RON DAVIS -- Through My Eyes

During the time I’ve written this column, other than asking you to

examine issues from another perspective, I haven’t asked any of you to do

much. Today, I’m asking.

There is a wonderful story in our community. A story of guts,

determination, dedication and patriotism. A story about a person who

doesn’t seek recognition for herself, but for someone else.

The story begins with a small girl in South Dakota who became enamored

with the flight of hawks. As a result, she spent whatever money she had

to learn to fly airplanes at a time when women were more of a novelty in

a cockpit.

At 23, she became one of only 114 women pursuit-pilots who flew

military fighter aircraft back and forth across the United States during

World War II to be shipped overseas. The war required every able-bodied

male pilot to be available for war duty, so this local resident was one

of a small cadre of women who flew these planes from one location to

another. During 1943 and 1944, she made constant flights, delivering

fighter after fighter.

Pretty dangerous and heroic stuff. But, that’s not the reason I’m

writing about her and asking all of you to do something.

Late this afternoon, and for the next several days, I hope you’ll

notice 54 American flags adorning the Huntington Beach Pier in

recognition of Veterans Day on Saturday.

One crisp, bright evening in December, Vi Cowden noticed the

snowflakes decorating the pier for Christmas. Rather than seeing

snowflakes, she saw flags -- red, white and blue American flags -- flying

in celebration of the veterans who gave so much so that we could enjoy

our beach and even have a pier. She saw an opportunity to remind us to

take a moment out of our day to remember why we celebrate those who make

our Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Veterans Day even possible.

So, as she did when she was a kid and a young adult, she was

determined to make a difference. She lobbied the City Council to allow

brackets for flags to be placed on the pier. She figured out how to

secure funding to buy 54 flags that had once flown over our nation’s

Capitol and to fly them again as a patriotic tribute and reminder of our

veterans on our pier.

Thanks to the dedication and leadership of Cowden, flags will not only

fly on our pier on this Veterans Day but also on Memorial Day and the

Fourth of July.

She will be the first to tell you she didn’t accomplish this alone.

She’ll also tell you the 54 American flags on the pier are just a start.

We need to take stock of ourselves and what we have. We spend hours

decorating our homes for Halloween and Christmas. We’ll devote days to

shopping for birthday gifts, Christmas gifts and Halloween costumes. But

most of us can’t get off our backsides for a few moments, just a couple

of days out of the year, to fly an American flag from home -- homes that

we occupy as a result of the efforts of people who served so that we

could have better.

Vi Cowden certainly wouldn’t want me to ask you to fly a flag on

Veterans Day, Memorial Day or the Fourth of July for her. Nor will I.

But, I’ll join her in asking all of you to fly an American flag for them

-- the countless Americans who have offered their lives for our better

life. An occasional “thank you” is the least we can do.

* RON DAVIS is a private attorney who lives in Huntington Beach. He

can be reached by e-mail at o7 [email protected]