It was morning at our airbase in Florennes Belgium. The officer of the Guard was hoisting the flag. The officer of the guard that day was Lt. Smitty. He was Morale, VD and Recreation officer. Nice guy who never seemed to get things quite right. But he was a fine affable fellow and was quite well liked.
This morning, with everyone at attention and saluting, the flag was being raised. To our mutual collective horror, the flag was going up upside down! We were all stunned. What the hell had gotten into Smitty? All in one voice about 50 guys bellowed, "Blue side up dammit Smitty. Blue side up".
Smitty was jolted into awareness of what he was doing. He quickly hauled down the flag, reversed it and up it went blue side up.But Smitty never lived down that humiliating morning.
Now it is some 40 years later and we were at a reunion of the 344th Bomb Group. Who should walk in for the first time ever? You guessed it, Smitty.
Then 150 voices rang out in unison, "Blue side up Dammit Smitty, Blue side up" Smitty looked like he was going to die. He stayed around for awhile and left early, never to return to any of our reunions.
Why do I tell you all this? Well, this 4th of July I was hastily hoisting a new flag in front of my home. After it was in position I stepped back, shook my head in disbelief and said to myself, "Dammit Art, blue side up!"
Copyright © 2002 Art Kramer and Coastal Computers, Inc.