Editor, Gazette-Journal:

Some years ago in San Diego, I was fortunate to witness the actions of an ordinary person—one man—who had the courage to risk the anger of a crowd of protesters on their way to tear down the American flag at San Diego State.

The noisy student protesters were almost on it, when suddenly, this man coming from another direction, placed himself in front of the flagpole, and facing the protesters said in a clear, strong voice: “Anyone who wants to tear down this flag will have to come through me to do it.”

It became very quiet and even though he was just one man and the crowd was large, not one person made a move to challenge him and, in a matter of minutes, the crowd left. I have no idea who this man was, but what he did that day will not be forgotten, and I have to believe that we still have men like this in our country today.

Dawn Dale

Hayes, Va. ...