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Saturday, July 4, 2009

Red, White, and Blue


An arrow protrudes from the bluecoat’s abdomen; with each agonizing step, he clutches the American flag in his hands. A battle rages around him, dust mixed with the cries of the wounded and the stench of death fills the air. Mounted warriors bravely charge the soldiers rifles, war bonnets and whistling arrows striking fear into the young inexperienced soldiers on this battlefield. The brave old soldier staggers as another arrow strikes his body but still he refuses to let the fag fall to the bloody ground on these South Dakota plains. With the last of his strength, he drives the butt of the flagpole into the dusty ground and turns with his saber in hand to face an onrushing Lakota warrior mounted on a beautiful paint stallion. He hears the final moments of the battle, overhead the red white and blue flag seems to contrast with the pale grey November sky the spear shaft protruding from his chest seems unreal to his eyes as he slips into the final grey of death.
Lame eagle pulls his spear from the dead soldier, he surveys the battlefield, twenty white-eye soldiers lay dead on the ground. What arrogance these bluecoats must have had to attack a village of nearly two hundred Sioux and Cheyenne warriors. Most of the white men fell with fear in their hearts, the brave soldier who carried the flag fought like a true warrior and never allowed the flag to touch the mother earth during the battle even though it cost him his life. Fellow warriors were taking scalps from their enemy’s but Lame Eagle allowed the brave one to remain unscalped because of his bravery during the fight. For forty more years Lame Eagle wore the flag over his shoulders during every battle, never once did he allow the flag to touch the ground during those fights. The memory of the brave soldier stayed with him until his death at Wounded Knee creek in1890. Our flag has flown over many battlefields over the years, even our enemy’s have come to know the strength and honor our flag holds when backed by the American people. I am forever a patriot and proudly fly my flag all year long here in the great state of Wyoming U.S.A. With the celebration of our independence coming up soon I felt compelled to ask my brothers and sisters of the bow and fellow Americans to remember the soldiers who still fight for our freedoms and those who have fallen. Without their sacrifices, we would all be flying a flag of a different color I am certain. Hawk a/ho

9 comments:

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Hawk: Wonderfully written and I agree with your sentiment. I certainly do believe in the flag that represents this place we call home. The USA is still the best place in the world to call home.

Sandy said...

I agree, Hawk.

Tom Sorenson said...

You're a natural storyteller - a man well versed, a way with words. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on patriotism.

Stacey Olson said...

My Dearest Hawk.
A beautifully told story once agian.

Anonymous said...

Dear Hawk, your writing is soooo beautiful. Just as Stacey "paints" pictures with her camera that hold us spellbound, you paint pictures with your ASTOUNDING words, words that aren't "just" words, they are emotions and colors and images so vivid I ALWAYS go away feeling like I a have "seen" your story...not "merely" read it. You TRULY TRULY have an enormous gift with expressing yourself, your experiences and your inner passion using words. It is magical!!

Cherie said...

Thanks, Hawk. Perfect and told so well, as usual.

Happy Fourth!

My flag is flying over here in Oregon!

Anonymous said...

Really great sir. i enjoyed that a lot...thanks

Willard said...

A wonderful story! Well written, and so true!

Unknown said...

I so agree. Great article