Patriotic legacy remembered for fallen patriot

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mike Meares
  • 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE. Fla. --  More than 1,300 total stripes and 5,000 total stars were held proudly by community members on Flag Day for eleven years from 1995-2006 under the watchful eye of a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel.

For 11 years, retired Lt. Col. Pete Straub organized a gathering of 75 to 100 U.S. flags each year to display the Stars and Stripes on the balcony of the Air Force Armament Museum during a Massing of the Colors ceremony.

That tradition of faithful service was honored during a special ceremony at the Air Armament Center June 14. During that tribute, Barbara Straub, his widow, received a cased flag, which had been flown over the Capital in Washington, D.C. and Eglin.

Although Colonel Straub passed away in the Fall of 2006, his dedication to the U.S. flag and all it represents lives on.

"The inspiration is really the legacy," 96th Air Base Wing commander, Col. Dean Clemons told Ms. Straub. "His (patriotism) courses through our veins."

For Colonel Straub, it was the blood shed by the thousands of men and women who have died for those Colors since this country's birth that made him proud to be an American.

"He was a patriotic man," said Russ Sneddon, museum curator. "He loved the flag and was very humbled by it. He was the kind of guy who was proud to have served his country."

Colonel Straub was president of the Ft. Walton Beach chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars. He was a recipient of the Gold and Silver Patrick Henry Medallion Recipient and the 2001 Commander-in-Chief Award through the MOWW. All the awards were in honor of his service to the organization and the flag.

According to the MOWW Massing of the Colors Ceremony Handbook, this patriotic ceremony is designed to rededicate faith in the colors of the United States, present support to those Colors and of the Servicemen and women those Colors represent. It combines the colors and color guards of Active and Reserve Component military units, veterans' organizations, civic and patriotic organizations.

The gatherings originated with The Society of the Massing of the Colors which was organized on Armistice Day, 1922, by distinguished military officers, veterans and civic leaders. The Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW) took over the promotion of this ceremony when the Society of the Massing of the Colors faded away

During Eglin's ceremony, the flag bearers would march up the opposite staircases at the museum and line the balcony underneath a large flag that covered the back wall, wrapping themselves around each side of the museum.

"It's really an impressive sight when you're sitting down on the main floor and see all the flags along the balcony," said Mr. Sneddon. "It's great to see all that patriotism. It's important to show our love for our country."

During the presentation ceremony, Col. Joseph Zeis, 46th Test Wing commander, quoted words that were read by the late Colonel Straub during every Massing of the Colors: "Our Flag, Old Glory, the Stars and Stripes has inspired our people since being created in 1776. Today, we honor our flag and those who have served in our Nation's cause for the past two centuries. So many gave their blood, limbs and lives to insure that democracy would. May their sacrifices not have been in vain."

Although the tribute retreat ceremony at the headquarters building replaced the annual Massing of the Colors this year, the next gathering is tentatively scheduled for a day close to Flag Day in 2008 at the museum.

"It was a very impressive and moving ceremony," Mrs. Straub said. "I don't know how to thank everyone. You really left a great impression on me and my son, Peter."