Hurricane Michael & The Pledge of Allegiance
On October 10, 2018, Category 5 Hurricane Michael roared ashore pushing a massive and destructive storm surge onto the Panhandle and Big Bend areas of Florida. The peak storm surge, located along the right side of where the eyewall made landfall, hit the town of Mexico Beach, which suffered devastating storm surge damage from 9 to 14 feet above the peak storm surge. In addition, wave action caused even higher total water-values and this resulted in waves destroying the second story of multiple buildings in Mexico Beach making it a literal war zone
Michael’s storm tide, when combined with waves on top of the surge, brought a highwater mark of 20.6′ above mean sea level to a storm tide sensor attached to the Mexico Beach Pier. The mobile sensor, installed just before the storm by the United States Geological Survey, measured a storm tide of 15.5′, so waves on top of the surge were about 5′ high. Michael’s highwater mark one of the six highest in 85 years of U.S. records.
Reports the next morning left no doubt that the people living in and around the town of Mexico Beach would need serious help to rebuild after such major devastation. My good friend and I would become part of the massive grassroots effort that immediately headed to the affected areas. Pulling a personal trailer, we would eventually help to deliver multiple loads of supplies throughout the area before finally settling in at a distribution point in Mexico Beach.
What we witnessed was horrific. Miles and miles of downed trees and total property devastation. Scores of homes and buildings were literally missing and torn off their foundations, hundreds of cars were damaged beyond repair, and the local people, those who were directly affected by the cyclone, looked shellshocked, worn out, and scared. It was a heartbreaking experience.
Yet, even in the midst of so much turmoil, we were able to bring at least some hope to the people in the form of emergency food (MRE rations), personal care items, and bandanas. Yes, bandanas. With us were over 400 American Flag bandanas unused from a previous event that we also passed out to the citizens whose lives had been so seriously disrupted.
We spent hours handing out badly needed supplies along with the bandanas to convoys of damaged vehicles running through our re-supply checkpoint. I have to say, it wasn’t the food, shampoo, or even the clothing that raised the people’s spirits—it was those American Flag bandanas. We saw hundreds of faces go from despair to immediate joy when they were handed red, white, and blue square pieces of cotton cloth. It was amazing and left most of us speechless throughout the day.
But perhaps the most touching moment of the whole experience, happened when a damaged car pulled up to our spot for supplies. Inside was an African-American family of four who, by the looks of their car, had obviously been through a very harrowing experience. Their young daughter hopped out of the back seat to personally accept a bandana. All eyes were upon her as she stood proudly holding the flag bandana in one hand while placing her other hand over her heart. She then recited quite succinctly, word for word, the entire Pledge of Allegiance. She didn’t miss a word. It was powerful.
Despite the noisy activities, it seemed you could have heard a pin drop as she spoke the pledge with enthusiasm and conviction. Not a dry eye was to be seen by those of us who witnessed this spectacle of patriotism. I had never realized how much a symbol, the American Flag, could raise the human spirit, not only for those we were helping but for the helpers as well. It was absolutely heart-rendering and very real. It changed my life. Every now and then, I think about that young girl and her family, and the hundreds of people who received a flag bandana on that day and I know, deep in my heart, it changed their lives, too.
So, let US never underestimate the power of an American Flag and its effect on the human spirit. It will lift them up in times of despair and give them hope when they need it the most.
May God Bless America, Old Glory, and The Pledge and the power they have to bring US some hope.
Submitted by:
John Krotec
New Market, VA
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