I have known the words to the "Star-Spangled Banner" for as long as I can remember. However, like so many others I never fully understood the words to our National Anthem. Since becoming a member of Operation Just Cause, I have had the privilege of coming in contact with a few of the many brave souls who fought for the freedom of this country.

Three decades ago, in 1969, I was going to bed every night in the warmth and comfort of my own bed, in my own house. I had a roof over my head and heat to keep me warm. I felt safe and secure, free from harm. But our Vietnam Veterans were sleeping outside on the cold, dark ground. The sky was their bedroom ceiling.

I wonder how many times they sat and looked up into the night sky 'at the twilight's last gleaming'. How many of them sat and wondererd if they would see the 'dawn's early light'? Did they know then that because of what they were doing, because they were there instead of at home with their family, that for us 'the banner of freedom continues to wave'? Did they know they were securing independence for 'the land of the free'? 'The home of the brave', their home, was safe because of their loyalty to the American Flag and because of their service to their country.

The veterans I have met made it home. Unfortunately, not all of the men and women who fought for our freedom are home with us. The fact that there are still those Missing in Action, leaves us as a nation in the dark. A full accounting of our POW/MIA's would bring the light of dawn to this great nation of ours.

There is another flag we 'wave', the POW/MIA flag. It will wave until all of our POW/MIA's are home where they belong, where they deserve to be. They fought for that right and are still fighting, as are the members of their family. "Our flag is still there", our Star-Spangled Banner, and it is waiting for the day when the ones who fought to keep it there, are home.

B F Malone © 1999

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