A thug determined to steal a veteran’s flag after seeing him saluting it every day. The thief walked as much as rip down the flag, pondering the veteran couldn’t do something since he was blind. That they had no concept they’d simply made a really massive mistake.
Howard Banks, a 92-year-old World Battle II veteran who’s legally blind, flies Outdated Glory outdoors of his Kaufman, Texas house. Having been blinded by a flare throughout his service to his nation, one would assume folks would depart the previous man alone to dwell out his years in peace, however sadly, that’s not the case. Years after serving throughout wartime, he’s nonetheless defending our flag.
Sadly, our flag has change into an emblem of controversy and division, and somebody took concern with Banks flying the American and Marine Corps flags outdoors of his house — greater than as soon as. Whereas there are those that consider the flag represents all the great and freedoms our nation has to supply and fly it with satisfaction in honor of those that served to defend it, others really feel America has failed to supply liberty and justice for all. The latter takes concern with the image of our nice nation and refuse to honor the logo of our nation.
No matter the place you fall relating to your emotions on our nation and our flag, most would agree that everybody has the best to do what they please relating to their very own property and displaying the flag. Sadly, not less than one thug didn’t really feel this fashion once they noticed Banks’ flying the flag outdoors his Texas house. Selecting to disrespect the flag, the degenerate additionally tried to infringe on the veteran’s rights — however the conflict hero wasn’t about to be violated with no battle.
Because the blind veteran was minding his personal enterprise, he heard his flag being pulled down, and since this wasn’t the primary time somebody had vandalized his property, focusing on his flags, he had a good suggestion of what was occurring outdoors. The suspect seemingly thought the previous man was a straightforward goal since he couldn’t see, however they made one massive mistake. He may hear simply high-quality.
Recognizing the noise straight away, the aged man leaped into motion the most effective he may, speeding outdoors to seek out out what was occurring. That’s when Banks caught the thugs within the act. However, the wicked people determined to take their disrespect one step additional.
“I walked out, hanging onto the railing and stepped down. That should’ve startled them,” Banks recalled. “They might see me. I couldn’t see them. I turned and regarded within the different course, and about then – ‘wham!’ They knocked me down.”
Though Banks took a success and was injured within the chaos that ensued, he efficiently defended his American flag. The thug was compelled to run off with out it. To not be discouraged and desirous to make his disgust with the veteran’s patriotic sentiments recognized, the vandal ripped down the previous man’s “God Bless All Police” signal and threw it throughout the yard. Nonetheless, issues didn’t go in keeping with plan for this thug in any respect.
Fairly than educate the previous man a lesson about his show of the flag, the thug’s assault had the other impact. There’s little doubt the vandal hoped to discourage the veteran from honoring the flag, however he was removed from profitable in his efforts. Not solely did the veteran defend the flag, he then acquired an outpouring of assist after neighbors heard the scuffle and got here working to the aged man’s support.
Banks suffered a twisted knee, in addition to a number of bumps and bruises, however he’s shrugging the accidents off. “I’m sturdy. I can take it,” stated the patriot, who enlisted within the armed forces on the age of 18 and fought within the battle of Iwo Jima, Japan, throughout World Battle II. Talking of the flag and his each day behavior of saluting it, which he picked up within the army, he added, “It’s the one factor I can cling to. But at my capability, there’s not a lot I can do. However I can honor our flag.”
As for the vandal, they aren’t getting off scot-free. “We’re doing every part in our energy to seek out the suspects that dedicated this cowardly assault and convey them to justice,” the Kaufman Police Division stated in an announcement. “This gentleman is a hero to our officers and the town’s residents ought to be extraordinarily proud to have him as a part of our group.”
In keeping with Banks, somebody had beforehand tried to chop down his flag pole. That point, he discovered his U.S. flag shredded and his U.S. Marine Corps flag thrown in a ditch. With this newest try to vandalize his property, his household has positioned cameras across the outdoors of his residence, and any future thugs who determine to assault higher assume twice. “If there’s any method to catch them and I used to be ready to take action, I’d wish to whoop them good with my crutch,” Banks warned.
That seems like precisely what these punks may want. You don’t have to love the American flag. That’s your proper. Nevertheless, you by no means have the best to place your arms on another person’s property. The truth that this thug would push a blind veteran, who walks with a cane, simply goes to indicate that they’re the bottom of the low. Don’t just like the flag? Don’t fly one. However, don’t dare put your arms on a conflict hero who desires to peacefully honor the nation he fearlessly served on his personal property.
