Memorial Day has passed with  many of us returning to cemeteries to place  flowers on our loved one’s graves. What if you  had a child pass at birth or at a young age and  was buried without a headstone to mark their  final resting place? Without a doubt, that would  be a very depressing moment. This is a Sad and  True story. 

Mary Spencer, Director of the Historical Board  Wyuka Cemetery Foundation, was a guest  speaker at our June Meeting. She gave a  summary of the history of Wyuka. It was  established in 1869 as both a cemetery and park  by state legislation. That legislation provided  free burial for state wards, indigents, and  orphans from birth to the age of 18. The first  child was buried in 1870. Today, there are 2,800  children buried at Wyuka that don’t have  headstones. The funeral home wasn’t  established until 1999. Prior to that time, only a  plot and service were provided; headstones  were not provided. The infant was buried in a  plot and only marked by a numbered cement  cone. Most of the children were buried  between 1870-1920. The cause of death in many  cases was the Spanish flu, polio, pneumonia,  and, saddest of all, starvation. Poverty or lack  of a family often meant a marker wasn’t  purchased.  

It’s unthinkable that police officers during this  time would routinely bring in a child that had  starved on the streets of Lincoln. 

Littlest Angels is a project that Mary Spencer  and friends are trying to rectify. This project  endeavors to place a headstone on all graves.  Each child must be identified through extensive  research. Headstones would have the name,  birthdate, and death date, along with two angels.  Children whose records are not found would  have “unknown child” on the headstone. At this  time 2,150 have been named with no headstone.  Each headstone costs $250. Many headstones  have already been placed in Section 28. 

So what can we do to help this project? One of  four pillars that the Legion supports is Children  and Youth. Post 3 has decided to help support this project in any way we can. We have  contacted the Ladies Auxiliary, and other  organizations, to help support this noble cause.  At this time, we will purchase one headstone  and place this on our yearly budget to purchase  more. If you are able and want to help out,  please contact Post 3. We will make sure all  funds go to Mary. If you belong to other  organizations, please let your members know of  this project. Small babies should not be  forgotten. Post 3 will donate $250 this year and make it a line item donation for the upcoming years. Please consider and amount that you are capable of.

Jack Sibert

The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program is a congressionally mandated program that was established in 2008 under the National Defense Authorization Act. The mission of the program is to promote the well-being of National Guard and Reserve members, their families, and communities by connecting them with resources throughout the deployment cycle. 

American Legion Post 3 was one of about a dozen agencies and organizations that set up information tables at The Graduate Hotel in Lincoln on Saturday, February 8th, as the Nebraska National Guard held a Yellow Ribbon Reintegration program for Nebraska Guard members who either recently redeployed or were about to deploy. Most of the program attendees were from the Grand Island area. 

Bruce Gubser represented Post 3 at the event. 

Flag burning takes place when an American flag is deemed too marred  and tattered to continue to fly. Never is it acceptable for an American  flag to be thrown away, as this would be a sign of defeat for the  message that it stands for. Instead, flag burning is deemed a more  honorable option. The United States Military does everything that it can  to take care of its flags, out of a deep seated respect for “the  republic for which it stands.” Sometimes however, especially if it has  been torn apart in a battle, it is simply unavoidable. When this  happens, a flag burning service is held, giving the flag its last honor.

This flag burning service usually begins with the Pledge of  Allegiance, followed by a reading of the poem, "I Am Old Glory," which  recounts all of the fateful moments and victories the American flag has  witnessed. A moment of silence is usually next, as the crowd quietly  considers the solemnity of the moment. Then the field of blue stars is  carefully cut out of the flag, and placed on the fire. As the red and white  stripes are added to the fire, the color guard says emphatically, "Our  flag rests in peace!" The crowd departs then as the military band plays  "Stars and Stripes Forever," completing the flag burning service. This  flag burning service combines solemnity with the joy and pride of being  an American. While participants in the ceremony cannot help but feel a  little sad over the demise of a flag, they take comfort in the fact that  its message, and the nation that it represents will live on.

Some, outside of the military, have in the last few decades, extended  the right to freedom of speech to mean a right to flag burning. This  subject has sparked deep seated feelings on both sides, even among those  who would never do it themselves. A clear distinction ought to be drawn  between this form of flag burning, and the manner that the United  States Military uses. Flag burning protestors often insist that they  have respect for the principles endowed in the United States  Constitution, but choose to burn the American flag to symbolize the ways  that they believe that America has strayed from its original path.  Opponents of this form of flag burning argue that this is  counterproductive, and is really working against America itself.

In many other nations, flag burning in this way is illegal. Some  nations, such as Norway, Austria, and Germany impose strict penalties on  this form of flag burning, including heavy penalties, or even up to a  year in prison. In an attempt to deter protest flag burning as a whole,  Norway and Austria have also placed penalties on burning the flags of  other nations as well. Other nations known to have a somewhat feistier  relationship with the world, such as Egypt and Turkey, have allowed flag  burning when it comes to enemy nations flags.

Military flag burning runs with a number of other traditions,  designed to prevent the flag from being desecrated. For example, it is  also a statute that the flag cannot be flown upside down. Nor should it  ever be dropped to the ground, be made to dip, or be cut up and made  into a costume. All of these preventions, along with flag burning, are a  silent proclamation that the liberties endowed by the United States  Constitution live on, safe and secure.

Flag  burning is a tradition that dates back to America's British roots, from  a time well before 1776. Even today, flag burning is consistently  applied by the British military as well, who like Americans do of their  country, believe that the United Kingdom is the greatest country in the  world, and wish to present a visible symbol of their country's strength  around the world as well.

Flag burning is also often applied in the German military as well, a policy implemented by Kaiser Wilhelm II.

It may come as a surprise that the original American flag, knit  together by Betsy Ross, never had to be burned. Instead, after 233 years  of life, it is still on display at the Smithsonian Institute, in  Washington D.C. This well illustrates why many in the United States  Military will do anything they can to avoid the prospect of flag  burning, in the hopes that flags can be consistently well maintained  over the years, and even centuries. Sometimes however, especially after a  flag has been flown in a battle, that is not always possible.

There are two kinds of flag burning, one in protest and the other in  respect. Protest flag burning is condemned by most countries, and  arguably does not fit into freedom of speech. Flag burning done out of  respect however is in keeping with the best traditions of the United  States Military. This sort of flag burning well deserves a place  alongside such other traditions as not letting a flag fall to the  ground, flying flags in such a way to where they never dip towards  anything, and of course pledging allegiance to the flag. These  traditions show that America, after 233 years, is as strong as it ever  was, and that the flag still waves in glory.

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