Another Flag Day has gone by and pictures of President Donald Trump embracing Old Glory circulated on the internet. In some pictures he has his eyes closed while he gives the flag a kiss, an act that ingratiates him to his faithful base.
But true patriotism has to mean more than a constant embrace of the American flag or wearing it as a lapel pin. One columnist recently wrote: "Mr. Trump makes clear he loves the flag itself more than the values of the country it stands for."
One of those great values is placing the good of the country before the good of one’s self; in other words, selfless service. It is a concept foreign to Donald J. Trump. His whole adult life has been devoted to constant self-promotion — a “me, me, me” attitude which should disgust decent people.
When I think of selfless service, I think of a fifth great-grandfather who left his wife and six children at home to fight in the Battle of Bunker Hill.
Or a second great-grandpa, a German-speaking immigrant from Bohemia, who left his family on their Iowa farm home to serve in the Union Army. He was wounded numerous times in battle in the effort to end slavery and end a treasonous rebellion instigated by wealthy slave-owning plantation owners.
I think of my father, uncles and an aunt who served in World War II in that great, united effort to end fascism — the same fascism represented by the Swastika flags now seen at white nationalist rallies.
When I think of selfless service, I think of soldiers I had the privilege and honor of serving with in the United States Army, many of whom were immigrants from varied countries: Somalia, Ukraine, Guatemala, Vietnam, Iran and elsewhere. These soldiers all had a common attribute — a willingness to give selfless service to our country.
When I read the disparaging comments about immigrants made by Trump and his white nationalist lackey, Stephen Miller, I think of the greatness of those immigrant soldiers and how lucky I was to serve with them, and how deeply fortunate our country was to have them.
When I think of selfless service, I think of civilians who have endeavored to make our country and the world a better place. They have labored in the Peace Corps, the State Department and in many other areas of service. They, too, have selflessly left their families behind while serving, and I salute them as well with every fiber of my being.
During this time of a worldwide pandemic, I think also of the selfless service given by hospital employees, grocery store workers wearing protective face masks in grocery stores so that we can buy the food and many others. Selfless service is also given by volunteering in your community — as a youth leader, as a volunteer police officer or firefighter, or in a multitude of ways.
When I think of selfless service, I think of Colin Kaepernick who sacrificed his NFL career to call attention to the racial problems in our country. Almost four years later we are, I hope, starting to pay attention to his clarion call for racial justice in America. I think also of Army Ranger Pat Tillman who similarly gave up a lucrative NFL career to serve in our military. He was killed in service to our country.
There has been no selfless service given by Trump during his time in office. His shameless hugging and kissing the flag — as if it were yet another mistress to be used and abused — may please his base, but history will record him as an utterly inept president, a faux patriot incapable of giving selfless service, who further divided our country, who was incapable of being truthful and who endeavored to enrich himself and his cronies.
That will be his legacy.
Wes Davey
Wes Davey, Lehi, is a retired U.S. Army master sergeant and a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War and Veterans for Peace.
