JUNE....................a hero passes

Most of us are familiar with the iconic image of the soldiers raising the American Flag over Iwo Jima in World War II. What many don't know, however, is that this was actually the second flag raising, which was staged for photographers. Clint Eastwood's recent film Flags of Our Fathers has helped to disseminate this information to the general public. It is sad that it has taken so long for these original heroes to receive their just recognition. The last of those men, Charles Lindberg, a fellow Minnesotan, passed away in June. Just prior to his death, Mr. Lindbergh was assisting in the development of an All-Veterans Memorial in Richfield, Minnesota. The Memorial is to have a bust of Charles Lindberg as its centerpiece. Mr. Lindberg, however, insisted that the memorial be about all veterans and was concerned that it would become more about him. Even if the memorial features Charles more prominently, he represents all of those who anonymously gave of themselves for our freedoms.