Veteran recalls ties to Old Glory

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

These words inspire veteran Don Meyer, 80, whether he hears them recited or- facing a flag with his hand over his heart- speaks them himself.

"I am very, very patriotic. Many, many people died to protect the flag, and it offends me deeply to see a flag in disarray, destroyed or abused," said the Agoura Hills insurance broker.

Meyer has been at ceremonies for loved ones resting in caskets covered with the U.S. flag. There is a 21-gun salute. "Taps" is played. A family weeps. Then two of the young soldiers, shining brightly in their uniforms, carefully and precisely fold that flag into a triangle. One of them draws near the grieving spouse and gently presents the symbol of what that veteran held dear and fought for: his country.

Army volunteer

In June 1946, 10 days after the draft for WW II had ended, Meyer enlisted in the Army. The 18yearold boy who had just graduated from Lincoln High School in Nebraska was shipped off to Fort Bliss, Texas, for boot camp. Then Meyer joined the occupying Army in Japan.

He saw in Nagasaki the disaster caused by an atom bomb. He was sent there in December 1946, 16 months after the United States dropped an atomic bomb to end the conflict that began when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Dec. 7, 1941.

Officially called an athletic in

structor, the physically talented Meyer played basketball on a winning military team- the only member who hadn't played in college.

Through his success in sports, he was able to meet Gen. Douglas MacArthur twice. MacArthur was to command the invasion of Japan, but he accepted its surrender on Sept. 2, 1945, and oversaw the occupation until 1951.

Meyer's love for the flag and his patriotism were reinforced by the trauma he witnessed during the war as well as the uplifting experiences of meeting the general, he said.

After the war, he went to college to become a P.E. coach and ended up becoming a firefighter. Later, in 1955, he joined Farmers Insurance as an agent and today continues to help people with their insurance needs.

He's also risen up through the ranks of the Masons to become a Master Mason. In conjunction with his work in the Masonic Temple, he's assisted ill children by performing charity work as a Shriner. Having learned flag protocol as a Shriner, Meyer holds the position of flag lieutenant.

Honoring the flag

"There is nothing more important than to honor our flag, our American symbol. Many have died to protect our symbol- a symbol that represents freedom," Meyer said.

One way to honor the flag is to treat it properly. Meyer is glad to instruct those who ask what to do or those he happens to see doing it wrong.

When a flag is hung on a wall, the field of blue should always be on the left. When displayed on a pole behind a speaker, it's always to the speaker's right- that means the public's left. If there are three flagpoles side-by-side in a row, the U.S. flag is always on the left.

"You can remember this by remembering where you place your hand over your heart when you say the Pledge of Allegiance," he said.

Never fly a flag at night unless it's illuminated. Flags should be raised quickly and taken down

SCOslowly. They should never touch the ground. Other flags shouldn't fly higher than Old Glory. If there are three poles in a triangle shape with two behind one pole, the Stars and Stripes should be out front.

Flying a torn or deteriorated flag shows disrespect. Also, a flag should never be burned in protest. That's a no-no, he said.

"I hope people will continue to respect our flag, our national symbol, because that shows respect for our country. It disheartens me tremendously if they don't," Meyer said.