TEXAS PANHANDLE DIARY, November 25, 2001
Coordinator: Capt. Phil Conroy, AA, DFW

"Making a Difference"

Thanksgiving has come and gone. It's Sunday morning; the weekend's almost over. Kids and momma are asleep, but will soon be up and about for church. Last night, Chris and Tamera Moses, who commanded Hereford's base camp along with retired UAL Captain Bud Cochran, came over with their two children to visit and help put the finishing touches on our 'thank you' letter. It will go out to all of the volunteers and supporters we worked with. So much to say, so little that words seem able to express. But if you were there, if you participated in any way along the route from Boston to Los Angeles, you know full well what I feel. The six kids played outside and shot hoops on the driveway, their laughter emanated upward toward the game/computer room and former Panhandle Command Center, while we attempted to encapsulate the weeks spent with FLAG ACROSS AMERICA and subsequent to it. For everyone who sacrificed their time, resources and energy, it was worth everything, as you have heard from others.

Yes, the house still needs painting, the cars still need fixing, the school projects still need doing, and while we were gone out of our families lives the laundry, meals and car-pooling all were attended to by that part of the FLAG RUN team we left behind - our spouses. Why was it that trusty souls found a compelling desire to assist the effort in some way, and drove the nine hours out west from North Texas, or drove up from Lubbock, or flew in from Corpus Christi and Michigan, just to accept whatever role was handed to them? What was gained by the countless military and airline folks, separated from their loved ones enough already, who valiantly responded to the call for volunteers in the panhandle?

The answer? It lies in something bigger than a "Top Team" or even hours of national media attention. As important as our fallen comrades were to us, it is even more enduring than honoring their memory. Their names have now taken rightful place with other heroes from Valley Forge, the Alamo, Antietam, Belleau Wood, The Bulge, the Chosin Reservoir, Khe Sanh, and Somalia. As I have written, it has something more to do with watching this new generation of American patriots watch the "Old Guard" of Pearl Harbor, Leyte Gulf, and Normandy veterans, appreciating them, learning how to honor the symbol of our nation, and then taking it on to the next team. Why did we make this sacrifice, so small now in comparison to those who have sacrificed so much, even those giving their last full measure? The answer? It was the least that we could do!

Why is it important to honor those who have gone before us, who have "gotten it right", who have ensured our liberty and security, even our preeminent position in the world's economic scene, who have made a difference in the past? Today we hear so little about giving thanks to others, we even utilize the phrase "Turkey Day" instead of its rightful name which signifies giving thanks to the God of our Fathers. The Apostle Paul wrote to a nation very similar to ours: a cosmopolitan, highly diverse culture, with strong markets, "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." (1 Cor. 10:12) He was talking about remembering the events of the past and not committing the same mistakes that had put the nation of Israel in jeopardy.

September 11th instantly brought upon our nation a sense of "fall". Our nose was bloodied. Our prestige was tarnished. In an hour people's sense of security, previously taken so much for granted, had evaporated. Needing reassurance, they looked around and saw the City of New York show the world that when it comes to character and sacrifice, they are in a class by themselves. Their firefighters and rescue workers became modern day Leathernecks at Iwo Jima. The day after Veterans' Day, when the flag reached Los Angeles, we saw even their own neighborhood on fire, with battalions responding in their backyards to the crash of AA's Flight 587. To those who had lost so much already a blow hit home, but they honorably continued in their duties because that's "what they do." These people make a difference. Today, our sons and daughters are committed in a military operation as a result of the events of September 11. Our first combat fatality may have occurred this morning in action near Kandahar. They, and the commanders who lead them, need your daily prayers and supplications. We do not often have the opportunity to make a difference in the world, but this is one way in which we can. They are making a difference for us.

The Panhandle experience taught me again that when one steps up to the plate, one invariably receives more than he or she gives. Many of the faces I saw out there were familiar ones, those used to volunteering in Scouts, union work, military reserve duty, or some other community service. Others were not familiar, but I soon found out they too came from a similar background of balancing family, work, and civic responsibilities. Being there, instead of watching FLAG RUN from the sidelines, made a difference for me. Even though at times difficult situations arose, tempers sometimes flared, the sleep was nil, uncertainty and fatigue were great, and a few bridges were burnt, in return the camaraderie was outstanding, I met wonderful friends, and we all saw countless people pitch in for a tremendous cause. Best of all, I was privileged to witness true leadership develop from within so many individuals. One learned quickly who they would go into combat with, who possessed the character and mettle to be trustworthy in stressful times. Some might call their FLAG RUN participation an "epiphany", or a "defining moment". I have no doubt that it made as much of a difference for everyone else as it did for me.

For an hour or so I drove the van for a group of San Antonio runners, put together on short notice by an Army medical unit led by Captain Stephen Keck. It was serving as Front Guard while the flag was westbound on old Route 66 between Shamrock and Groom, near Jericho, during a change of county sheriff jurisdictions. Texas DPS had the Rear Guard. The countryside was rugged, hilly, desolate, but strikingly beautiful, almost identical to the Badlands of South Dakota. On this stretch of the "Mother Road of America", so remote that it did not receive pavement until just before World War II, trucks now whizzed by on I-40, honking in support, talking about the flag on their CB's. People had been up all night but were in great spirits. The following comment was made by a civilian runner who had come along with Stephen, ""Did you know that just sixteen hours ago I met everyone, but now I feel that I have known you all for my entire life?" Her feelings echoed throughout the van, and then I realized how much these people were making a difference.

To all people who have the rare opportunity come by to make a difference, I would say, "take it, run with it." If it's true sacrifice, your family will understand and support you. At all costs, do so never seeking one's self interest, but always the profit of others. It might only be for an individual, a neighbor, a group, or an organization. Rarely will it be something as significant as FLAG ACROSS AMERICA was. Do so following the example of our heroes and patriots, where our founding fathers put their lives on the line and their hands in the hand of God. You will be surprised at what takes place when you do the same.

To the unbeatable staff manning the Panhandle base camps, I send a woefully inadequate "thank you." Most sincere appreciation goes out to Ken, Frank, and Jana at Shamrock; Cokie, Rich and Jobe at Groom; Jack, John, Suzanne and Pete, Earl T., and Jennifer at Amarillo; Bud, Chris and Tamera, and Phil at Hereford. So many others were there as well; you know who you are, and the Lord does too, and who you touched. Thanks for your groundwork, your hospitality, your hand-holding, your wisdom, your honesty. Thanks for giving the flag, and me, a small part of yourselves. And thanks to the God of all of us for helping pass the torch safely on to the next watch.

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