Worth bringing up over 30 years later.
With all this flag burning going on within the IVAW I thought that this was worth posting about. Also since that for a good number of people to include myself that this is the first time to read about it,
Rick Monday saves the US Flag.
I mean it is interesting story to read and watch. This was just after the Vietnam War and despite that the reaction of the people in the stands is very encouraging. Also the Patriot Guards caught up with Rick Monday who still has that flag.
Category: Antiwar crowd, General Whackos, I hate hippies, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
The first time I ever heard of this I sort of wrote it off as an urban legend. Then, shortly after that, I saw the video and an explanation of the events on (I think it was) ESPN.
To this day it still makes me incredibly happy to watch the video and see Rick Monday snatch that flag up and run away with it.
Oh… and Tommy Lasorda cursing like a long-shoreman? Noooo. Not him. *laughing*
A great piece, thanks for posting it Sporkmaster.
V5
Oh and to clarify. It obviously wasn’t on ESPN in ’76. I only heard about this about three years ago.
I alternate between that picture of Rick Monday and the one of Grissom, Chaffee, and White praying over the Apollo 1 capsule as my desktop image. At work, inevitably someone stops and asks what the story is.
Fucking sweet. FUCK IVAW FOREVER.
It’s very telling that the two flag burning appeasers are down on their knees!
I tried to look up some info on these two. Seems that there are different reasons why the guy tried to burn the flag with the help of his 11 year old son.
I’ve never been able to find out: What happened to the flag? Where is it now?
According to Wikipedia Monday still has the flag. He was offered a million dollars for it and refused to sell. After the incident, he reportedly said “If you’re going to burn the flag, don’t do it around me. I’ve been to too many veterans’ hospitals and seen too many broken bodies of guys who tried to protect it.”
He does have it. I have met with him several times, and he and his wife (Barbara Lee) almost always have it with the,’
A couple of years ago the Patriot Guard escorted the flag all the way across the USA like the Olympic torch. It was a great ride.
Amazing story! I had never seen this before, but got chills when you realize what the idiots are attempting to do.
But when Rick says that he just did what anyone would have done, I wonder how many of us would have kept their cool and taken the flag, rather than switching over to NFL linebacker mode and lowering the boom.
Thanks for that bit of sunshine during this period of gloom.
Good God has it really been 30 years. Man I remember when this happened. Thought it was cool then and I still think its cool now, and I don’t give two shits what anybodies reasons for burning the flag. Don’t do it in front of me, remember I’m medicated for your protection.