The Story of the Pentagon 9-11 Flag

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The Story of the Pentagon 9-11 Flag

09/11/2014 10:09 AM CDT

The Story of the Pentagon 9-11 Flag By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, Sept. 11, 2014 - Anyone who saw the American flag unfurled at the Pentagon on Sept. 12, 2001, knows how Francis Scott Key felt two centuries ago when he was inspired to write "The Star-Spangled Banner." Soldiers from A Company, 3rd Infantry "The Old Guard" -- gather the giant garrison flag being lowered from the side of the Pentagon, where it had hung beside the impact site of the 9/11 terrorist attack, Oct. 11, 2001. The flag was ceremonially retired. DoD photo by Jim Garamone  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The day after the terrorist attack on the Pentagon, the scene was still chaotic. Only essential military and civilian workers were required to come to the building. Parking was at Reagan-National Airport, as all U.S. airspace was still closed. As employees got off the Metro train, Pentagon police stood with weapons examining everyone's badge. Those without a Pentagon ID were told to keep traveling on. The conversation in the building was about friends who remained missing. At the site, firefighters were putting out the final embers that were burning in the roof. Then word came that President George W. Bush wanted to see the damage to the Pentagon himself. Garrison flag No one knows who originally came up with the idea for unfurling the flag to the right of the damaged areas on the building, but Army Maj. Gen. Jim Jackson, then the Military District of Washington commander, made it happen. He sent over to nearby Fort Myer, Virginia, for the largest flag they could find. The U.S. Army Band had a garrison flag the largest authorized for the military and sent it over. During Bush's visit to the impact site, 3rd Infantry Regiment soldiers and Arlington, Virginia, firefighters unveiled the flag and draped it over the side of the building. Then they stood and saluted. It was a moment that quickened the heart. The United States had been attacked, the Pentagon had been hit, friends were gone, thousands were killed in New York and Pennsylvania, yet the American flag still flew. That flag signified the unconquerable nature of the American people. Those inside the building already were preparing to take the battle to the attackers and bring them to justice. The flag flew on the side of the building for the next month. Each night, workers illuminated it with floodlights. Members of A Company of the 3rd Infantry Regiment -- "The Old Guard" -- took the flag down Oct. 11. A treasured symbol The flag is soot-stained and ripped at one spot where it rubbed up against the building. It now is in the care of the Army's Center of Military History. It is treasured as the 9/11 generation's Star-Spangled Banner, because they, like Francis Scott Key during the British attack on Baltimore in 1814, looked to the flag for inspiration and comfort. Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? (Follow Jim Garamone on Twitter: @GaramoneDoDNews)

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My How Times have Changed!

These are all Hollywood Stars from the 40's, 50's and 60's - but did you know . .. these actors, also all served their country and then returned to acting?

If you are under 40 you will likely not recognize many/any of these.  If you are over 40 you will remember a few, if you are over 50 you will remember some, if you are over 60 you will remember most of them, if you are over 70 you remember all of them. 

• Stewart Hayden, US Marines and OSS, Smuggled guns into Yugoslavia and parachuted into Croatia.
• James Stewart, US Army Air Corps, Bomber pilot who rose to the rank of General.
• Ernest Borgnine, US Navy, Gunners Mate 1c, destroyer USS Lamberton. 
• Ed McMahon, US Marines, Fighter Pilot (Flew OE-1 Bird Dogs over Korea as well.)
• Telly Savalas, US Army.
• Walter Matthau, US Army Air Corps, B-24 Radioman/Gunner and cryptographer
• Steve Forrest, US Army, Wounded, Battle of the Bulge.
• Jonathan Winters, USMC, Battleship USS Wisconsin and Carrier USS Bon Homme Richard, Anti-aircraft gunner, Battle of Okinawa.
• Paul Newman, US Navy Rear seat gunner/radioman, torpedo bombers of USS Bunker Hill
• Kirk Douglas, US Navy, Sub-chaser in the Pacific, Wounded in action and medically discharged.
• Robert Mitchum, US Army.
• Dale Robertson, US Army, Tank Commander in North Africa under Patton, Wounded twice, Battlefield Commission.
• Henry Fonda, US Navy, Destroyer USS Satterlee.
• John Carroll, US Army Air Corps, Pilot in North Africa, Broke his back in a crash.
• Lee Marvin US Marines, Sniper, Wounded in action on Saipan, Buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Sec. 7A next to Greg Boyington and Joe Louis.
• Art Carney, US Army, Wounded on Normandy beach, D-Day, Limped for the rest of his life.
• Wayne Morris, US Navy fighter pilot, USS Essex, Downed seven Japanese fighters.
• Rod Steiger, US Navy, was aboard one of the ships that launched the Doolittle Raid.
• Tony Curtis, US Navy, Sub tender USS Proteus, In Tokyo Bay for the surrender of Japan.
• Larry Storch, US Navy, Sub tender USS Proteus with Tony Curtis.
• Forrest Tucker, US Army, Enlisted as a private, rose to Lieutenant.
• Robert Montgomery, US Navy.
• George Kennedy, US Army, Enlisted after Pearl Harbor, stayed in sixteen years.
• Mickey Rooney, US Army under Patton, Bronze Star.
• Denver Pyle, US Navy, Wounded in the Battle of Guadalcanal, Medically discharged.
• Burgess Meredith, US Army Air Corps.
• De Forest Kelley, US Army Air Corps.
• Robert Stack, US Navy, Gunnery Officer.
• Neville Brand, US Army, Europe, Was awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart.
• Tyrone Power, US Marines, Transport pilot in the Pacific Theater.
• Charlton Heston, US Army Air Corps, Radio operator and aerial gunner on a B-25, Aleutians.
• Danny Aiello, US Army, Lied about his age to enlist at 16, Served three years.
• James Arness, US Army, as an infantryman, he was severely wounded at Anzio, Italy.
• Efram Zimbalist, Jr., US Army, Purple Heart for a severe wound received at Huertgen Forest.
• Mickey Spillane, US Army Air Corps, Fighter Pilot, and later Instructor Pilot.
• Rod Serling, US Army, 11th Airborne Division in the Pacific, He jumped at Tagaytay in the Philippines and was later wounded in Manila.
• Gene Autry, US Army Air Corps, Crewmember on transports that ferried supplies over "The Hump" in the China-Burma-India Theater.
• William Holden, US Army Air Corps.
• Alan Hale Jr., US Coast Guard.
• Harry Dean Stanton, US Navy, Battle of Okinawa.
• > Russell Johnson, US Army Air Corps, B-24 crewmember who was awarded Purple Heart when his aircraft was shot down by the Japanese in the Philippines.
• William Conrad, US Army Air Corps, Fighter Pilot.
• Jack Klugman, US Army.
• Frank Sutton, US Army, Took part in 14 assault landings, including Leyte, Luzon, Bataan, and Corregidor.
• Jackie Coogan, US Army Air Corps, Volunteered for gliders and flew troops and materials into Burma behind enemy lines.
• Tom Bosley, US Navy.
• Claude Akins, US Army, Signal Corps, Burma and the Philippines.
• Chuck Connors, US Army, Tank-warfare instructor.
• Harry Carey Jr., US Navy.
• Mel Brooks, US Army, Combat Engineer, Saw action in the Battle of the Bulge.
• Robert Altman, US Army Air Corps, B-24 Co-Pilot.
• Pat Hingle, US Navy, Destroyer USS Marshall
• Fred Gwynne, US Navy, Radioman.
• Karl Malden, US Army Air Corps, 8th Air Force, NCO.
• Earl Holliman, US Navy, Lied about his age to enlist, Discharged after a year when they Navy found out.
• Rock Hudson, US Navy, Aircraft mechanic, the Philippines.
• Harvey Korman, US Navy.
• Aldo Ray, US Navy, UDT frogman, Okinawa.
• Don Knotts, US Army, Pacific Theater.
• Don Rickles, US Navy aboard USS Cyrene.
• Harry Dean Stanton, US Navy, Served aboard an LST in the Battle of Okinawa.
• Robert Stack, US Navy, Gunnery Instructor.
• Soupy Sales, US Navy, Served on USS Randall in the South Pacific.
• Lee Van Cleef, US Navy, Served aboard a sub chaser then a minesweeper.
• Clifton James, US Army, South Pacific, Was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart.
• Ted Knight, US Army, Combat Engineers.
• Jack Warden, US Navy, 1938-1942, then US Army, 1942-1945, 101st Airborne Division.
• Don Adams, US Marines, Wounded on Guadalcanal, and then served as a Drill Instructor.
• James Gregory, US Navy and US Marines.
• Brian Keith, US Marines, Radioman/Gunner in Dauntless dive-bombers.
• Fess Parker, US Navy and US Marines, Booted from pilot training for being too tall, joined Marines as a radio operator.
• Charles Durning, US Army, Landed at Normandy on D-Day, Shot multiple times, Awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts, Survived Malmedy Massacre.
• Raymond Burr, US Navy, Shot in the stomach on Okinawa and medically discharged.
• Hugh O'Brian, US Marines.
• Robert Ryan, US Marines.
• Eddie Albert, US Coast Guard, Bronze Star with Combat V for saving several Marines under heavy fire as pilot of a landing craft during the invasion of Tarawa.
• Cark Gable, US Army Air Corps, B-17 gunner over Europe.
• Charles Bronson, US Army Air Corps, B-29 gunner, wounded in action.
• Peter Graves, US Army Air Corps.
• Buddy Hackett, US Army anti-aircraft gunner.
• Victor Mature, US Coast Guard.
• Jack Palance, US Army Air Corps, Severely injured bailing out of a burning B-24 bomber.
• Robert Preston, US Army Air Corps, Intelligence Officer
• Cesar Romero, US Coast Guard, Participated in the invasions of Tinian and Saipan on the assault transport USS Cavalier.
• Norman Fell, US Army Air Corps, Tail Gunner, Pacific Theater.
• Jason Robards, US Navy, was aboard heavy cruiser USS Northampton when it was sunk off Guadalcanal, also served on the USS Nashville during the invasion of the Philippines, surviving a kamikaze hit that caused 223 casualties.
• Steve Reeves, US Army, Philippines.
• Dennis Weaver, US Navy, Pilot.
• Robert Taylor, US Navy, Instructor Pilot.
• Randolph Scott, tried to enlist in the Marines but was rejected due to injuries sustained in US Army, World War 1.
• Ronald Reagan, US Army, was a 2nd Lt. in the Cavalry Reserves before the war, His poor eyesight kept him from being sent overseas with his unit when war came so he transferred to the Army Air Corps Public Relations Unit where he served for the duration.
• John Wayne, declared "4F medically unfit" due to pre-existing injuries, he nonetheless attempted to volunteer three times (Army, Navy and Film Corps) so he gets honorable mention.
• And of course, we have Audie Murphy, America's most-decorated soldier, who became a Hollywood star because of his US Army service that included his being awarded the Medal of Honor.

Clearly times have changed!  

Electronic Attack Training Squadron VAQ 129

A flight of three EA-18G, electronic attack aircraft of Squadron VAQ-129 out of NAS Whidbey Island, Washington.  This flight on this day was lead by two Texas Aggies, one of those in the lead airplane is my son, Commander Marcus J. Lockard, Jr. who is completing his transition training from the EA6B Prowler to the EA-18G, a variant of the F-18 platform.  Note the Aggie flags, Jim is in the back seat.

God Bless the United States Navy and the USA!

Gig Em

Keep things in Perspective

The Number 1 Rule for success as an employee at L&W is to keep things in perspective.  L&W actively recruits from the ranks of our Military.  They have a perspective on life that few of us can appreciate and because of their perspective every veteran we have hired has performed in an exceptional manner.  The picture below graphically illustrates the perspective they bring to our team and one we all need to adopt.  

Remember this the next time you get aggravated over something that frustrates you!  

Marc

Thank a Military Family for Carrying the Load

Memorial Day - Remember Why!

The freedom we have is not free.  It is paid for by the lives of those who unselfishly serve this great Country.

Memorial Day is the a day for honoring those who died in the service to our country and the best way I know to do this is to also honor and say thanks to our veterans and active duty military.  Always remember that that every service member, whether active duty or reservist, when they enlisted in essence signed a blank check, payable to the Citizens of the Untied States of America for an amount up to and including his or her life.

Memorial Day is a day for honoring those who died in the service to our country. One such young man that I had the honor of personally knowing, is Michael Weger, the son of Greg and Tricia Weger.   Michael gave all that he had to give for America on October 12, 2004 when he and several members of his platoon were killed in action in Iraq.  Greg and Tricia we can never heal your hurt but please know that Michael and you two are in our hearts and prayers and that we are thinking of you always, but especially today.  Greg Weger has been a friend of mine for almost 20 years and he has been part of L&W for the last 14 years.

This tribute to the American soldier by Lt. Col. Oliver North was done on Veteran's Day, but it is the best expression of honor for our troops I have ever seen or heard.

God Bless the United States of America and the men and women who keep our country free!

The Greatest Play in Baseball - Ever

Enjoy true baseball talent and respect!

God Made a Farmer - Texas Aggie Version

Gig Em'

Marc Lockard '72

The Pirate Catcher, The Littoral Combat Ship

This is a very cool ship, one of the newest Navy weapons!

The U.S.S Independence was built by General Dynamics. It's
called a "littoral combat ship" (LCS), and the tri-maran can move its weapons around faster than any other ship in the Navy.
'Littoral' means close-to-shore, and that's where these ships will operate. They're tailor-made for launching helicopters
and lightly-armored vehicles, sweeping mines and firing all
manner of torpedoes, missiles and machine guns. These ships are also relatively inexpensive. This one is a
bargain at $208 million, and the Navy plans to build 55 of them. 

Congressional Medal of Honor Winner Roy P. Benavidez

Memorial to Roy P. Benavidez - Tango Mike Mike - Congressional Medal of Honor for actions on near Lộc Ninh, South Vietnam on May 2, 1968.

This is a moving story about one of the millions of American's that insure our freedoms.  If you really want to know Roy Benavidez and the American soldier watch and listen to the following.  It will take 25 minutes of your time but I assure you that it will be the most moving 25 minutes of your day.

Roy died November 29, 1999, his spirit and that of all our service men and women lives on forever!

God Bless the United States of America, home of the free, because of the brave!

There is a Spirit that can ne'er be told, It is the Spirit of Aggieland

In case anyone besides me has been wondering whether Texas A&M has lost its soul since the way the school administration botched the firing of head football coach Mike Sherman,  let me assure you that while the Administration and Board of Regents may have lost their way, the student body and the Aggie Alumni continue to demonstrate that the Spirit of Aggieland is in very good hands.  The following article from by Roy Exum from the Chattanoogin, hammers this home.

The most moving quote, from one of the Aggie family concludes the article, "Lt. Col. Steven Ruth, a classmate of Roy Tisdale’s at A&M and a lifelong friend, was so overcome by the emotional outpouring that he even asked one attractive lady wearing a maroon tee shirt – who he thought might be close to his age -- if she had ever known Roy Tisdale. “He’s the son of Aggieland, sir. There are no strangers on this road.”


Rarely does this kind of positive patriotic American loving spirit get any attention in the media!


Gig Em!  And thank God for the US Military and Texas A&M and Roy Exum!


Marc

The flash mob at Gate 38 of Reagan National Airport

Friends and team members this is what Honor looks like.  There is an interesting article on Mullover.com that will bring tears to your eyes for two reasons; one this group of passengers are honor many of the Greatest Generation who were arriving on an Honor Flight to tour the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC and; two this should give you great faith in America, despite what you hear from America's leaders and those in the Integrity Free Media.

Honor Flight is a very unique and interesting organization.  Honor Flight is a non-profit organization that transports WWII and terminally ill veterans of all wars to Washington DC to allow them to visit the memorials put in place to honor their service.  You might want to consider supporting Honor Flight. Houston is the closet chapter if you are interested.

Enjoy,

Marc

A shining example of the greatness of America

A MARINE'S MARINE

Every now and then, in the middle of the constant barrage of crap that’s just pissing us all off these days,

we come across a story, a feat, an event that just makes us stop in our tracks.

 

Cody Green was a 12-year kid in Indiana who was diagnosed with leukemia at 22 months old. He loved the Marines, and his parents said he drew strength and courage from the Marine Corps. as ...he bravely fought the battle into remission three times. Although he was cancer-free at the time, the chemotherapy had lowered his immune system and he developed a fungus infection that attacked his brain. Two weeks ago, as he struggled to fend off that infection in the hospital, the Marines wanted to show how much they respected his will to live, his strength, honor and courage. They presented Cody with Marine navigator wings and named him an honorary member of the United States Marine Corps. For one Marine, that wasn’t enough ... so that night, before Cody Green passed away, he took it upon himself to stand guard at Cody’s hospital door all night long, 8 hours straight.

Nowhere on the face of this planet is there a country so blessed as we to have men and women such as this. I wish I could personally tell this Marine how proud he makes me to be an American.?? God ... I do so love this country.

Never ever let the ramblings of politicians and the irrational screaming by the media turn you against the Greatest Country in the World.  Visit any college campus, at least in the South, and just sit and watch the young men and women who will be the next generation of leaders and you will know that America is in good hands!  

Marc

I am snuggled in this weekend watching the AMC War Movie Marathon, I have seen most of these movies before but I had not seen the Battle of Bulge.  This movie is a testament to the incredible spirit of the American Soldier.

Below is just snippet of the story.  If you have any interest in reading further, click here!  

The Battle of the Bulge

Courtesy The United States Army Center of Military History

"Early on the misty winter morning of 16 December 1944, over 200,000 German troops and nearly 1,000 tanks launched Adolf Hitler's last bid to reverse the ebb in his fortunes that had begun when Allied troops landed in France on D-day. Seeking to drive to the English Channel coast and split the Allied armies as they had done in May 1940, the Germans struck in the Ardennes Forest, a seventy-five-mile stretch of the front characterized by dense woods and few roads, held by four inexperienced and battle-worn American divisions stationed there for rest and seasoning.

. . . . . .

"At the critical road junctions of St. Vith and Bastogne, American tankers and paratroopers fought off repeated attacks, and when the acting commander of the 101st Airborne Division in Bastogne was summoned by his German adversary to surrender, he simply responded, "Nuts!"

The American General who issued that reply was Anthony Clement "Nuts" McAuliffe.  During the Battle of the Bulge he was the acting commander of the 101st Airborne Division, acting for Major General Maxwell Taylor who was in the US at a Commander's conference. 

"Within days (of Genearl McAuliffe's reply to the German's demand for surrender at Bastonge) Patton's Third Army had relieved Bastogne, and to the north, the 2d U.S. Armored Division stopped enemy tanks short of the Meuse on Christmas Day. Through January, American troops, often wading through deep snow drifts, attacked the sides of the shrinking bulge until they had restored the front and set the stage for the final drive to victory."

Thank you God for American service men and their service and dedication!

Marc

Memorial Day - Honoring those who have died in Service to our Nation

Memorial Day (Monday May 28, 2012) is a day for honoring those who died in the service of our country and the best way I know to do that is to also honor and say thanks to our veterans and active duty military.  L&W is blessed to have a host of current and former military members working with us and to them a special thanks from me.

On this Memorial Day when you are barbecuing in the back yard or swimming at the beach, or just relaxing on the couch, take time to remember and to say thanks to someone you know who has served or is serving.  They don't expect it, but they certainly do deserve it because without their service we would not enjoy the freedoms we cherish so much.

For those of you who know or work with the L&W team, please take a special moment this Memorial Day to remember Michael Weger, the son of Greg and Tricia Weger.  Michael gave all that he had to give for America on October 12, 2004 when he and several members of his platoon were killed in action in Iraq.  Greg and Trish no words can ever heal your hurt or thank you enough for Michael's service but please know you and Michael will be in our thoughts this Memorial Day and always.

God Bless the United States of America and the men and women who keep our country free!

This tribute to the American soldier by Lt. Col. Oliver North was done on Veteran's Day, but it is the best expression of honor for our troops I have have ever heard and I share it here for you to watch.  Do me a special favor, watch it this Memorial Day and think about how much we owe these young men and women.

Marc

USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor

I have had the privilege of talking to one of the divers who performs these interments for the families.  The diver I talked to told me this is considered to be the most solemn and sacred duties they do in their service to the US and for our veterans to be able  re-united the former survivor with his shipmates.  I have not attended one of these ceremonies but can only imagine the emotion and feelings involved.

There is a new museum and Visitor Center at Pearl Harbor, if you get the chance, you should spend a day learning and exploring!

Marc

Bin Ladin is dead but did he die on May 1, 2011

I have seriously doubted that Bin Ladin was killed on May 1, 2011 as claimed by the President as he was trying to look strong and Presidential.  I have been telling anyone who will listen that I didn't believe for a second that the "kill" went down as reported by the Media and the President.  My feeling was based purely on my "gut", but I recently found an article by Patrick Robinson, an excellent author who is "connected" with the Special Ops Community and he has a similar take.  You should ignore my gut on this but you should listen to, and give some credence to, Mr. Robinson expressed in his article, written May 2, 20ll entitled Bin Ladin is Dead but he didn't die Last Night!

If you like this article, pick up some of Mr. Robinson's books and continue to be enlightened and entertained.

Marc

Churchill's Cabinet War Rooms

My family and I are on vacation in London this week (16 March to 21 March, 2012).  My daughter Melissa (middle child, oldest girl) is leading a study abroad program in London and her husband and our grandchildren are here with her.  On Saturday, we toured the Cabinet War Rooms located three stories below ground in Central London near the government office complex, not far from the Texas Embassy in London.

The Cabinet War Rooms are where Winston Churchill and his cabinet ran the British War effort from 27 August 1939 until the end of the War in 1945.  This is one of the most moving and vivid examples of the courage of those who lead and fought for the freedom of the world during the second world war.

The Cabinet War Rooms are located 30 feet under ground (& existing buildings) in what was in 1938 when the idea was conceived, basement storage rooms under the Office of Works and the Board of Trade.  Thought first to be temporary, the facility was quickly expanded to over 30,000 square feet to house Prime Minister Churchill, his staff and his cabinet members and protect them as much possible from German air raids for then next six years.

This is an incredible museum and a testament to incredible work, by incredible people, in extraordinary times.  The War Rooms were closed in late 1945 but are today as they were when the last soldier left them  thanks to the restoration and preservation by the Imperial War Museum of Great Britain.

When you are visiting WW II points of interest put this one right next to Pearl Harbor in authenticity and emotion.

Marc

19 March 2012