Letters – Did you fly your flag on Sept. 11?

To the Editor:
As Katy McMillen, of Tampa, Fla., wrote in her Letter to the Editor on Sept. 9, “On Sept. 11, 2010, an American flag should be displayed outside every home, apartment, office and store in the United States,” (and that would include Lockhart and our area). Later in her letter she wrote, “In the days, weeks and months following 9/11, our country wa

s bathed in American flags as citizens mourned the incredible losses and stood shoulder-to-shoulder against terrorism,” and, “Sadly, those flags have all but disappeared.”

What I observed on Sept. 11, 2010, saddened me deeply. My wife, Pat, and I live in the Dale Community and I had a need to drive into Lockhart to go to one our fine businesses that we have in our beautiful city to pick up an item that I needed.

Traveling along Highway 20 into Lockhart, I saw one tattered ole’ American Flag waving proudly, and the further I drove into Lockhart I noticed there were no flags waving at any of the homes. I was sure that would change as I entered the City.

But that didn’t change much.

As I entered Highway 183 heading to downtown off of FM 20, I noticed an American Flag flying beautifully at [a restaurant], and at a bank further down but nothing at any of the other businesses as far as I could tell.

Then what saddened me most as I drove around the Square not a one of the businesses that I could see had an American Flag flying to show their remembrance of this tragic day nine years ago. Have we erased this tragedy from our minds or just got so tied up in our every day life that we failed to show how we feel about the terrorists that took nearly 3,000 lives on that day? I hope not!

Katy’s last remark in her letter was “Fly an American flag of any size on 9/11. Honestly, Americans should fly the flag year-round, but if you don’t then at least make it a priority on this day.”

Thanks for letting me vent my sorrow.
Bill Spiegel
Dale