Was a wonderful life
Most of them measured about 9 by 15 inches. They were called service flags. A field of white bordered in red, with a dowel at the top attached to a gold braid for hanging. In the center were one or more blue stars representing family members in the military service. During WWII it was a common sight to see one hanging in a home's front window by a family surely praying that a blue star would not have to replaced by a gold one, indicating a family member that died while serving in the military.
Memorial Day is technically set aside to honor those service members represented by such a gold star; however, I am going to cheat a bit and remember for this Memorial Day someone in the "blue star" class. Jimmy Stewart was already an established actor when he enlisted as a private in the Army Air Corps in February 1941, the first major movie star to enlist. At 32 he was past the cutoff age for pilot training, but he got in. It didn't hurt that he was already a licensed pilot.
At first, because of his celebrity status, he was used as a recruiting tool, but he requested to be assigned to a combat role and wound up piloting a B-24 Liberator, chalking up 20 combat missions over enemy territory. He was commissioned a full colonel on March 29, 1945, one of a very few who ever rose from a private to colonel in just four years. After the war was over, he remained in the Reserve, rising to brigadier general in 1959, before he retired in 1968.
Not a gold star on a mother's service flag, but certainly a bright shiny blue one, was Brigadier General James M. Stewart.
JOHN McPHERSON
Searcy
Rail workers essential
Many of us can't help but reflect on the sacrifices of those "essential" employees rising every day to meet the challenges of coronavirus. Frontline health-care workers come to mind first, though many others are helping us stay safe at home.
Transportation and manufacturing workers, for example, reliably keep stores stocked and consumer goods coming. I know their work is often thankless and has undoubtedly become harder lately. I also know that an unseen part of the supply chain--freight rail--works in conjunction with the more visible part of the supply chain, but is often overlooked because a freight train can't back up to a grocery store.
You might be surprised that Arkansas has 23 different freight railroads hauling over 158 million tons annually. These railways are major arteries serving our industrial and distribution centers, manufacturers, and ports, like the Port of Little Rock inland terminal, which can switch with both Union Pacific and BNSF. Together with rail suppliers and contractors that provide equipment and services for rail operations, these "essential" railroad workers are working harder than ever to deliver for our communities. Railroads, as always, are hauling everything from our food and consumer items to the chemicals used in medicines and for keeping drinking water safe.
So as we thank those essential workers across transportation, let's not forget the railroad men and women also chugging along. Their work is and will continue to be vital as we face this challenge and look to recovery.
JAY CHESSHIR
Little Rock
Editorial on 05/25/2020