The other day a man called Martha Zoller's show on WDUN and reported that the big, beautiful garrison flag that flies over Shoney's on Jesse Jewell Boulevard had shredded and was in tatters. He had apparently stopped to tell them only to find our that Shoneys is closed. "It's sad," the caller said. "We need to do something about it." Well, Martha got me involved and I discovered that flagpole is the kind where the lanyard is locked. It would take a key to get it down. So, we tracked down the regional office in Atlanta, and they couldn't have been nicer. They pretty well dropped everything to go to work on the problem. When I got back to the office, however, there was a phone call from one of the Shoney people. They had been able to lower the main part of the flag about half way, but the wind and rain (Oh ... did I mention this was happening the day of the heavy rain?) had wrapped a strip of the torn flag around the pole. It was stuck.
"Do I have your okay to get the fire department on your property?" I asked, and the answer was "You bet." When I swung into the Gainesville Fire Department all the units were out, but I told them our dilemma. The only question was: "will you meet us out there?" Then an amazing thing happened. It's only about five blocks from the fire station to Shoneys, but when I got there the fire truck was already there, the levelers were in place, and a fireman was on his way up the ladder. They carefully untangled the flag, unhooked it and lowered it gently while those on the ground folded it without letting it touch the ground. Meantime, Post 7 of the American Legion had become involved, and the folded flag was handed over to them for proper disposal.
The impressive thing about all this is how our local people reacted to that distressed flag. The people who called WDUN to report the problem. The response once Shoneys learned of the problem. The two young ladies (both cadets from North Georgia College) who pulled in to help. The instant reaction from the Gainesville Fire Department. Post 7 of the American Legion. The people in their cars who beeped their horns and gave a thumbs up as that wet, tattered flag was lowered. If there are those who may think Old Glory has no meaning to the people of Gainesville, Georgia, let me say you are wrong. Not only do we respect her ... we love her.
This is Gordon Sawyer, and may the wind always be at your back.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/10/188370