Since the vast majority of air shows are put on by current or retired military, you are damned right they will be filled with patriot symbols. Those guys say the pledge constantly, have flags sewn on their clothing, and say an oath to the Constitution when they join. It comes with the territory.
The best 4th of July party I have attended in recent years was in the backyard of a vet, with a CMH recipient in attendance. It opened with a middle school kid playing a Hendrix Star Spangled Banner - it was great.
You are right, this event was put on by current members of the military. A friend of mine was invited to a reception the night before, held for the folks who would be flying. My friend told me she met quite a few who are stationed in Afganistan and Iraq. Some were even men and women from Kentucky, who used this chance to see family, before going back.
So I had no problem cheering the huge flags when they flew by. In my mind it was a way to say thanks to those who are currently in the military, as well as those who have retired from the military. Most of us don’t get a chance to do that daily, so at a huge event, it doesn’t bother me at all, and I would hate to see that end.
And they do play the national anthem at the beginning of each race day. In Kentucky, everyone at the track stops what they are doing, and turns towards the flag, or a monitor showing video of the flag mixed with scenes of horses running in fields and young foals and their mothers, and then some live shots of folks at the track looking at the flag. To me that is part of racing, like it is part of going to a ball game. So doing this at the first official Derby event does make sense to me, since they will do it at the Derby as well.
I have been going to the Derby for the past 20 years. Since 9/11, there has been a definate milatary presense around the track. The first post 9/11 Derby, was the first time I saw armed soldiers stationed at various points, and many walking through the crowd. It was a bit unnerving at first, and a reminder that things had changed, but not changed so much that big events like the Derby couldn’t be attended without fear. I watched many of the younger soldiers blush, when ladies decked out in their Derby outfits and hats, thanked them for their service, and wished them well. War Emblem and Proud Citizen made up the exacta that year. And even those who didn’t bet those horses, couldn’t help but feel it was fitting.
So to me, seeing those huge flags spotlighted right before the fireworks was a very fitting way to kick off the Derby Festival.
( This year’s fun exacta could be Big Brown with Big Truck, giving UPS, who is a sponsor of the festival, something to work with…you heard it here first… )
I just saw that I was accused of “bloviating” by threemae back in post #4. And, after double-checking the definition, I would say au contraire! Your description of the beer swilling good ol’ boys would pin you as the pompous one. I just hate the stoopid rah rah patriotic bullshit and I really hate the stoopid rah rah country songs.
)