Next to the cross of Jesus, the Christ, our national colors are the most beautiful symbol of love, freedom and service to mankind in the world. I learned from my father how to respect the flag, and that was perpetuated in the Cub and Boy Scouts. Then in 1961, upon graduating from high school, I joined the United States Navy, offering to serve in any way I was seen fit to do so. I became a radiotelegrapher on a destroyer escort and copied encrypted messages during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Years later, I worked for a funeral home and carried many a veteran under that flag. As a Legionnaire I helped teach Boy Scouts how to fold the flag, and was the chaplain + Americanism chairman, teaching all the meaning of our flag. I am a lifetime member of Vietnam Veterans of America, in which I was chaplain for 14 years. I am also state chaplain of New Jersey's Mission of Honor for Cremains of American Veterans, where we bury the ashes of abandoned and forgotten brothers who've served our flag. Today I raise the colors every morning from my condo balcony and sing our national anthem at our local Mission BBQ restaurant at noon. I march in our Independence Day parade very proudly, carrying the colors representing all those who have valiantly died so that she can wave.

Jerry P. Skorch, U.S. Navy 1961-1964