As a rule, people offended by my peace flag while wearing my U.S. Army Class A dress uniform keep their peace, so to speak. They ignore me, many with bowed heads, as if looking for quarters on the sidewalk. Well boys and girls, tonight was an exception to that rule.
After spending an hour-and-a-half standing at East Ninth Street and Carnegie Avenue greeting folks heading to Progressive Field for the third of a four-game series between the Cleveland Guardians and Minnesota Twins, I headed to Tower City shortly after the game began to catch the Blue Line home.
I was walking by a Progressive Field ticket window and a gentleman selling tickets talking into a microphone embedded in the ticket window said to me, “Hey buddy. What’s that flag?”
I said , “It’s a peace flag.”
He said, “You’re carrying that flag and wearing that uniform!?”
“Yeah. I was in Vietnam. I like peace better than war.”
He was incredulous. Gobsmacked, you might say. “You were in Vietnam?!”
I said, “Yes. I like peace better than war. You been in a war?”
He said, “No…in the army.”
Before I left, he said, “Next time carry an American flag.”
That got my half-Irish blood aboil and I said very strongly, “That’s not gonna happen!” Even louder, I shouted, “WE NEED PEACE!!! WHAT’S THE MATTER WITH YOU??!!!”
He had no response and sat down, arms folded. Gobsmacked again by my intensity.
BTW, the Guardians won in a walk-off 5-4 victory over the Twins in 10 innings. Go Guards!
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