One exhibit in particular struck me, especially since tomorrow is Flag Day.
Paul Spain, Joe Victoria, and Eddie Lindros were ordered to burn the American flag that was flying over an air base at Del Monte on Mindanao in 1942 to prevent its capture by the Japanese. Before the flag was destroyed they decided to remove the 48 stars and hide them. For the next 42 months the three men were moved to several different prisoner of war camps and eventually taken to Japan on a "hell ship." During this time they concealed the stars in their clothes, barracks, and a steel factory. In the days before their liberation, they sewed together a new flag using a rusty nail for a needle, an old sewing machine, parachute material, and the stars that they had saved. The new flag was flying over the camp when American troops arrived on 7 September 1945.
Wow, they never gave up. They went through all that, all the while keeping their identity and holding a fidelty to their home nation.
ReplyDeleteThat was a horrible war that we fought over there, against a very determined and brutal enemy. My hat goes off to men like these, and I am proud that they are a part of our heritage.
Good post.