“The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.” (USC Title 4. Chapter 4. § 8j)
During a weekend storm last Sunday, an American Flag displayed on a pole outside of a federal contractor’s (METI Inc.) building in El Paso, Texas fell to the ground in driving wind and rain. When employees arrived the following morning, they found their flag folded military style and the pole secured alongside the building. Mystified as to how Old Glory found such a cozy resting place, they turned to their surveillance cameras only to find that the patriotic act was the handiwork of a simple passer-by; a Good Samaritan who happened to be walking past the location when the flag fell to the pavement at 1:40 AM.
The story would have been heartfelt and may have even invoked a sense of pride in this great nation and its loyal citizens if the heroic tale ended there, but this story revealed an even greater picture of devotion to one’s country regardless of the hand that may have been dealt to an individual in this Land of Opportunity.
The Good Samaritan; the altruistic passer-by; was a homeless man. Gustus Bozarth to pay him his full respect. He lives in a makeshift apartment in the back of a nearby warehouse. He was simply walking by the night the flag fell amidst an onslaught of wind and rain and felt a duty to his country and all that it represents to show our national symbol the respect that it deserves.
The video added below, tells the tale of Gustus traveling the country and once working as a security guard in Tampa where he learned how to properly fold a flag. It also features a few words from this wonderful patriot where he tells the reporter that the flag symbolizes Freedom.
One man – a homeless man- understands the duty owed to his nation’s flag, and despite all that he must overcome on a daily basis, still has enough admiration and respect for his great nation that he would never allow the Stars and Stripes to be soiled. He said “It’s a small respect, folding the flag like that.” After all that he has undoubtedly overcome and all that he must continue to face on a daily basis, he still has love for the nation that affords him the opportunity to live as he chooses and doesn’t begrudge that nation for his current situation.
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I have searched endlessly for more information on Gustus and have yet to find anything related to his current situation, how he got there, or what lies ahead for him. The local Fox affiliate posted on its webpage that it received hundreds of emails and phone calls from people around the country wanting to lend a hand to Gustus. I can only hope that these wonderfully compassionate people and those in his local community are able to reach out to Gustus and do whatever they can to show this wonderful patriot the respect that he so effortlessly and brilliantly showed them and their great nation through this humble act.
Full surveillance video…
UPDATE:
I received a comment earlier from a reader who had contacted METI about how to reach out to Mr. Bozarth and they responded with the following.
Thank you so much for your support of this very patriotic American. Management and Engineering Technologies International(METI) is currently planning to do something special for Mr. Bozarth. You may send any care packets or supplies to 8600 Boeing, El Paso, TX 79925 and we will ensure that he receives them along with any messages. Again, METI thanks you for your concern and warm wishes for Mr. Bozarth.
Thank you Cindy for you feedback.
And yet every teacher and administrator in MASSACHUSETTES where this country’s spirit was born is ashamed to pleadge an allegiance to the country and the flag that represents us. our liberty and equal justice under the law. What does that tell you about the elite versus the simple beautiful person that gets what we are really supposed to be about?
I couldn’t agree more LouisD. It is nothing short of shameful what that school there has done. While I am encouraged by the passion and commitment of their students to honor this nation, it is absolutely ridiculous that an academic institution would be so narrow minded and blind to the reality that the pledge is about honoring a nation – not playing semantics with the inclusion of a few words they find inappropriate.
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I contacted METI, Inc., the company whose flag Mr. Bozarth rescued, inquiring as to how I might send him a small donation. I received the following response from the METI employee who was in the news video:
Thank you so much for your support of this very patriotic American. Management and Engineering Technologies International(METI) is currently planning to do something special for Mr. Bozarth. You may send any care packets or supplies to 8600 Boeing, El Paso, TX 79925 and we will ensure that he receives them along with any messages. Again, METI thanks you for your concern and warm wishes for Mr. Bozarth.
That is wonderful Cindy. Thank you so much for sharing this information with us. I commend you for taking the time to reach out to METI. I have to admit that I tend to forget that there are other avenues of communication and information than the internet so I almost feel silly for not thinking about contacting METI. Thank you again for you comment and for sharing this info. I do hope that he is well and that the compassion of his fellow Americans assists him in finding better days.
I don’t have a business but if YOU do,
please offer this patriot a job. I will show this
to my children & tell them, THIS, is what it means to love your country & be an American!!.
Give a man a fish & you feed him for a day, teach him to fish &
he will never go hungry. Extreme Home Makeover, a job…something.
This is still a great country!
Its a wonderful country ReasonJr. Thank you for your comment and I do hope someone takes your suggestion.
I know Agustus. It’s not Gustus. He goes by Rambo. He was offered a place to stay almost 20 years ago by a very kind and generous family that runs a small business. He’s invited to family functions and is great with the family’s kids. He used to live in a foxhole across the street in the desert. Two of the sons found him when they were working late one night and it was snowing. They called their father who quickly came and opened up the wharehouse to him. He’s been there ever since. He is liked by all the people who have their business there.. Go Rambo..
Wow. And the Gustus – Agustus – story continues to get fleshed out. The story sure seems like a classic tale of citizens helping citizens but not letting their compassion turn into meddling and an attempt to change his life or force on him that which he doesn’t want for himself. Like he said, America and the Flag are about Freedom. Freedom to live as each of us chooses. Thanks Javier for the update. I will be sure to pass it along.
This story is a welcome breath of fresh air about a obviously kind and gentle man who is living his lifestyle as he desires. His patriotism to his God-given country is a beacon of light and inspiration to those of us who honor God and country. After seeing the flag in this video and hearing how it was properly folded, I feel compelled to state a observation. I am a former member of the U.S. Air Force Presidential Honor Guard, and folding the flag was a major part of my duties at Arlington National Cemetery. Just as an observation, and certainly not as any form of critisim, after the flag is folded, no red can be showing. It is best folded starting at the stripes end and folded towards the blue end.
Thank you, Mr. Bozarth. I salute you, sir.
[...] “The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.” (USC Title 4. Chapter 4. § 8j) During a weekend storm last Sunday, an American Flag displayed on a pole outside of a federal contractor’s (METI Inc.) building in El Paso, Texas fell to the ground in driving wind and rain. When employees arrived the following morning, they found their flag folded military style and the pole secured alongside the building. Mystified as to how Old Glory found such a cozy resting place, they turned to their surveillance cameras only to find that the patriotic act was the handiwork of a simple passer-by; a Good Samaritan who happened to be walking past the location when the flag fell to the pavement at 1:40 AM. To read the rest of the article click here: Homless man respects fallen flag [...]
[...] Homeless Man Saves Fallen American Flag | REPUBLICAN REDEFINEDRepublican Joe Scarborough Eviscerates Sharron Angle [...]
Just want to let people know that he is a good guy and has people around him that do what they can for him. 20 years of taking care of him is a kind gesture. As you can notice, the family business that opened their doors to him only want Rambo to have the publicity. Again, he attends family functions and is great with I guess you can say, his adopted family’s grandkids. The kids love him.. I hope I can talk the family into opening up and speak of their gestures. We’ll see. They are good people. How many people would open their doors and give what they can to someone they do not know for over 20 years. Again go Rambo!
Words are inadequate. Mr. Bozarth’s actions say it all. He walks the walk.