I joined the Navy in March 1973. At the AFFEES in Oakland Ca., they swore us in one more time to make it official. They then put us to work removing colored tape from the floors with a razor blade, as we were now "on the taxpayer's dime".

We flew down to San Diego, (Day-go, as we fleet sailors called it), and were sent to the Recruit Training Center.

After our heads were shaved, and we had sent all personal items we brought with us home, they put us in uniform.

A Commander presented us as a Company to our Company Commander, a First Class MM1 SS. While this was going on, a small Navy Band and 51 sailors came up behind us. Each of them were holding one of the state flags and one of them the American flag.

The band began to softly play the Star Spangled Banner. The Commander told us, "Take a good look. This is why you're here". Seeing all those flags together really brought home to me, we are the UNITED States.

To this day, even with bitterness, division, and partisan bickering our Country experienced in the last year, that day reminds me that no matter what, we are united, and will persevere.

If you take a really good look, in so many ways our Country is not blue or red, but purple. And united.

God bless the United States of America!
Temple O. Smith
Cloverdale Ca.,