Flag Day

Flag Day (June 14) usually passes with little notice. A story from a Prisoner of War camp during the Vietnam War might serve to remind us of what the flag has meant and continues to mean to many:

Lt.Mike Christian was navigator-bombadier on an A-6 aircraft when he was forced to bail out over North Vietnam on April 24, 1967. He was taken prisoner and confined in Hanoi for over 2000 days. At one point he became obsessed with an idea. After finding a handkerchief in the gutter, he had a vision of it as a flag. He knew the risks, but was doggedly determined to complete his ‘project.’ The other POWs gave him bits of soap to clean it, ground-up pieces of red and blue roof tiles to color it, and small amounts of a watery rice glue to paint on the colored pieces. Finally, he labored under his mosquito net at night, secretly sewing on the stars with bits of thread from his blanket and a handmade bamboo needle.

One morning, when no guards were nearby, he called out to everyone and lifted his ‘flag’ high over his head, waving it as in a breeze. The other prisoners stood proudly at attention, many with tears in their eyes, and saluted. They finally had their most cherished symbol of home, an American flag.

Soon, Mike’s flag was discovered by a guard. The retribution was swift and severe. He was taken from his cell and beaten all night. When he was dragged back the next day, he was badly broken and unable to speak. He recovered slowly for two weeks—and then began to work on another flag. One of his friends later commented:

“The Stars and Stripes, our national symbol, was worth the price to him. Now whenever I see the flag, I think of Mike and the morning he first waved that tattered emblem of a nation.”

Our symbols grow in importance when they represent things cherished that we have lost or could lose. This story should get the attention of Christians especially. The emblem of our Savior’s suffering and death is becoming more and more important as we strive to carry his message to an indifferent culture. The cross symbolizes the gospel, and when we display it, we show the world where we stand and encourage other believers at the same time. It’s nice to see a cross in church, but is even more uplifting to see one on a necklace, a lapel, or a car—identifying a fellow soldier in the army of Christ.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

1 Corinthians 1:18-19

 (This story is from my devotional Stories of Faith and Courage from the Vietnam War. More information about this and my other books can be found here.)