While the “Flag Incident” did not happen on Independence Day, Rick Monday’s action define exactly what Independence day is about, Pride, Honor, and Sacrifice. In April of 1976 Rick Monday while playing for the Chicago Cubs, snatched a flag from two protesters who had ran into the outfield to burn the flag in front of thousands of on lookers in Dodger Stadium.
The protesters were arrested and the flag stayed in the possession of Monday. To this day he still has it and has even turned down an offer of $1 million dollars from a sports collector.
“But the flag is not for sale. What this flag represents, you can’t buy,” explained Monday when questioned why he turned down such an offer.
Monday a former Marine said, “If you’re going to burn the flag, don’t do it around me. I’ve been to too many veterans’ hospitals and seen too many broken bodies of guys who tried to protect it.”
Quite possibly the greatest catch ever made in baseball history.
88 mph to Roswell 
July 5th, 2009 at 7:25 am
What a great reflection of American ideals on such a great day!