they, just, already know …

At School, we say the Pledge of Allegiance every day … the same time, every day, between 1st and 2nd period.
Today … a busy Friday … it was Homecoming Day here … so, I took advantage of the time between periods to visit
the faculty restroom. While there, I heard the announcement … to “Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.”
Whoops!!!
There, of course, is a pause, between the announcement to stand, and the Pledge …

Yes … that was me, barreling down the hall, hand over heart, racing to the Library, which was the closest
location which I knew had the American Flag … I made it! I may have broken every rule, including the law of
gravity to make it, but I made it … as I crossed the threshold of the Library, right-hand door, I could see The Flag …
The Flag, I may add, which flies above a framed display of a folded American Flag, which, folded in that “triangle,”
contains The Flag which flew on board military aircraft in Afghanistan, and was donated to the Library …

The “triangle-fold” Flag which matched the pin I wore on my left shirt collar today … a pin of The Flag, folded in a
triangle … with the words “IN HONOR” underneath The Flag … A pin I wear every day … A pin which was presented to me
at my Father’s Funeral …

Where The Flag was draped over my beloved Father’s casket …
The Flag that was presented, in that “Triangle Fold,” to my Sister, at graveside, after a 21-Gun Salute …
“on behalf of a grateful nation.”

I guess that’s ’nuff said …

Yeah, I’ll stand for The Pledge.
Yeah, I’ll stand for The Anthem.
Yeah, I’ll stand.
I mean … How can I not???

35 years ago, Robin Williams (here’s where I add quotes and text from the video) said, as The Flag, “I had a tough time
for a while. I been in a lot of wars. They fired missiles and muskets at me, but, you know, come the dawn’s early light,
I’m still there … But people haven’t always been respectful of me. Sometimes, it’s been tough. There’ve been some
people who have tried to spit on me, trample me, burn me … sometimes some Americans, too … ”

Mr. Williams would, then, stoop down on one knee … yes, kneel on one knee, as The Flag, and say, “That’s not my favorite
position, because, that’s half-mast …”

Again today, I was describing Carol to a co-worker, and, because it’s true, once again, it just came out:
“She is the most genuinely nice person I’ve ever known.”

However … I can’t print how she feels about those who won’t stand.
Yeah, I’ll stand.
My Father … her Father … So many in our family … like yours … have served …
Or … still serve …
Yeah, we’ll stand …

As we continue to remember, continue “to stand,” because

“The price for this freedom has been high …”

Here’s Robin Williams as “The Flag:”

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The Price for Freedom-Video Twelve-Andy Rooney on Memorial Day

Posted on September 13, 2017December 31, 2017 by pastorappreciationblog

“No official day is adequate for something like that …”

Our twelfth video in this series features Andy Rooney’s famous commentary on “Memorial Day.”

Andy Rooney was perhaps best known for his weekly broadcast “A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney,” which aired as part of the CBS News program “60 Minutes,” from 1978 to
2011. His final regular appearance on “60 Minutes” aired on October 2, 2011. He died one month later, on November 4, 2011, at age 92.

“I have more to remember on Memorial Day than most of you …”

Andy Rooney began his career in newspapers while in the Army when, in 1942, he began writing for “Stars and Stripes,” in London, during World War II.
In February 1943, he was flying with the Eighth Air Force, as a correspondent who flew on the second American bombing raid over Germany. He was the first journalist to reach the Ludendorff Bridge after the 9th Armored Division captured it on March 7, 1945.

Later, Andy Rooney was one of the first American journalists to visit the Nazi concentration camps, and one of the first to write about them.

For his service as a war correspondent in combat zones during the war, Rooney was decorated with the Bronze Star Medal (the Bronze Star), given for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a
combat zone. He was also awarded the Air Medal, given for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.

Andy Rooney’s “end-of-show” segment on 60 Minutes, “A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney” (originally “Three Minutes or So With Andy Rooney”), began in 1978, as a summer replacement for the debate segment “Point/Counterpoint.”

If you remember, Rooney was always seated behind a walnut table … his own table, which he had made himself.

Here’s Andy Rooney asking us to “consider what they did for us” …

Let us, also, now, continue to remember, to realize, that
“The price for this freedom has been high …”

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The Price for Freedom-Video Seven

Posted on July 29, 2017December 31, 2017 by pastorappreciationblog

“I just served as best I could.”

For the freedoms we enjoy,
“Thank you.”

“The price for this freedom has been high …”

For all who served,
“Thank you for your service.”

For all of us who understand the great sacrifices made,
“Thank you for your support.”

Our seventh video in the series features this video from moments.org.
Here’s a direct link to their website:
http://moments.org/

When I worked for a large retail store, a young man who worked in the same department was a recent Veteran of the War in the Middle East. Without exception, when he realized that a customer was a Veteran, he would reach out his hand, and, simply say, “Thank you for your service.” This young man went on to pursue public office, and I’ll never forget that hand reaching out, the handshake, and those words:
“Thank you for your service.”

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The Price for Freedom-Video Six

Posted on July 24, 2017December 31, 2017 by pastorappreciationblog

“The price for this freedom has been high …”

Our sixth video in the series was first aired during this year’s Super Bowl, and features Johnny Cash’s “Ragged Old Flag,” with an entirely new video background story, shot just for this Super Bowl 51 Pre-Game feature.

Interestingly, the game featured a team called “The Patriots.”

Once again, Fox Sports should be commended for providing a Patriotic feature before kick-off. We’ve written much about how often we would hear our National Anthem … if we didn’t watch sports. For the last several years, when it was “their turn” to broadcast the game, Fox Sports has paid honor to our Country,
and it’s Veterans, by providing such a feature as this.

We’ve just returned from Georgia, where Daddy was laid to rest, beside my Mother, and my Sister.

Just a few days ago … I was there as the Honor Guard placed the United States Flag on Daddy’s casket. I witnessed, in somber silence, as I stood, just a few feet away, as the 21-Gun Salute echoed through the North Georgia hills … So, too, I stood a few feet away as the Bugler played “Taps,” my memories fading into the trees with those mournful notes …
I was there when two members of the Guard reverently removed the United States Flag, folded it ever so carefully … so thoughtfully … so respectfully … and then, bowing down … the Captain of the Honor Guard gently placed the folded Flag into my oldest’s Sister’s hands, and then … I leaned in closely in order to hear the
spoken words … It was a deeply personal moment, and the words were spoken softly, personally, as he looked directly into my Sister’s tears:

“This flag is presented on behalf of a grateful nation as a token of appreciation for your loved one’s honorable and faithful service.”

I’ve never been so proud of “That Ragged Old Flag.”

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