60's Flag Retirements

I hope to make this short and to the point and not project any
intent to flame, no pun intended.
Jonah mentioned a dignified flag retirement in which some of the
parents of the 60's considered mixed reactions.
As a Cub Master and current Pack trainer crossing over with my son
soon that touched a spot. We have had several retirement ceremonies and I
have to work hard to get through the ceremonies rather than allow my
emotions to fully participate.
You see in 1969 my number was 52. Recent news shows are
"remembering" Watergate. Most retrospect analisys indicate the political
efforts, or more accuratly the lack there of, that were made to support the
engagements in VietNam, Cambodia, and Loas. Many of us have friends we
won't see again. I was lied to countless times by those in authority in
order to be placed into a position that fit a different policy. Many of us
went through that system first hand and carry our own memories questions
and ways of dealing with the lying and deciet and low value placed on our
lives.

I will always support the principles of our constitutional
democracy.
We see films and hear comments from one adult or another refering
to someone with honest dignity who stands up for these principles as being
a Boy Scout but with a derogitory connotation.
If there were more "Boy Scouts" in political positions, perhaps we
wouldn't be bogged down in such a Washington quagmire and have more
Washingtn adults doing their Eagle projects rather than Machavelli-ishly
looking to cover all their bases.
Carrying the banner when others abuse it for personal profit is not
something I do to say "Look at me!". Many of us do Scouting to help insure
those ideals don't get buried in selfish hypocrisy.

Guess I'll stop. More would be rambling. Keep the faith.
Jim Wellborn
Crystal River, FL
wellboj@mail.firn.edu

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