Maj. Gen. Patrick H. Brady (USA) Ret.
Chairman of the Board, Citizens Flag Alliance
PO Box 7197, Indianapolis, Indiana 46207–7197

William Carney is a magnificent example of the great black warriors in American history. His unit was the 54th Massachusetts Colored Infantry. He saw his first action on July 18, 1863, at Fort Wagner, South Carolina, a battle depicted in the movie Glory. Early in the assault on the Confederate stronghold, a bullet struck the 54th's color bearer. As the wounded soldier staggered and fell, Sergeant Carney dropped his own weapon and grabbed the flag before it touched the ground. A rebel bullet tore through Carney's right leg, but he charged onward, unarmed, with his country's colors hoisted high.

Finally, Carney planted the U.S. flag in the shadow of Fort Wagner, as his comrades rushed the stronghold. But the tide of battle turned. A half-hour later, the 54th was forced to withdraw with heavy losses, the rebels in hot pursuit. Yet, before Carney retreated, he retrieved the flag at great personal risk. As he limped and struggled across a marsh in waist-high water, a bullet tore into his chest, and another ripped through his right arm.

Bleeding badly, he pressed on, refusing to fall. As he emerged from the ditch, Sergeant Carney took yet another bullet in the leg. Still, mustering extraordinary strength and courage, he staggered on, clutching the flag to his chest. Then a bullet creased his head, momentarily stunning him. A New York soldier offered to take the flag, but Carney waved him off. "No one," he said, "no one but a member of the 54th will ever carry these colors."

When Carney finally dragged himself into the Union camp, the flag was still intact. His comrades cheered, but Carney himself was embarrassed. He said, "I only did my duty. Our flag never touched the ground." For heroism under fire, William Carney was one of 23 African–American soldiers awarded the Medal of Honor. It's significant that our nation's highest honor was awarded for protecting the United States flag—something the Supreme Court says we can no longer do.

My personal hero is Webster Anderson, a great black soldier. He sacrificed two legs and an arm to save the soldiers entrusted to his command in Vietnam. A young student once asked Webster, in my presence, if he would do it over again knowing the price—two legs and an arm. Webster answered simply, "Kid, I only have one arm left, but my country can have it any time it wants."

Martin Luther King is a hero in the same sense as Webster and Carney. They gave body parts; he gave his entire body. All three of these great black Americans marched under "Old Glory," Carney and Webster on the battlefields, King on the streets of America. All three of these men gladly risked their lives to protect the Constitution embodied in their flag. None of these men would allow anyone to desecrate their Constitution by burning "Old Glory." Dr. King was outraged by anyone who even hinted at burning the flag in his battle for racial equality.

Like these great Americans, we, too, have a mission to protect our Constitution by protecting our country's flag. Our battlefield is the 107th Congress and our mission is to pass an amendment which would return to the people the right to protect their flag, "Old Glory." The passage of the Flag Protection Amendment would be a fitting tribute to the great black Americans who have meant so much to our country, and to the millions of other Americans who fought and died protecting "Old Glory."

Major General Patrick H. Brady is the Chairman of the Indianapolis-based Citizens Flag Alliance (CFA). The CFA is a broad-based national coalition of 139 organizations, including the Scottish Rite, committed to seeking passage of a constitutional amendment which would return to the American people the right to protect their flag. General Brady was awarded the Medal of Honor for his service in the Vietnam War during which time he rescued over 5,000 casualties of war.