Beyond the Byline: Fly the flag for Jim Walsh

WILKES-BARRE — If ever there was an American who bled red, white and blue, it was Jim Walsh.

Walsh, a true patriot in every sense of the word, died June 30 at the age of 95.

Jim never missed an opportunity to tell anybody who would listen why the United States is the greatest nation in the world and that they should show their patriotism by displaying the American flag.

During World War II, Jim fought in the European Theater and the Battle of the Bulge. Jim was 18 in May 1943, when he enlisted with two of his high school classmates. They left school early, receiving their diplomas when they returned from war.

“We were anxious to serve our country,” Jim once told me. “In our minds, it was patriotic. We never realized what we were getting into — nobody did.”

Jim always said the flag is the symbol of America and it should be displayed not just on holidays, but every day.

Jim would purchase flags and distribute them. He would attend Wilkes-Barre City Council meetings and urge the city to promote the display of the flag on buildings and homes.

Jim always felt that to see the American flag everywhere on Flag Day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day and July 4th is a good thing, but seeing the flag every day is even better.

I recall Jim’s appearance at a City Council meeting when he gave everyone a flag to wave. Jim distributed 36 American flags to those attending the meeting and he asked council, residents and businesses to proudly display the flag on Flag Day to show their patriotism.

In preparation for the holiday, Jim asked the people who accepted the flags from him to stand and wave them back and forth.

“You know what you are?” Jim asked the crowd. “You’re a flag waver. You’re a flag waver and be proud you’re a flag waver so long as it’s the American flag you’re flying. You’ll wave ’em better. Be proud of it. I am, deeply.”

Jim never missed an opportunity to tell anybody who would listen why the United States is the greatest nation in the world and that they should show their patriotism by displaying the flag.

One time I was in Jim’s home and we sat at his kitchen table, Jim told me that he often thought about the soldiers involved in the D-Day invasion. He couldn’t imagine what was going through their minds as they prepared to hit the beaches along Northern France.

“I think of the young men getting off those landing crafts — LCVPs (landing craft vehicle and personnel),” Jim said. “Many of them never got to shore. When they ran out of the LCVPs, they were hit with machine gun and artillery fire. So many were lost.”

With a tears in his eyes, Jim talked about the bravery of the soldiers — he noted they all knew there was a chance they would not return to their families.

“Many of them knew they weren’t going to make it,” Jim said. “They were told that by Gen. Dwight Eisenhower and other officers. I can’t imagine what was going through their minds — the fear. Yet, they still ran off those boats to that beach to meet the enemy. They knew they had to — for their country.”

Jim said he was proud to be an American and proud to be a veteran who fought for his country.

“I’m thankful every day that I was born in America and served my country,” he said. “And I am proud of all veterans who served in the military and fought to defend our country and the world.”

Every year — actually every day — Jim advocated for veterans and for patriotism.

“We all live in a free country, thanks to our veterans,” he said.

I will miss Jim Walsh for who he was and what he proudly stood for — that every American needs to never forget what veterans have meant to all of us.

And that we all should display our patriotism, our respect, for veterans and for our country, by waving our flag.

God bless Jim Walsh.

Thank you for your service, sir.

May you rest in peace.