I woke up the other day and was watching a group of protesters stomping and burning my flag. I was so upset that I decided to write this poem. I left Bristol in 1964 and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force just before the Vietnam War began on Aug. 2, 1964. What luck! 

I have many friends and relatives in Bristol and I thought I would send you my poem in hopes you will publish it in your newspaper.

My flag ’til I die

If you strike a match to my Flag, it burns my heart and I can not contain myself. The hate you stoke from that terrible spark can not ever be extinguished. The flame will burn forever while all else stays dark. You think you’re protesting the deeds of our government, but what you really are doing is diminishing the deeds of our heroes of past and present wars. 

The yelling and stomping on our Flag with such venom tarnishes the cloth of the country which you did not create. You obviously never fought for my Flag! A patriotic dedicated group of men and women fought and died to give you the right of free expression and speech. Your disrespect is how you thank them? You live in this land of the brave and the free and you don’t understand how much has been sacrificed in honor of our Flag. 
Did you not learn anything in school? Many men and women fought and died for my Flag. You have speared them through the heart with your thoughtless actions. I shed tears when ever I see you burn and step on my Flag.

Please stop it for the sake of those who passed from our view. You need to take a knee in prayer instead of striking a match in hate. Pray for those brave men and women and thank God you live in a country that allows you the freedom of expression, no matter how many others it hurts.

My Flag ’til I die. 

Lawrence “Pie” Piemontese

USAF 1964-1968

Mundelein, Ill.