The little boy had tears in his eyes as he watched them lower his father into the open grave in the family cemetary. How do you explain to a child of five that his family has been shredded by a war in a land many thousands of miles away. The cold harsh wind was stinging the tender bare face yet his eyes never fell from the seven troops who stood with their guns pointed to a bleak sky, Three times they would fire, twenty one rounds would be spent. The echos would ring out to the hillside, to proclaim this solider as one who died for the rights and freedoms of others. One who gave the ultimate for his country and to the Flag.
Words were spoken of many things, but a tender heart of five can not understand .....Line of duty....a hero's death... just more words used to cover the guilt of a country that does not care. The child is called foward and is given the flag that so carefully covered his father. He is told to take courage from this flag, to love and protect this last symbol of a fallen hero. One day he would understand why his Father was willing to die for it.
On their drive back to a empty house they are stopped so that a anti-war protest can pass by, through the windows of the car the young boy can see a flag that is being burned, another has been made into a shirt, another lies tattered in a pool of mud. Others are calling out to stop baby killer's. The chill of the wind reaches even into the confinds of the car.
He turns to his mother, still just a young woman her self, his eyes ask the question that his mouth cannot speak. Is this how daddy died, is this the far away land they spoke of, is this the war that must be fought, Mommy ?
She searches her heart for the words that she needs, as much for her self, as for her child. The little boy begins to speak, "Mother, you know I think I understand why daddy fought for this flag so much. One of those people had no shoes to protcet his feet from the mud, but he had a flag that kept him dry. Another had no shirt, but he had a flag to keep him warm, Oh and Mother best of all, it is such a cold day, that others had a flag to burn where they could stay warm. Now maybe that nasty weather will not kill the babies. So you see Mother, I know why daddy was willing to die for this flag, it can do so much for so many and even when you are dead it can still protect you and the one's you love. Is that the real reason, mommy, is that why they gave this flag to me and you ?????????????????"
