BLUE FLAG PROJECT

SEPT. 11, 2001: I REMEMBER WORKING FOR THE MEDICAL EXAMINERS OFFICE. WE WERE PICKING SOMEONE UP FROM THE ER @ JACKSON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN MIAMI, ONE OF THE BUSIEST AND LOUDEST ER IN THE TRI-COUNTY AREA. AS WE WALKED IN AN UNSETTLING SILENCE FELL OVER THE ROOM, EVERY ONES FACES (PATIENTS, NURSES, & DOCTORS WAS FIXED ON THE TV SCREEN. IT LITERALLY FELT LIKE THE APOCALYPSE

OF COURSE AMERICA WENT ON THE DEFENSIVE AND INVADED AFGHANISTAN LOOKING FOR THE SAME PEOPLE THEY SUPPORT SEVERAL YEARS EARLIER BY SUPPLYING THEM WITH WEAPONS. BUT NONE THE LESS, I SUPPORTED THE TROOPS 110%, THOSE GUYS WERE FIGHTING A WAR AMERICA STARTED, AND AS A RESULT SO MANY MEN AND WOMEN HAVE DIED IN BATTLE OR BY SUICIDE, FOR WHAT A PATCH OF OIL NEW "US SOIL".  WAS IN FULL SWING. THAN OF COURSE SEVERAL MINUTES LATER THE SECOND PLANE HIT AND AMERICA KNOW THIS WAS NO ACCIDENT THIS WAS SOME KIND OF ATTACK.

WHEN THIS STARTED I DETERMINED I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE TROOPS TO SHOW SUPPORT AND THIS IS WHERE THE BLUE FLAG PROJECT BEGAN. I STENCIL A BLUE FLAG EVERYWHERE I WHEN. IT SYMBOLIZED SUPPORT AND HONOR FOR OUR TROOPER BUT NOT FOR THE BLOOD SHED OF OUR GOVERNMENT.

AFTER 13 YEARS THE FLAG STILL STANDS IN FRONT OF THE US ARMORY. FADED AND IN NEED OF REPAIR BUT NEVER COVERED OR CROSSED OVER.

IN 2012 MY GRANDFATHER PASSED. IT HIT ME MUCH HARDER THAN I THOUGHT IT MIGHT AND I BEGAN TO REALIZE THE MORTALITY OF US ALL. HE LEFT MY GRANDMOTHER WITH SUPPORT FINANCIAL AND WITH SEVERAL HOMES TO LIVE IN. HE LEFT HIS CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN WITH A SENSE OF WELL BEING AND RESPECT FOR A MAN THAT SELDOM SPOKEN, BUT WHEN HE DID IT MADE YOU SMILE. I MODEL MYSELF OFF HIS TEACHINGS AND HOPE I CAN BE SO INFLUENTIAL TO MY KIDS. HE WAS ALSO A MILITARY MAN AND I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING FOR MY GRANDMOTHER TO SHOW THE RESPECT I HAVE FOR HIM. I DECIDED TO INCORPORATE THE BLUE FLAG PROJECT INTO THIS WORK, DUE TO THE FACT THAT EVERYONE THAT GIVES UP THEIR LIVES FOR A CAUSE OR A COUNTY DESERVES HONOR. I ALSO INCORPORATED SEVERAL OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN INFLUENTIAL IN MY LIFE AND THE LIFE OF OTHER AMERICANS. MILEY A GREAT FRIEND CURRENTLY SERVING IN THE NAVY, LANA A NEW FRIEND CURRENTLY SERVING IN THE COAST GUARD, HECTOR HERNANDEZ, MY FATHER-IN-LAW, SERVED IN THE AIR FORCE, AND OF COURSE PAPA JOE SERVED IN ARMY AS A DOCTOR.

UNFORTUNATELY I WAS DENIED THE MURAL PROJECT AT THE ARMORY. PER THE SERGEANT THEY ARE PLANNING ON REMOVING THE BARRICADES AND ADDING A FENCE, WHICH WOULD DEFEAT THE PURPOSE OF DOING A MURAL ANY HOW. MAYBE A VIDEO TIME LAPSE AND A SECOND MURAL WHO KNOWS.....5.....