Bobby Easton

THE CONNECTICUT ROLLING FLAGS

‘Twas in mid winter of ninety one,
The War in the Gulf had yet begun,
When I placed some flags on my truck and began to ride.
One hundred trucks gathered that morn
to show support for Desert Storm;
thus begins the story of the Connecticut Rolling Flags.

One hundred trucks drove the State that day
to show support for those away,
to fight a War in a far off distant land.
For when I was younger it was Vietnam,
but way back then no one gave a damn,
and I was determined that it wouldn’t happen again.

It was Hamlin, Dale, Veda, and Dean,
and from “The Ties That Bind”, Eileen,
and George and Lil, and Pam, and her wonderful Mom.
We drove our trucks from rally to rally,
from Cheshire and down the Naugatuck Valley
we supported our troops ‘till the end of Desert Storm.

The war was won, they were comin’ home,
and so to Westover Air Force Base we’d roam,
to bring supplies for “Operation Patriot Home”.
The Nutmeg Troops were coming back,
and those who fought against Iraq
would be escorted home by The Connecticut Rolling Flags.

Charlie Company, U.S. Marines
with flagged up trucks and wailing sirens
we brought ‘em home in style to Plainville Town.
Then the 143rd Army Reserve,
they actually got just what they deserved
as we proudly brought them home to Brainard Field.

Then the 142nd Army National Guard,
this escort was emotionally hard,
for two of their own were KIA in Iraq.
And the 344th from Hamden Town
And the 131st Vermont National Guard,
the flag trucks were there to bring them all proudly home.

Then Chuck joined on, how he could eat,
but as a right hand man he couldn’t be beat,
and we traveled New England
From The Sound to the Canadian line.
Then Sam and Joe, and Cathy and Dan,
and Jeff and Jackie joined our merry band,
and a gentleman ghost named Curt signed up to join.

Now ten years gone since Desert Storm
when The Connecticut Rolling Flags were born,
and 32,000 miles we’ve logged with pride.
We fight now for our forgotten men,
and I cannot remember when,
we were as strong as we are at the present time.

From Norwalk, New Milford, and Rocky Hill,
West Haven, East Haven, we’re rolling still,
to show off our pride in our Vets and the Red, White and Blue.
From New Britain and Milford, and Old Burlington,
to Middletown, Berlin, and Newington,
we still fight for those Missing In Action And Prisoners Of War.

Now ten years gone since that wonderful day
when The Rolling Flags got under way.
And the friends and memories made over thousands of miles;
now we’re not just a Group, we’re Family,
blue jackets filled with pride you see,
and to all of you flags I say:
“HAPPY ANNIVERSARY”.