To the editor:

We attended the Christmas parade Saturday morning in downtown Lawrence. It was our first time. The parade was really neat.

I was totally offended by the people who were behind us. We arrived early to make sure we had a good place to be able to see and we sat on one of the flower beds. Whenever the American flag came by, I stood. The people behind me said “Down in front!” I bit my tongue and turned around and only replied, “I am standing for the flag.” My son is stationed in Iraq right now, and they are lucky I didn’t say more.

My son and many, many others are fighting and have fought for our freedom as well as the freedom of others, including the freedom of those who were standing behind me to be able to attend the Christmas parade, who didn’t get there in time to get a good view of the parade, and for them to voice their rude comments.

I remember as a little girl at every parade I ever attended, that everyone rose for the American flag. What has happened that only few rise and remove their hats for the American flag? What happened to the honor?

Lori Park,

Perry