Jocko Podcast - The Heaviest Flag

Episode Date: July 4, 2022

Independence Day.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

I watched through my peripheral vision. It's something that I learned to do in the military. I learned to stand at attention and look straightforward, but still see what's going on around me. I could see. I could see the honor guard take the flag off of his coffin. Their sharp uniforms. Their white gloves.

I watched their crisp. well-rehearsed movements as they went through their procedures without shifting my eyes i focused back on his coffin i was still trying to process at all so much emotion so much joy so much sorrow so much light and laughter and love so much life all now boxed up and silent in that wooden casket honor Guard continued with their predetermined movements one fold at a time precise hands moving like craftsmen as they carry on the red and white stripes of the flag are consumed by the blue field with its white stars flag is finally folded into a neat thick triangle the leader of the honor guard a second-class petty officer grasps

the flag into his hands. He executes a sharp facing movement, takes a step, and then executes another facing movement. He's now looking directly at me. Our eyes are locked, but expressionless. We both know we have a job to do. He marches forward. He halts just in front of me. I slowly and precisely raise my right hand from my side and render a sharp salute. I pause. I gradually lower the salute and then put my hands out to receive the flag. He moves it forward into my hands. I clench it. The flag is heavy in my hands with pain and grief. I feel the weight. A weight I can barely support as it tears at my soul. He takes. one step back and renders a slow flawless salute it is my turn now I execute a right face I take

six steps forward focus on my breath clench my jaw in order to get some control over my emotions before she sees my face execute another right face forward whispers a quiet moan of anguish it is the loudest noise I have ever heard Stop in front of her. Still looking straight ahead. I bend down onto one knee or trickling down her face. And yet she smiles at me. As if to say, it's okay. I feel my emotions start to rush to the surface. I want to break down. I want to cry. There's procedure to follow. And I am a military man and I know to follow procedure. I then say the words. on behalf of the President of the United States, the United States Navy, and a grateful nation.

Please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation of your loved ones, honorable, and faithful service. I placed the full weight of that flag with all its agony and torment into her hands. She looked down at it and pulled it in close to her chest and absorbed it all. Your boy was my hero, I told her. I loved him. And I always will. She smiled. And she nodded.

She already knew that. Her eyes returned to gaze at the heavy flag in her arms. And gently kissed her on the forehead. It was not only from me. She knew that too. I stood back up and assumed the position of attention. I rendered the proudest of the power of attention. I rendered the proudest salute I could possibly muster.

Took one step back. I performed a right face, and I marched off and assumed my position back in the ranks. We're fired. Played its solemn notes, and my friend was buried in that sacred place with many of my other friends. Our brothers in arms. Now together again. Soaring in the sky was our flag. Old glory, the weight of a million souls who gave their lives for it,

bearing upon it the burden and anguish of mothers and fathers who gave their precious children for it. Flies, flies carried aloft, precious memories of those who sacrificed everything to give us that freedom.