"....and our Flag was still there....." Freeport Maine Flag Ladies

An echo blog published in the Bangor Daily News, written by blogger Michael Cianchette

 Maine’s own “Freeport Flag Ladies” have decided to retire.

The end of an era is upon us.

For 18 years, the Freeport (Maine) Flag Ladies spent at least one day, every week, standing along Route 1, through Freeport. 

They weren’t pushing a political message or advocating for partisan policy positions. Instead, they simply wanted to demonstrate love for their country and demonstrate their patriotism.

There is something noble in its simplicity. The American flag hoisted proudly, in rain or shine. A message to the world that, no matter what trials we undergo, we shall remain. After the twin towers fell on September 11, 2001, Francis Scott Key’s words rang anew: the flag was still there.  (The Star Spangled Banner)

JoAnn Miller, Elaine Greene and Carmen Footer

The flag has a particular resonance in the world today. For those of us here, it sometimes feels like things are falling apart. The political warfare in Washington DC, between partisan camps, fills headlines, online and over the air. The actual warfare between white supremacists and “Antifa” (political protests) spills violence into our streets.

But the flag — and the idea of America — means more. For weeks on end, Hong Kong has been gripped in the throes of civil unrest. Protestors have struck back against an encroaching Chinese imperium. In the midst of it all, the Hongkongers waved the American flag and sang the “Star-Spangled Banner.” The flag — and the ideals for which it stands — was still there.

Which brings us back to the Freeport Flag Ladies. The power of symbolism was readily apparent. It served as a rallying cause for disparate groups. Every political leader wanted to stand with them, outside of the iconic L.L. Bean. 

What they did was the right thing to do.

Since the three ladies started standing with their flags shortly after Sept. 11, 2001, the United States has entered two “big” wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. We’ve also been brought into “smaller” wars in Libya and Syria, among others. Men and women with the American flag proudly displayed on their right arm, stars forward to reflect an advance, went forward to do their jobs on behalf of their nation. And, in most cases, our flag is still there.

Its worth remembering as America considers its future on the world stage. On Nov. 3, 2020, ballots will be cast for president by people who were not yet born on Sept. 11, 2001. The twin towers are a memory they received from a world which existed before them. And 34-year-old Sgt. First Class Elis A. Barreto Ortiz lost his life in Afghanistan on Sept. 5, in an effort that has literally been in existence for the entirety of their lives.

However, while Hongkongers wave the American flag in hopes that American values may be maintained, the Afghan people had the opposite experience. The Taliban government in Kabul, seizing power after the Soviet withdrawal in the 1980s, placed most of the country under a totalitarian regime. When American forces arrived, the Afghan people had a new chance at life.

Since the Freeport Flag Ladies began their watch, Afghanistan has joined the modern world — 84% of Afghans support women’s education, while 61% are satisfied with democratic freedoms. The biggest problems facing young Afghans are a lack of jobs and schools, not a multitude of beheadings.

That all happened because the American flag — inextricably tied to Americans themselves — found its way to Afghanistan. There are plenty of political and policy conversations to have concerning our role in the world. How much blood and treasure should we invest abroad, versus deploying at home? It is a real question with no clear answer.

But, whatever answer we come up with, our American flag will follow, both here and on foreign shores. So, even if the Freeport  (Maine) Flag Ladies will not be holding the Stars and Stripes aloft weekly, their efforts have inspired countless others. The flag will still fly in Freeport, and Hong Kong, and Afghanistan. And wherever it is, there our ideals will be.