In the gusty afternoon hours of a June day, I was headed down main street in Tomah in the left traffic lane.

Looking ahead I saw a van stopped in the left lane with several cars building up behind it. Thinking the vehicle to be stalled, I moved to the right lane with intent to pass the van along with the other inconvenienced drivers.

As with most things in life, time revealed the truth.

The van was not stalled but purposefully parked in the middle of the open traffic lane. What I saw was a young American soldier in fatigues exiting the vehicle and hurrying into the street in front of the vehicle.

Seconds later I saw him raise from the vehicle 's path one of our nation 's fallen flags, removing it from harm 's way.

A heavy gust of wind apparently had removed the flag from its post. How long it lay in the street and how many other vehicles might have driven over, I don 't know.

In my mirror, I saw him carrying the gathered flag away from the van 's path toward the schoolyard off the right side of the lane.

I wished I had my camera to capture the moment now imprinted on my heart.

Contrast that powerful moment with the scene at another school that night.

Invited to a high school graduation, I rose with the crowd to honor our nation 's flag and sing the National Anthem.

We were asked to face the flag, and all gentlemen were asked to remove their caps. Someone around me commented that they didn 't know why we should have to remove our hats.

Ignoring the comment, with my hand over my heart, I sang with the crowd. Within my view, I was amazed to see that many others not only were not singing, but were not even affording the simple gesture of placing their hands over their hearts.

I 'm not sure if the reason for standing mute was from not knowing the words or for another reason that I 'm reluctant to consider. But the hand over the heart cost nothing but a mere gesture toward patriotism.

Rising to sing the anthem, removing caps, placing the hand over the heart, knowing and singing the words are all easy enough ways to display a patriotism that is not required but yet remains our great right and privilege.

While some choose to display their lack of patriotism by burning Old Glory or through a myriad of other gestures, I 'm glad to see that there are still those out there who have chosen to give their lives to serving our nation and it 's flag and display such patriotism in gestures that stop traffic.

Towne lives in Tomah.