So today I want to talk about a flag that I sent across the country back in twenty and fifteen. That's when the flag was actually sent across the country to Charleston, South Carolina. But the story really started back in twenty and eleven, and that was in January of two thousand. January eighth of twenty eleven, when here in Tucson, it was a Saturday, we had a mass shooting at a local grocery store here and a representative of the House of Representatives, Gabby Giffords, was.

So today I want to talk about a flag that I sent across the country back in twenty and fifteen. That's when the flag was actually sent across the country to Charleston, South Carolina. But the story really started back in twenty and eleven, and that was in January of two thousand. January eighth of twenty eleven, when here in Tucson, it was a Saturday, we had a mass shooting at a local grocery store here and a representative of the House of Representatives, Gabby Giffords, was.

Shot in the head.

Shot in the head.

There were six people killed as well as a nine year old young girl they name of Christina Taylor Green. You know, the Safe Way, the location where took place is very close to where I live, and I had been at that safe Way and visited on numerous occasions, so.

There were six people killed as well as a nine year old young girl they name of Christina Taylor Green. You know, the Safe Way, the location where took place is very close to where I live, and I had been at that safe Way and visited on numerous occasions, so.

I was really familiar with the area where it took place. And it hit hard.

I was really familiar with the area where it took place. And it hit hard.

You know, you think of mass shootings or casualty shootings throughout the country and you can kind of distance yourself or you know, because you haven't been there, don't You don't know what it's like. You just read about it and you move on. But in this particular case, you know, I had been into this location. I was familiar with it, so it struck a chord with me, you know. And Gabby Giffords was loved by many here in the States, especially Tucson.

You know, you think of mass shootings or casualty shootings throughout the country and you can kind of distance yourself or you know, because you haven't been there, don't You don't know what it's like. You just read about it and you move on. But in this particular case, you know, I had been into this location. I was familiar with it, so it struck a chord with me, you know. And Gabby Giffords was loved by many here in the States, especially Tucson.

She survived, but there were some news.

She survived, but there were some news.

Reports that came out that she had been murdered, that she was dead. It wasn't until probably about a month later, maybe maybe two to three weeks a month later, that they finally came out and said she's alive, but you know, she's severely disabled. Tragic, tragic event, first time anything on that level had happened.

Reports that came out that she had been murdered, that she was dead. It wasn't until probably about a month later, maybe maybe two to three weeks a month later, that they finally came out and said she's alive, but you know, she's severely disabled. Tragic, tragic event, first time anything on that level had happened.

You know.

You know.

We had a white male, twenty two years old, mental health problems, who fired thirty two rounds into a crowd, just randomly, but he was particularly trying to assassinate Gabby Giffords. It was just hard to wrap your head around. It was tough time for a long time for many of us here in Tucson. So that's where it started. And I didn't note at the time until June seventeenth of twenty and fifteen. At this point in my career, i'd been a top for fourteen years and I had just had the one year anniversary of flags for the flagless right June fourteenth of twenty fourteen.

We had a white male, twenty two years old, mental health problems, who fired thirty two rounds into a crowd, just randomly, but he was particularly trying to assassinate Gabby Giffords. It was just hard to wrap your head around. It was tough time for a long time for many of us here in Tucson. So that's where it started. And I didn't note at the time until June seventeenth of twenty and fifteen. At this point in my career, i'd been a top for fourteen years and I had just had the one year anniversary of flags for the flagless right June fourteenth of twenty fourteen.

My first flag went up.

My first flag went up.

Here in Tucson, and now here it is June seventeenth, twenty fifteen. One year later, we have a twenty one year old white male who went into a house of worship in Charleston, South Carolina, and he killed nine people after he had sat with them during a Bible study. And at the time, it was the deadliest mass shooting at a place of worship in the world. And that was that emmanual African Methodist Episcopal Church. They shortened it down to the Ame Church is what that is called. And if you recall, I mean the nation was the whole nation was torn up over that, right, we had a young white male, again very similar Touson go in mental health issues and just started randomly.

Here in Tucson, and now here it is June seventeenth, twenty fifteen. One year later, we have a twenty one year old white male who went into a house of worship in Charleston, South Carolina, and he killed nine people after he had sat with them during a Bible study. And at the time, it was the deadliest mass shooting at a place of worship in the world. And that was that emmanual African Methodist Episcopal Church. They shortened it down to the Ame Church is what that is called. And if you recall, I mean the nation was the whole nation was torn up over that, right, we had a young white male, again very similar Touson go in mental health issues and just started randomly.

Shooting and killing people. So a couple of days later, as I was driving home from work one night, you know, it was all over the radio.

Shooting and killing people. So a couple of days later, as I was driving home from work one night, you know, it was all over the radio.

Everybody was talking about what had happened in Charleston, and I wanted to do something. You know, it was a terrible thing. And I reflected back on twenty eleven and how Tucson felt and what we had gone through through with the shooting of Gabby Gifford's and here Charleston, in my mind, was suffering, you know, from a similar incident. It was tough, tough for them, tough for us, and just the.

Everybody was talking about what had happened in Charleston, and I wanted to do something. You know, it was a terrible thing. And I reflected back on twenty eleven and how Tucson felt and what we had gone through through with the shooting of Gabby Gifford's and here Charleston, in my mind, was suffering, you know, from a similar incident. It was tough, tough for them, tough for us, and just the.

Way I am.

Way I am.

I wanted to help somehow, and I didn't know how, but because the only thing I had to give that I could show, you know, thanks or the support, was an American flag. When I got home that night, I didn't know anything about the Ame Church, didn't know how popular, how many locations, And I just went online and I looked up, you know, local Ame churches, and the only one in southern Arizona was right here in Tucson.

I wanted to help somehow, and I didn't know how, but because the only thing I had to give that I could show, you know, thanks or the support, was an American flag. When I got home that night, I didn't know anything about the Ame Church, didn't know how popular, how many locations, And I just went online and I looked up, you know, local Ame churches, and the only one in southern Arizona was right here in Tucson.

Couldn't believe it.

Couldn't believe it.

So the next day I get up, go to work, and while I'm on patrol, I stopped at that Ame church, much like I did with the very first flag, with the intent of not looking to talk to anyone in particular, but just to give an idea of what I wanted to do, how I wanted to help. Could they help me? Could they make this happen? And when I walked in the office, there was a young a young girl sitting behind the desk. She introduced herself as Viv. Viv was her name, VIVI a big smile, young girl, eager to help. And I told her what I had started with my foundation a year ago, and you know, I would like to donate a flag or somehow get a flag to your sister church in Charleston.

So the next day I get up, go to work, and while I'm on patrol, I stopped at that Ame church, much like I did with the very first flag, with the intent of not looking to talk to anyone in particular, but just to give an idea of what I wanted to do, how I wanted to help. Could they help me? Could they make this happen? And when I walked in the office, there was a young a young girl sitting behind the desk. She introduced herself as Viv. Viv was her name, VIVI a big smile, young girl, eager to help. And I told her what I had started with my foundation a year ago, and you know, I would like to donate a flag or somehow get a flag to your sister church in Charleston.

She said, well, that's.

She said, well, that's.

Really not for me to make that decision, right, We'll have to talk to some some local people here in the church and see what we can do. So she said, someone be in touch with you, okay. So I went back to work, went back to patrol, and a day or two later, I got a phone call from a woman who introduced herself as Joanne Thompson. Joanne Thompson was a steward of the local Ame church and she agreed to meet with me. She said, sure, let's meet and let me hear what you have to say. And you know what your proposal is, to send a flag to Charleston. So we met and I explained to her, you know what my thought was. You know how torn up Tucson was, how upset we were, how devastated we were with the shooting in twenty eleven. I saw a lot of similarities in Charleston with the shooting there, and I wanted to let them know that Tucson supported them. Tucson had been through a similar situation and I want to show support somehow, and my thought was to get a flag back to Charleston somehow. So she said, well, I'm going to have to run this up my organization, my leadership, and see what they say, right, she said, I have talked to the local leadership, who will then have talked to the state leadership, who will then have to talk to the leadership out of South Carolina. You know, make sure everyone's on board with this, she said, you know, if it's if it's a go, It just so happens that I'll be going back to Charleston in two weeks for a conference.

Really not for me to make that decision, right, We'll have to talk to some some local people here in the church and see what we can do. So she said, someone be in touch with you, okay. So I went back to work, went back to patrol, and a day or two later, I got a phone call from a woman who introduced herself as Joanne Thompson. Joanne Thompson was a steward of the local Ame church and she agreed to meet with me. She said, sure, let's meet and let me hear what you have to say. And you know what your proposal is, to send a flag to Charleston. So we met and I explained to her, you know what my thought was. You know how torn up Tucson was, how upset we were, how devastated we were with the shooting in twenty eleven. I saw a lot of similarities in Charleston with the shooting there, and I wanted to let them know that Tucson supported them. Tucson had been through a similar situation and I want to show support somehow, and my thought was to get a flag back to Charleston somehow. So she said, well, I'm going to have to run this up my organization, my leadership, and see what they say, right, she said, I have talked to the local leadership, who will then have talked to the state leadership, who will then have to talk to the leadership out of South Carolina. You know, make sure everyone's on board with this, she said, you know, if it's if it's a go, It just so happens that I'll be going back to Charleston in two weeks for a conference.

That was already slated to schedule.

That was already slated to schedule.

It was supposed to take place at the church, but because of the tragedy that took place there, we're gonna hold the conference on an off site location. But you know, if my bosses or the organization says it's a go, I could take the flag.

It was supposed to take place at the church, but because of the tragedy that took place there, we're gonna hold the conference on an off site location. But you know, if my bosses or the organization says it's a go, I could take the flag.

Back with me to Charleston.

Back with me to Charleston.

She's like, let me find out, you know, let me run this by my superiors and I'll let you know. I said, perfect, because that'll give me time to get the flag, get a shadow box. You know, it's a flag and a case maybe a walnut wood frame, got a glass front on it, secure in the back.

She's like, let me find out, you know, let me run this by my superiors and I'll let you know. I said, perfect, because that'll give me time to get the flag, get a shadow box. You know, it's a flag and a case maybe a walnut wood frame, got a glass front on it, secure in the back.

I want to get the flag in a.

I want to get the flag in a.

Nice shadow box that shouldn't go to Charleston, that it's presented and ready for him. Sure enough, a couple of days later, Joanne got back to me and said, Yep, it's a go. The organizations crossed, you know, between Tucson and Charleston. Said yes, it's a go, and I'll be going back here next week. So just get me the flag and I'll take it. I said, okay. So I got the flag, put it in the shadow box, and I wanted to put an inscription. I wanted to put something on the front of that glass, on the front of that flag shadow box, to let the folks know in Charleston you know who it was from, where it came from, and the connection between Tucson.

Nice shadow box that shouldn't go to Charleston, that it's presented and ready for him. Sure enough, a couple of days later, Joanne got back to me and said, Yep, it's a go. The organizations crossed, you know, between Tucson and Charleston. Said yes, it's a go, and I'll be going back here next week. So just get me the flag and I'll take it. I said, okay. So I got the flag, put it in the shadow box, and I wanted to put an inscription. I wanted to put something on the front of that glass, on the front of that flag shadow box, to let the folks know in Charleston you know who it was from, where it came from, and the connection between Tucson.

And Charleston, and that they're supported.

And Charleston, and that they're supported.

So on the front of the glass I had inscripted given to A. M. E. Church, Charleston, South Carolina, and it said August twenty fifteen from Flags for the Flag List, Tucson, Arizona. And then on the bottom. In a different font. On the bottom of the glass, I had written cities joined by tragedy, our future, joined by hope and love.

So on the front of the glass I had inscripted given to A. M. E. Church, Charleston, South Carolina, and it said August twenty fifteen from Flags for the Flag List, Tucson, Arizona. And then on the bottom. In a different font. On the bottom of the glass, I had written cities joined by tragedy, our future, joined by hope and love.

Charleston, we stand with you.

Charleston, we stand with you.

So I took that flag and I met with joe Anne at her church and I presented to her. There was a one news station was present. A local newspaper reporter was also there, just to kind of record.

So I took that flag and I met with joe Anne at her church and I presented to her. There was a one news station was present. A local newspaper reporter was also there, just to kind of record.

It, and I left.

It, and I left.

I wished her safe travels, gave her the flag, and went on my way. And it's funny even now, I still think about what the thoughts that I had were when I was leaving. You know, I'm like, how is she going to get this big, bulky, triangle sized box through TSA are they and give her a hard time? How is she going to put it under her seat? How is she going to put it in the over it? Just I'm a detailed guy, right, and that's just my background what I've been doing for so long, So just little details like that.

I wished her safe travels, gave her the flag, and went on my way. And it's funny even now, I still think about what the thoughts that I had were when I was leaving. You know, I'm like, how is she going to get this big, bulky, triangle sized box through TSA are they and give her a hard time? How is she going to put it under her seat? How is she going to put it in the over it? Just I'm a detailed guy, right, and that's just my background what I've been doing for so long, So just little details like that.

I was like, this.

I was like, this.

Poor woman is going to be struggling and she's going to have to carry it through and then she has a layover blow. And I had that thought for the last nine years until I met with Joanne recently, and I asked her, you know, I said, you know, I never asked you how did it go? How to go going through security? Did you have to put it on the belt and get X rayed and all that stuff? And she says she looked at me and she said, Charlie, I never took a plane. I took the Greyhound bus. I took the bus from Tucson to Kansas City, and then I went from Kansas City to Charleston. And I kept that flag on my lap the entire time. I was like, I couldn't believe it. Right here, I was so naive to think, Oh, everyone everyone takes a plane, right, everyone just canna get on a plane and travel cross country. Johanne had to raise money. She had to find some sponsors to donate money so that she could even attend this conference. She raises the money and she gets on a Greyhound bus and she travels across the country with this flag on her lap. And she says, you know, I remember now, this is Joanne telling me. There was a gentleman who got on the bus in Kansas City and he sat next to me, and he introduced himself and he said he was a vet and yeah. He said, so you know, what's the deal with the flag?

Poor woman is going to be struggling and she's going to have to carry it through and then she has a layover blow. And I had that thought for the last nine years until I met with Joanne recently, and I asked her, you know, I said, you know, I never asked you how did it go? How to go going through security? Did you have to put it on the belt and get X rayed and all that stuff? And she says she looked at me and she said, Charlie, I never took a plane. I took the Greyhound bus. I took the bus from Tucson to Kansas City, and then I went from Kansas City to Charleston. And I kept that flag on my lap the entire time. I was like, I couldn't believe it. Right here, I was so naive to think, Oh, everyone everyone takes a plane, right, everyone just canna get on a plane and travel cross country. Johanne had to raise money. She had to find some sponsors to donate money so that she could even attend this conference. She raises the money and she gets on a Greyhound bus and she travels across the country with this flag on her lap. And she says, you know, I remember now, this is Joanne telling me. There was a gentleman who got on the bus in Kansas City and he sat next to me, and he introduced himself and he said he was a vet and yeah. He said, so you know, what's the deal with the flag?

What is it?

What is it?

And she told him the story, right, it's coming from two songs going to be delivered to Charleston, and that it was you know, a local law enforcement officer started this project and goes on and she says that he said, I'm thankful that there are people like this in this country that do things like that, she said. She says, I'll never forget that. Joanne said that she got Charleston and she presented this flag up on stage in front of two hundred other members of the AME conference and she explained to them the idea behind it, how it got there, the tragedy that Tucson had gone through, that we want to show support for Charleston, And she says, after she was done explaining the story presenting it to the organization, she said that pretty much everybody in the crowd was crying. You know that other people had suffered the same fate and we were thinking of them, right, So it was a pretty emotional moment. The next year, her took a trip to Charleston with her family, and my sister knew that I had donated a flag to the AME Church in Charleston, and she wanted to go by and see if she could see it, see it where they had placed it. And she told me that she when she went to the church that it was still so recent after the shooting that they weren't they were not letting the general public into the church.

And she told him the story, right, it's coming from two songs going to be delivered to Charleston, and that it was you know, a local law enforcement officer started this project and goes on and she says that he said, I'm thankful that there are people like this in this country that do things like that, she said. She says, I'll never forget that. Joanne said that she got Charleston and she presented this flag up on stage in front of two hundred other members of the AME conference and she explained to them the idea behind it, how it got there, the tragedy that Tucson had gone through, that we want to show support for Charleston, And she says, after she was done explaining the story presenting it to the organization, she said that pretty much everybody in the crowd was crying. You know that other people had suffered the same fate and we were thinking of them, right, So it was a pretty emotional moment. The next year, her took a trip to Charleston with her family, and my sister knew that I had donated a flag to the AME Church in Charleston, and she wanted to go by and see if she could see it, see it where they had placed it. And she told me that she when she went to the church that it was still so recent after the shooting that they weren't they were not letting the general public into the church.

It was still closed off.

It was still closed off.

She explained who she was, she explained who her brother was, She explained her connection to the American flag, which should be inside the church. So wherever she talked to said, well, come on in. We'll put you here in this office and someone will be with you. In a few minutes, they'll come back and talk to you. And my sister said, about ten minutes later, so a couple of people walked in and they were carrying this flag that I had sent back to Charleston.

She explained who she was, she explained who her brother was, She explained her connection to the American flag, which should be inside the church. So wherever she talked to said, well, come on in. We'll put you here in this office and someone will be with you. In a few minutes, they'll come back and talk to you. And my sister said, about ten minutes later, so a couple of people walked in and they were carrying this flag that I had sent back to Charleston.

That it made it that it was there and that it completed its journey.

That it made it that it was there and that it completed its journey.

And you know, I've never been to Charleston, I've never been to South Carolina, and I hope someday that I can go back and see this flag. And I think, you know, when I get to the Amy Church there and I see the flag, I think in my head, like I usually do, is I'll have some sort of short conversation with this flag, you know, and I'll tell her I know that her her trip was long, it wasn't easy, but that she made it home where she was needed, and that she'll remain here and she'll be seen by so many and loved by so many, that her new home will be her final resting place.

And you know, I've never been to Charleston, I've never been to South Carolina, and I hope someday that I can go back and see this flag. And I think, you know, when I get to the Amy Church there and I see the flag, I think in my head, like I usually do, is I'll have some sort of short conversation with this flag, you know, and I'll tell her I know that her her trip was long, it wasn't easy, but that she made it home where she was needed, and that she'll remain here and she'll be seen by so many and loved by so many, that her new home will be her final resting place.

So that's the story of a flag that made it.

So that's the story of a flag that made it.

From Tucson, Arizona, to Charleston, South Carolina by a bus held on the lap of a woman.

From Tucson, Arizona, to Charleston, South Carolina by a bus held on the lap of a woman.

Who is so proud and happy to be a part of it.

Who is so proud and happy to be a part of it.

That it's just, you know, one of many stories, but very impactful for me and certainly for I hope the people of Charleston.

That it's just, you know, one of many stories, but very impactful for me and certainly for I hope the people of Charleston.

Thank you for joining us on this episode of Flags for the Flagless. This episode was produced by Charlie Foley, Doug Levy, and Jason Wykel. To listen to Charlie's newest episodes, please download and subscribe through your favorite podcast service, and if you like the show enough, leave a review. Your thoughts would greatly be appreciated. Flags for the Flagless United Stories of America is proudly produced and distributed by the eight Side Network.

Thank you for joining us on this episode of Flags for the Flagless. This episode was produced by Charlie Foley, Doug Levy, and Jason Wykel. To listen to Charlie's newest episodes, please download and subscribe through your favorite podcast service, and if you like the show enough, leave a review. Your thoughts would greatly be appreciated. Flags for the Flagless United Stories of America is proudly produced and distributed by the eight Side Network.