Virginia Titty Babies Are Fuming Mad About A School’s Attempt To Honor Veterans And Fallen Alumni
Supervisors have an issue with an American flag stitched into the turf at Massaponax High School’s football field to honor former Panther football player and Army Cpl. Ryan McGhee, who was killed in Iraq in 2009 at the age of 21. The flag was placed on the field’s 33-yard line, which was the number McGhee wore as a linebacker for the Panthers.
“My son, Shane [Ludden], who coaches with me, played with Ryan and when we were coming up with ideas for the field, he came up with that idea,” Massaponax football coach Eric Ludden told The Free Lance–Star in May. “Last year was the 10th anniversary of us losing Ryan. We felt like if we’re going to set up this field for the rest of time and it’s going to be permanent, then we’d like to have that as part of the fabric of the school for years to come.”
At Tuesday’s meeting, which was held virtually, School Board Chairman Baron Braswell read a letter written by Board of Supervisors Chairman Gary Skinner objecting to placing the image of a flag on the field.
Skinner wrote on behalf of the board that McGhee is “deserving of every honor,” but “this is not the proper way to do so.” Skinner’s letter noted that many, including area military members, are against the flag being on the field.
The supervisors’ issue revolves around the U.S. Flag Code, which dictates how the flag is to be displayed and handled. The rules state, among other things, that flags should not touch the ground or be displayed in a way that would allow it to be soiled.
In a Tuesday interview, Skinner said he understands the purpose of honoring McGhee, but said he, along with other supervisors and residents, feel it is “inappropriate.” Skinner is one of three Marine Corps veterans on the board, along with Supervisors David Ross and Tim McLaughlin.
“There are some people that don’t feel it’s appropriate with people running over it,” said Skinner. “I would have preferred not to see it on the field.”
Skinner also acknowledged that the choice rests with the School Board.
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Insane, man. It's insane how far we've come in terms of honoring veterans and the fallen where people think that they should make a stink about this kind of thing. I just posted an interview with a Vietnam veteran who went nearly 40 years without telling people in his family about his service because of the way that Vietnam veterans were treated when they returned. Jim Dunn went on to law school where he wasn't able to talk about his 1600 hours of flight time and getting shot with a machine gun. He had to eat it and the memories that came along with because the political and socio-economic state of America didnt have room for their stories yet. They didnt have the stomach for the tales of the drafted warrior who went without choosing to.
The shoe is completely on the other foot now and that's partly because some of those shoes or boots that were shot through with a machine gun round are finally starting to tell their tales. A school is trying to honor a fallen member of their family by placing a flag on the field to show respect. They aren't saying the flag is dirt. Anyone with a fucking brain would know that. Stop being such fucking pussies about everything. Learn the difference between impact and intent. The intent here is wonderful. Focus on that rather than the trivialities in the dot and tittle minutia of the flag code.
"Sorry, maam. That gesture that the school of your late son who died in combat tried to make in order to honor him, it was actually bad. You see, the flag code."
Shut up. The heart of the matter should be the heart of the matter. Nothing else. PLUS, having the audacity to "well, well, well" something like right now in this current landscape is INSANE to me. INSANE.