I am passionate about America and American history. I am a credential historian and family historian. This LO is both.

The background for this LO is Patterned paper 8 with the right half copied, flipped horizontally and moved to the left side so I had stripes on both sides.

I know it sounds odd for a woman to be passionate about patriotism in this day and age, but I come from a long line of patriotic women and men. I have a deep and abiding love for America, unshakeable, unconditional. When I joined the US Army, I knew to the very core of my being that I would give my life for her and the ideals she stands for. God is my bedrock, followed closely by the United States. I was honored, humbled, and quietly proud to be selected for Burtonwood’s permanent color guard. Except for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee parade in Liverpool when I carried a rifle, I normally carried the Army Field Flag. This flag is the same layout as the Army Flag, but the colors are reversed - a field of blue with a white War Department crest, white banner, and red lettering. Unlike the Army Flag, this flag is smaller, and no battle streamers are authorized. It is carried for some ceremonies, as we did here, and is used by units and/or installations that have not yet received their colors or that are temporary. Burtonwood Army Depot was not intended to be a permanent base, so we had no colors, but the Army was there for more than 20 years. I guess that’s temporary when you look at 1st Cav or the Screaming Eagles. It was pure joy to represent the US in this Remembrance Day parade (akin to our Memorial Day but in November). This parade was shorter than some, but the time standing at attention was more than a little long. But that is a story for another day.
Burtonwood Army Depot, Warrington, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom
November 1976