Look: Proud American Puts NFL To Shame, Honors the Flag and Military on His Runs
One of the most disturbing trends of the last several years has been the total and utter disrespect of the American flag.
Now, it’d be one thing if a country who hates us disrespected the American flag. It’d be despicable, but at least understandable.
But when Americans are showing disrespect to the American flag? That’s a damning indictment of today’s cultural landscape.
While there have always been small pockets of disgruntled Americans, those groups have only grown bigger and more vocal since former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick first began kneeling during the national anthem in 2016.
That, in turn, has sparked waves of anti-police, anti-military and anti-American sentiments that only seem to be growing by the day.
To put it bluntly, it’s sad. It’s sad that this disgust for America has manifested in the way that it has. To be clear, I have no problem with peaceful protests and wanting to improve society. But there’s a time and a place for those types of protests and conversations. While Americans are honoring the flag during the national anthem is neither the time nor place.
But if there’s a silver lining to the sad state of affairs, it’s how much more uplifting it is when you see actually see someone going above and beyond to honor and respect the flag.
Someone like Virginia man Wayne Parfitt.
With an American flag in hand, Wayne Parfitt takes to the streets once or twice a week to honor his 22-year-old son, Joe, who is currently deployed overseas with the U.S. Army. https://t.co/VRCBlObJon pic.twitter.com/wdY9ylX8Sg
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 3, 2018
Chronicled by Fox News, Parfitt has taken it upon himself to carry the American flag with him anytime he goes on one of his long runs.
The reason for Parfitt carrying the flag on his runs? To honor his 22-year-old son, Joe, who is deployed overseas with the U.S. Army.
But it’s not just his son that Parfitt is thinking about.
“I felt it in my heart to run with the flag to honor my son, as well as all deployed,” Parfitt told Fox News. For security reasons, Parfitt did not want to disclose his son’s location.
It’s not uncommon for people to honk their car horns in support of Parfitt or give a thumbs-up. Some people have even stopped to salute the flag Parfitt is carrying.
“It is important to me because it changes the focus of my time. Not just a training run, but time to reflect, be proud and grateful for all our military,” Parfitt said. “I also feel that many times we drive by a flag, perhaps outside a building or ballpark, never giving it thought. To see someone running, alone, with the flag, gets it noticed.”
Parfitt, an avid runner, even took the flag for a symbolic 17.76 mile run on July 4. Normally, he runs once or twice a week, with some runs going more than six miles.
At the end of the day, Parfitt’s love for running is readily apparent. But his love for the country and this flag is just as apparent, if not more so.
And that’s something NFL anthem protesters could take a big lesson from.
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