Melrose at midnight? That was our meeting point...Melrose, New Mexico to be exact. We got the word that the flag was running a little late......a little more time to think about what we were doing. I had talked to a few former military men that day.....they had just heard about the Flagrun.....and wished me luck. I'm no great runner.......It's just not in the genes for me........but I told myself and our former servicemen, no matter what....no matter if I have to walk (or crawl) the flag is getting through on my shift.

So about 12:20 we see the lights approching......two men, running between the caravan come toward us. One is holding the American Flag that I had seen in pictures on this website.....the other holding the New Mexico State flag. In just a few seconds they hand the flags over and we're on our way. I wind up in the RV trailing our first runner......I don't remember his name..but I remember he was running fast, and we were making good time. About 6 miles in he makes the pass to our second runner and Dee asks me if I would like to run an early shift with the New Mexico flag. I've been so keyed up I can't sit down so I agree and hop out of the RV and make the dash to catch up to the flag. It's funny.......lots of people don't talk anymore about the terrorist attacks and our war.......we are bombarded with it on the news. Running my first shift on the deserted plains of eastern New Mexico, my running mate and I discuss the war.......the cowardly attacks on our country......religion, life, etc........ It's four miles before I know it and I hand off the flag and head back to the RV.

It's 3:30 AM now. Friday November 2nd. Its my shift to run the symbol of our country....my turn to join the hundreds of others that have come before me....my turn to do my part, however small to show that this country is united...that we will not stand for our innocent civilians being terrorized in their homes and places of business.......that we will survive and prosper....that we will never forget. I grab the flag from an older gentleman who has just logged six hard miles. As he passes it to me he yells "God bless you". Indeed I have been blessed...to be able to take part in this event....to have a beautiful family.....to live in this great nation. I head off up the road.........you're safe at all times running the flag....local law enforcement and an official vehicle up front........the RV and more vans behind. I'm surrounded by vehicles but all alone this moonlit nite. I shuffle up the road.....proud to be carrying the flag........sad that we have to be carrying it for this reason. Its cold....and dark..and quiet on the plains. There are no houses or gas stations out here. No people.......the only vehicles are tractor trailers. After 3 or 4 miles something starts to happen......every truck that comes up on us heading east stops before they reach the caravan. The trucks pull to the side of the road as the flag passes by.....I cannot see the drivers but I imagine some of them are saluting....or crying....I feel so proud to be a part of this event I want to cry. Just before the end of my shift a pickup truck decked out in American Flags comes up from behind us.......he beeps his horn as he slowly drives by..........a patriot out for an early morning drive? I hand the flag off to an American Airlines pilot and we come up on the same truck pulled off the road. The gentleman, standing in the bed of his truck, snaps some pictures as we approach......then snaps into a full salute......and holds it till we are all past. Thats a moment I'll never forget.

As we approach Fort Sumner, NM.......I jump back out to run the last mile or two with the two AA pilots. The three of us are joined by an older gentleman who is warming up for his leg.....about to start when we pass off the flag up the road. It's 6 am but people are out all over town. A woman stands roadside with her two little girls. These beautiful little children cannot be more than 3 or 4 years old. The mother calls at us with something in her hand.....our older gentleman friend goes over to shake the girls hands.........they handed him two dollars.......their mom said they wanted to donate the money to help out the families.

I cried.

How did we get to a point in this world where children want to donate their allowance money to help families who have been ripped apart by terrorism? Will our children all lose their innocence by these acts? What does the future hold for the two little girls.....my young daughter.....all of us?

Next time you ask if our government and military is doing the right thing........remember this......its our duty to make this world better for our children than it was for us. We can't survive as a country living in fear and closing our borders waiting for the next attack. We can live proud and free....true to our forefathers vision....but there is a price..it's one we are now paying.

Fight the good fight and please........Never forget..........Never.........

Michael Giudicissi

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