Perspective
Why I fly *he f,a9
"Why do you fly the flag?" some
one will ask me now and then. When
they have left my home, they have
certain that I do not fly it because the
red in the flag matches the color of
the geraniums that bloom so profu
sely In my window boxes, or that I
use it as a landmark to guide folks
trying to locate me out here in the
Martin County countryside.
r There are many reasons why our
lotion's colors wave from a tall pole
near a front corner of my house, and
since this is the week we honor our
country's banner by celebrating Flag
Day, you may as well know why.
I fly the flag every day so that I
don't forget the great sacrifices that
were made in order to allow me the
simple freedom of running up the col
ors. And, I don't hold too much es
teem for those around me who don't
take care of their flag once they hoist
it high. To me, there is no greater dis
grace in the world than a ragged,
ripped, or completely faded flag that
was: raised in some moment of patri
otic frenzy and then completely for
gotten until the next attack of flag
waving hypocrisy takes ahold. When
I see a flag being flown in this man
lier, it makes my blood boil and my
temper flare, and usually gets me in
a scrap or two with whoever is re
sponsible for such dishonor.
I keep a sharp eye on my flag.
When I see a tear, I immediately haul
it down and take it to a neighborhood
friend whose sewing machine is read
ily available. She repairs it without
charge, for she shares in the pride I
have in this piece of cloth, and con
tributes in her own special way to its
flpwn with respect in my yard.
?TV*feW Jrears ago, a little "conflict"
Sir Viet Nam took the lives of thou
sands of men and women from this
country... most of them boys who
were still too young to grown facial
Ifeiir. Those who did return home,
cajne back her to no reception, pa
cades or rewards like others who
Ftove been welcomed home before
thiol. Because we were so mixed up
about something that shouldn't have
happened in the first place, we tried
it out of mind and out of sight
as 'quickly as we could. No wonder
the Viet Nam veterans feel they
faQghf afld died for nothing. They an
swered their country's call, forced to
far ends of the earth to fight for
EASTERN
ECHOES
t* GAIL R06ERS0N
freedom while this country was fight
ing among itself about their being
there in the first place.
You can't deny freedom for some
one else and expect to have it your
self. Things just don't work that way.
We critized and ridiculed those who
fled and refused to fight, and yet did
nothing to welcome home with pride,
those who did.
I fly my flag every day so that I
don't forget those soldiers who were
shuffled about on conference tables
and in newspapers like statues on a
chessboard. It's my way of saying:
"Thank you. You did your best, you
did what your country told you to do
and tried to believe that somebody,
somewhere, responsible for it, knew
what they were doing, even if you
didn't."
I fly it for the ones who played
cards together in a foxhole one night
and then, the next day, had to place
bits and pieces of those same buddies
in plastic bags.
I fly it for my husand who says that
the sight of that flag waving over his
camp was the only thing that got him
back home, and in memory of the one
who returned, but in a flag-draped
coffin.
I fly it for the ones who made it
back in one piece and without pieces,
but remain mentally tormented by
death and disillusion they cannot for
get, and for the ones that still remain
behind somewhere, forgetten by
their countrymen because we all got
tired of the whole thing and just
stopped looking for them.
So the next time you see my flag
unfurling in the breeze or hanging
stately still, slow down and take a
long, hard look. Then, go home and
do something yourself about showing
respect for the ones down through the
years who gave us the freedom to fly
it in the first place. This week would
be a perfect time to start.
Flag symbolizes freedom
?If you"ve traveled outside the
country, what was the first thing you
recognized upon your return? This
question will bring a varied response,
Kit to many, including myself, the
single item that made me realize how
tart una te I am to be an American is
Mr flag.
"From our earliest childhood days,
we begin to develop a sense of pride
and love for this colorful piece of
cioth. We don't really think about it
much, and it is seldom a topic of con
versation, but the American flag is
Ifobably the most recognized in the
world. Whether viewed with respect,
or with disdain, it is still a lasting
tribute to the greatest experiment in
ffeedom ever undertaken.
"We honor Old Glory for many rea
sons. We know she's been to the
moon, mars and beyond Saturn and
Jbpiter to the darkness of outer
space.
Down through the decades, she's
fkiwn, adding strength, wisdom and
majesty. To thousands of men and
women who have followed her into
battle, she was a leader. For those
who fell in her defense, she served as
a eloak, providing cover until the cas
ket was lowered to its final resting
pQce: To generations of children,
who have given her their pledge of
allegiance, she is the hope for tomor
row To many throughout the world,
she is a guiding light, a defender of
baaic human rights. To the millions
wl)o set foot on our shores for teh first
time, she represented a dream come
true.
flftule we may honor her for va
rious reasons, we must remember
her for the load she carries. Flowing
gently in the breeze, it isn't always
easy to visualize the burden she
bears. People may talk of her stripes,
stfrs, her red, white and blue, but
little thought is given to the bravery
she represents.
Conceived in the darker days of our
struggle for freedom, her ageless
beauty was authorized June 14, 1777
by a Continental Congress unsure of
her future. Two months later, sol
diers at Ft. Schuyler, N.Y., fashioned
a likeness from various pieces of
scrap cloth. They proudly raised
their homemade fig, and for the first
time. Old Glory came under fire.
She gallantly served that war and
many more. On a dark night near
Fort McHenry, a young lawyer view
ing the battle strained his eyes to see
if the Stars and Stripes stil waved.
They did, and in the early light of
dawn, his fears were washed away.
He quickly put down on paper his fel
lings of happinesses and pride, and
Old Glory had her own song.
To those who defy her principles,
she is the enemy. But no torch can
destroy her. Burned on the streets of
many nations, and even the streets of
America, she rises from the ashes
stronger than ever.
Some may view her as only a sym
bol. But she's much more than that.
She is a living feeling that should be
in all of us. In her, we should remem
ber the importance of being Ameri
cans.
June 14 is Flag Day and as we no
tice the many red, white and blue
banners, let us remember her as
more than just a flag, he is the glory
of the past, the promise of the future,
and the best hope for mankind. Fly
her proudly.
TRY CLASSIFIEDS!
Business Builders
If you are a new business
or a business
who does not advertise frequently
You can advertise weekly
for as little as
I <1.50 Weekly for 52 Weeks
?2.00 Weekly for 26 Weeks
: *2.50 Weekly for 13 Weeks
(Copy Changes Will Be Once A Week)
Call Anzie at 428-5728
If it doesn't start
on the third pull...
River plays important role in county's heritage
Without the river from which it
take its name, Perquimans County
might not exist. Perquimans River is
the gatherer of most of the waters
that run through the county, and the
county was created in the 1660s to en
compass the lands on both sides of
the waterway.
Rising in the southern edge of the
Dismal Swamp, the Perquimans can
not be ranked among the world's
great rivers for its length? barely
twenty-five miles in a straight line
from source to mouth although its
twisting nature carries water a
greater distance. In width, however,
the Perquimans is more than a
match for many a noted river, its
lower course being typically a mile
wide.
The river brought Perquimans its
first inhabitants. The Yeopim Indi
ans canoed it and named it, and the
HISTORICAL
MCTES
BY
RAy
Winslow
shores of the river and its tributaries
stil yield traces of Indian villages and
camps.
The first European explorers noted
the existence of the river, with John
White depicting its mouth on his
maps of the 1580s. Settlers folowed
explorers and by 1663 the river had
been chosen as a desirable place to
locate farms. For over two hundred
years Perquimans River served the
county as a major route of travel. Ca
noes, periaugas, schooners, sloop6,
and other water craft transported
people, export commodiites, and im
port goods. Ocean-going vessels were
frequently sailing up the river as far
as Belvidere in the eighteenth cen
tury, and steamboat traffic devel
oped in the nineteenth.
The same river which served so
necessairly as an economic artery
could also bring danger. It was the
primary means by which the Union
forces reached Perquimans County
on numerous occasions during the
Civil War, especially for battle of
Hertford in December 1863.
Perquimans River also presented a
transportation problem for many
years. For those traveling by water,
it was a boon, but to those going by
land it was a barrier. Its width made
crossing very difficult. Ferries were
in operation by the end of the seven
teeth century, but they were unable
to keep a regular schedule due to
wind variability.
Not until 1796 was a bridge thrown
across the river at Hertford, and that
was a float bridge thrown across the
river at Hertford, and that was a
float bridge susceptible to frequent
damage. It was not uncommon for a
land traveler from Stevensons Point
to reach Harveys Point only by way
of Belvidere even though the two
points were practically in sight of one
another.
The railroad and modern highways
and bridges ended Perquimans' eco
nomic dependence upon the river,
but our primary body of water is
much desired for homes sites. The
county still cannot do without Perqui
mans River.
Harrell joins the staff at community college
20 YEARS AGO
Pat Harrell Joins Staff At COA:
Dr. Bruce Petteway, President of
College of The Albemarle, announced
that James "Pat Harrell has joined
the staff of the College of The Albe
marle as Assistant Director of
Continuing Education. He will offi
cially assume his new position on
July 1st. Mr. Harrell comes to Col
lege of The Albemarle from the Per
quimans County School System
where he has served as principal in
Hertford. Prior to his service in Hert
ford as principal, he served a a tea
cher and coach at Millbrook High
School in Raleigh and at Marriott
High School in Raleigh and at Mar
riott High School in Aylett, Virginia.
Harrell is active in organizations on
1 > j(
mc
197C
L(?HN?
pack
ov
VIK6INIA WHITE
"IT>ANSE/*J
the local, state and national scene.
He is a member of the Hertford
United Methodist Church where he
serves as a Sunday school teacher
and youth counselor.
Professionally he is member of the
local and state NCEA units, the
North Carolina Division of Princi
pals, the National Association of El
ementary School Principals, and is a
member of Phi Delta Kappa National
Educational Fraternity for men. Pat
is married to the former Carol Mc
Donnell. He is a Perquimans County
native.
Darden Dept. Store Planing Pic
nic: Darden Dept. Store will be
closed all day Wednesday, June 18,
for the personnel to attend their an
nual picnic at Nags Head.
Charles Woodard Accepts Position
In Edenton: Charles Woodward has
accepted a position in the Pharmacy
Deptrnent at Mitchner's Drug Store
in Edenton and began his new duties
on Monday of this week. Charles is
the son of Mrs. E.C. Woodard and the
late Mr. Woodard of Hertford.
A note from Gina
This week many local youngsters as
well as others across the state will be
graduating including my brother.
This is a very special time in their
lives wheter they are graduating
from high school or college. I would
like to take this opportunity to con
gratulate all the area graduates, and
I wish them the best of luck.
Classified ads
are best sellers
THE
PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
Established In 1932
Published Each Thursday By The Daily Advance, Elizabeth City, N.C.
Second Class Postage Paid at Hertford, N.C. 37944 USPS 428-080
Gina K. Jepson ?
Editor
Anzie L Wood
Advertising Manager
ONE YEAR MAIL SUBSCRIPTION RATES
In-County Out-Of-County
*10.00 *11.00
1 1 9 West Grubb Street
P.O. Box 277
Hertford, N.C. 27944
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National Nawspapar Association
North Carolina Association of Community Newspapers
NEWS COUPON
The news and editorial staff of the Perquimans Weekly
would like you to tell us what kind of stories you like to see in
the paper. If there is something or someone you feel is impor
tant ? or some provocative issue you would like us to exam
ine ? please, let us know.
Just clip and fill out this coupon. Include as many details at
possible (Names, addressses, telephone numbers, etc.)
It may not be possible for us to use some of the stories sug
gested but we are always looking for new ideas.
So, next time you think of something you feel would make a
good story, send it to: News Coupon, Perquimans Weekly,
P.O. Box 277, Hertford, N.C. 27944.
STORY IDEA:
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The Perquimans Weekly
119 W. Grubb St. Hertford
426-5728