RON DAVIS -- Through My Eyes
During the time I’ve written this column, other than asking you to
examine issues from another perspective, I haven’t asked any of you to do
much. Today, I’m asking.
There is a wonderful story in our community. A story of guts,
determination, dedication and patriotism. A story about a person who
doesn’t seek recognition for herself, but for someone else.
The story begins with a small girl in South Dakota who became enamored
with the flight of hawks. As a result, she spent whatever money she had
to learn to fly airplanes at a time when women were more of a novelty in
a cockpit.
At 23, she became one of only 114 women pursuit-pilots who flew
military fighter aircraft back and forth across the United States during
World War II to be shipped overseas. The war required every able-bodied
male pilot to be available for war duty, so this local resident was one
of a small cadre of women who flew these planes from one location to
another. During 1943 and 1944, she made constant flights, delivering
fighter after fighter.
Pretty dangerous and heroic stuff. But, that’s not the reason I’m
writing about her and asking all of you to do something.
Late this afternoon, and for the next several days, I hope you’ll
notice 54 American flags adorning the Huntington Beach Pier in
recognition of Veterans Day on Saturday.
One crisp, bright evening in December, Vi Cowden noticed the
snowflakes decorating the pier for Christmas. Rather than seeing
snowflakes, she saw flags -- red, white and blue American flags -- flying
in celebration of the veterans who gave so much so that we could enjoy
our beach and even have a pier. She saw an opportunity to remind us to
take a moment out of our day to remember why we celebrate those who make
our Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Veterans Day even possible.
So, as she did when she was a kid and a young adult, she was
determined to make a difference. She lobbied the City Council to allow
brackets for flags to be placed on the pier. She figured out how to
secure funding to buy 54 flags that had once flown over our nation’s
Capitol and to fly them again as a patriotic tribute and reminder of our
veterans on our pier.
Thanks to the dedication and leadership of Cowden, flags will not only
fly on our pier on this Veterans Day but also on Memorial Day and the
Fourth of July.
She will be the first to tell you she didn’t accomplish this alone.
She’ll also tell you the 54 American flags on the pier are just a start.
We need to take stock of ourselves and what we have. We spend hours
decorating our homes for Halloween and Christmas. We’ll devote days to
shopping for birthday gifts, Christmas gifts and Halloween costumes. But
most of us can’t get off our backsides for a few moments, just a couple
of days out of the year, to fly an American flag from home -- homes that
we occupy as a result of the efforts of people who served so that we
could have better.
Vi Cowden certainly wouldn’t want me to ask you to fly a flag on
Veterans Day, Memorial Day or the Fourth of July for her. Nor will I.
But, I’ll join her in asking all of you to fly an American flag for them
-- the countless Americans who have offered their lives for our better
life. An occasional “thank you” is the least we can do.
* RON DAVIS is a private attorney who lives in Huntington Beach. He
can be reached by e-mail at o7 RDD@socal.rr.com.f7
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