MISSION ACCOMPLISHED ARTICLE

It is a trying time in America with the war in Iraq.  I believe it's better to fight terrorism in their country, keeping the destruction in their soil, as 9/11 proved. 

This 4th of July we will again celebrate our freedom, our independence.  A day of beer, barbeques, and fireworks.  It is the same freedom which allows this day - the day allows organizations like the ACLU the freedom to attack our beliefs.  While our children are allowed to wear profanity on their tee shirts and blast the same from their car stereos, the ACLU has removed the Ten Commandments from our schools and nativity scenes from our town squares.  The separation of church and state has crept up on us, an unnoticed wound that will surely leave a scar.

I am very proud and appreciative of the hard work and dedication of the volunteers that organized our giant flag and it's placement.  I did not attend the unveiling and take one of the thousands of photos.  As a photographer, I knew,  as important an event as it was, this picture, like all pictures of flags, looks the same.  I wanted my photo to be different, unique.

Each and every time I passed I would study this great landmark of our city, watching the wind direction, clouds, sunlight or just the weather in general, hoping for that just-right photo.  This day, while waiting for a red light, I noticed a church which  I had taken for granted back behind a local fast food joint.  It's large white steeple stood above the burger sign.  I knew immediately that I had my photo.  A right-hand turn and a long walk out into the desert allowed me to line up these two symbols.  I returned several times, waiting for the right weather, afternoon sun and wind that would blow the flag to the east.  Using a 500 mm lens, I was able to compress the shot I have today.

As a small token of appreciation, I intend to give a framed photo of this flag to each of the Wyoming families that have lost a soldier in our recent war against terror.  I will donate any profits from the sales of this photo to the family support services for our Wyoming military. 

In closing, I worry about the ACLU when they hear about this photo.  They have the courts' blessing on this issue.  Don't be surprised if our city is asked to relocate either our flag or our church steeple, as you know the alignment of both is illegal.

- John W. Partain 7/4/04

The "Adjutant General's Coin", or "Soldier's Coin", is an award for excellence.

Because of his commitment and support of the Wyoming National Guard, John W. Partain was the first civilian to receive one.