July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Oh, say can you see? Well, maybe you can't (08/01/07)
Back in the Saddle
By By JACK RONALD-
Our hearts were sincere. That much I'm sure of. But I imagine we must have looked a little silly.
It was about a month ago on a hot, July evening. The South Adams School Board had gathered for its regular meeting.
For the past several months, the board has held its meetings at South Adams High School, in part because of the high level of interest in a school construction project that stirred passions on both sides.
But this particular Tuesday night, the board had moved back to its crowded meeting room in the central office. While it was a snug fit, at least the room was air conditioned. Work at the high school had temporarily put the air conditioning out of action there.
Like all boards, this one has its own particular set of rituals. Some of it is informal, the kidding that goes back and forth. Some of it is more formal, such as the prayer and pledge of allegiance to the flag that precede getting down to business.
This night was no exception, but for one little problem.
The flag had been moved, and no one was sure where it had been put.
As the time for the pledge approached, board members and those in the audience swept the room with their eyes. Superintendent Cathy Egolf scurried up and down the hall, looking behind doors for the missing flag.
I was wearing a red shirt, and another guy was wearing one that was blue and white. We joked momentarily about standing close together to simulate Old Glory. But that would never do.
As the clock ticked 7 p.m., Cathy came back in the room shaking her head. A prayer was said.
Then all eyes turned to Tony Mellencamp, the board president. Would we forego the pledge to the flag that night?
Would we go outside to the parking lot and pledge to the flag on the flagpole?
Finally, with as much seriousness as he could muster, Mellencamp told us all to direct our attention to a certain spot on the wall where the flag should be.
Think of the flag as you look at that spot and say the pledge, he told us, in approximately those words.
And so we did.
"I pledge allegiance," we said in unison, staring at a two-foot by two-foot blank wall with some bargain paneling on it.
And, trust me, our hearts were in the right place. There wasn't a snicker. It was as sincere as could be.
But there's no doubt about it, we must have looked pretty silly.[[In-content Ad]]
It was about a month ago on a hot, July evening. The South Adams School Board had gathered for its regular meeting.
For the past several months, the board has held its meetings at South Adams High School, in part because of the high level of interest in a school construction project that stirred passions on both sides.
But this particular Tuesday night, the board had moved back to its crowded meeting room in the central office. While it was a snug fit, at least the room was air conditioned. Work at the high school had temporarily put the air conditioning out of action there.
Like all boards, this one has its own particular set of rituals. Some of it is informal, the kidding that goes back and forth. Some of it is more formal, such as the prayer and pledge of allegiance to the flag that precede getting down to business.
This night was no exception, but for one little problem.
The flag had been moved, and no one was sure where it had been put.
As the time for the pledge approached, board members and those in the audience swept the room with their eyes. Superintendent Cathy Egolf scurried up and down the hall, looking behind doors for the missing flag.
I was wearing a red shirt, and another guy was wearing one that was blue and white. We joked momentarily about standing close together to simulate Old Glory. But that would never do.
As the clock ticked 7 p.m., Cathy came back in the room shaking her head. A prayer was said.
Then all eyes turned to Tony Mellencamp, the board president. Would we forego the pledge to the flag that night?
Would we go outside to the parking lot and pledge to the flag on the flagpole?
Finally, with as much seriousness as he could muster, Mellencamp told us all to direct our attention to a certain spot on the wall where the flag should be.
Think of the flag as you look at that spot and say the pledge, he told us, in approximately those words.
And so we did.
"I pledge allegiance," we said in unison, staring at a two-foot by two-foot blank wall with some bargain paneling on it.
And, trust me, our hearts were in the right place. There wasn't a snicker. It was as sincere as could be.
But there's no doubt about it, we must have looked pretty silly.[[In-content Ad]]
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