Robert McNary, MD and Viet Nam veteran, begins a 900+ mile trek for goodwill, accompanied by his unique, homemade version of Old Glory.

::::::::

Harlowton, MT



Early on Sept. 1st, Dr. Robert McNary, 63, of Harlowton, MT, took the first step of his journey of a thousand miles. Well, actually, something over 900 miles. Close enough.

McNary (aka Dr. Bob) is a physician and a former US Army Captain who served in Viet Nam.

The doctor is walking from Harlowton, MT, to Reno, NV. He'll be carrying a unique version of Old Glory on the journey, which he's dubbed, "Harlo to Reno." He plans to arrive in approximately 40 days.



STAR and Stripes Forever

McNary believes that the US "is due for a spiritual revolution rather than a political one. The symbols of the USA may hold the key to both the recovery and rediscovery of America."



McNary refers to his variant of Old Glory as the "STAR and Stripes." His 10-year-old version of the flag features the familiar red and white striped field. But on the blue canton, he's appliqued a golden heart with 13 deeper gold stars, which he feels keenly emphasizes the innate spirit of America. "You gotta have heart, miles and miles of heart,"  he says, with both his voice and his feet.

Following in His Own Footsteps

McNary calls this pilgrimage "Part Two" of a trek he made in 2002. On June 11, he left Lavina, MT, on his way to NYC, 2100 miles away. He may have worn out his soles, but not his soul:  four pair of hiking boots later he arrived at the foot of Lady Liberty, on Nov. 3. (He notes that he accepted a few generous offers of rides at various times, but walked for 1400 of those miles.)



The focus of McNary's  first ambulatory adventure was to share his inspired version of the American flag, and encourage love and goodwill in those he met.  He says that he and his homemade nylon flag, nicknamed, "Fannie," saw the land "up close and personal" on his first journey, and "encountered a wide spectrum of America's sons and daughters." Dr. Bob published an account of these experiences in his book, MONTANA Made Me Do It: Walk and Paint AMERICA Red, White, and Blue.

Three Cheers for the Red, White and Bob

In his book, he says, "Maybe the one large white star on her blue field hints that it's time for us to become the United STATE of America. That One Star may remind us of our longheld motto, E Pluribus Unum (From Many One) as well as the currently popular one, United We Stand.



McNary says, "The heart element is as yet unknown to national flags. But, it may be time for a true birthing of heart in the great land of America. The gold fabric in this flag can easily bring to mind the Golden Rule, that "God is Love,' and that we are intended to be One Nation Under God."

The Heart of the Matter

"No flag from any country in the world features a heart," he notes, "Some use symbols with deep and ancient meaning - like the Star of David, the Yin-Yang (Korea), Rising Sun (Japan), and others. But no hearts. I should think that feminists would support a flag with a heart. So should people who promote peace, like Dennis Kucinich. How are we ever going to shift from regular wars toward peace and goodwill without people and governments learning to use their hearts? And seeing the symbol is the first step."



His flag measures 3 by 5 feet, and construction took many hours:  measuring and cutting out the red, white and blue nylon, and stitching together by hand and by machine. Raw edges were heated with a soldering iron to prevent fraying.



Dr. Bob notes that the focus of his "Harlo to Reno" trek will again be on the  philosophical meanings of the symbols on his flag, "with the added benefit of ten years' review of the inspired imagery, and a greater awareness of the changes which the USA is experiencing."


Putting His Best Foot Forward

When asked, Dr. Bob responds that he, "would rather not instruct people in what this flag means," preferring that they enjoy the journey toward their personal insights. 

He reveals that it took him quite some time to fully explore his own understanding of these images, and notes that he continues to examine new perspectives. Therefore he invites people to consider their own deeper sense of the meaning of flag, country and ideals via these powerful symbols.

One of the definitions of a flag is as a "signaling device," and on his treks he hopes it signals a message of love and goodwill as it waves. He believes that in order to heal the citizenry and the nation, we must overcome divisions, love our neighbors AND our adversaries, and extend America's goodness and wealth to everyone.



I asked him how others might get involved, and he responded,  "They could make their own flags, display them, wear them, pass the idea on in some way. They could paint hearts on abandoned buildings, like those sitting around Detroit, just rotting."

They could follow his blog at http://theportableschool.blogspot.com.

And if they happen to see him waving his flag on the highway, a wave back and a bottle of cold water would be appreciated!

Dr. Bob notes, "our greatest president, Abraham Lincoln, reminded the country and the world that, "A house divided against itself cannot stand.' "

And the good doctor is clearly taking his "stand" -- or perhaps more accurately,  his "walk" -- to heart.



Dr. Robert McNary is an erstwhile physician, former US Army captain and veteran of the War in Viet Nam. His books include Baby Doctor, People Medicine, and Pictorial Astrology. The reader can follow his journey via blog - http://theportableschool.blogspot.com or website -  http://theportableschool.com.

For further information while Dr. McNary is walking, contact: Tracy Deliman, Grass Valley, CA.  tracy@tealhouse.net

Authors Website: http://www.OceanViewArts.com

Authors Bio:

Meryl Ann Butler is an artist, author, educator and OpedNews Managing Editor who has been actively engaged in utilizing the arts as stepping-stones toward joy-filled wellbeing since she was a hippie. She began writing for OpEdNews in Feb, 2004. She became a Senior Editor in August 2012 and Managing Editor in January, 2013. In June, 2015, the combined views on her articles, diaries and quick link contributions topped one million. She was particularly happy that her article about Bree Newsome removing the Confederate flag was the one that put her past the million mark.

Her art in a wide variety of media can be seen on her YouTube video, "Visionary Artist Meryl Ann Butler on Creativity and Joy" at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcGs2r_66QE

A NYC native, her response to 9-11 was to pen an invitation to healing through creativity, entitled, "90-Minute Quilts: 15+ Projects You Can Stitch in an Afternoon" (Krause 2006), which is a bestseller in the craft field. The sequel, MORE 90-Minute Quilts: 20+ Quick and Easy Projects With Triangles and Squares was released in April, 2011. Her popular video, How to Stitch a Quilt in 90 Minutes with Meryl Ann Butler can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrShGOQaJQ8

She has been active in a number of international, arts-related projects as a citizen diplomat, and was arts advisor to Baltimore's CIUSSR (Center for Improving US-Soviet Relations), 1987-89. She made two trips to the former USSR in 1987 and 1988 to speak to artists, craftpeople and fashion designers on the topic of utilizing the arts as a tool for global wellbeing. She created the historical "First US-Soviet Children's Peace Quilt Exchange Project" in 1987-88, which was the first time a reciprocal quilt was given to the US from the former USSR.

Her artwork is in collections across the globe.

Meryl Ann is a founding member of The Labyrinth Society and has been building labyrinths since 1992. She publishes an annual article about the topic on OpEdNews on World Labyrinth Day, the first Saturday in May.

OpEdNews Senior Editor Joan Brunwasser interviewed Meryl Ann in "Beyond Surviving: How to Thrive in Challenging Times" at https://www.opednews.com/articles/Beyond-Surviving--How-to-by-Joan-Brunwasser-Anxiety_Appreciation_Coronavirus_Creativity-200318-988.html

Find out more about Meryl Ann's artistic life in "OEN Managing Ed, Meryl Ann Butler, Featured on the Other Side of the Byline" at https://www.opednews.com/Quicklink/OEN-Managing-Ed-Meryl-Ann-in-Life_Arts-Artistic_Artists_Quilt-170917-615.html

On Feb 11, 2017, Senior Editor Joan Brunwasser interviewed Meryl Ann in Pink Power: Sister March, Norfolk, VA at http://www.opednews.com/articles/Pink-Power-Sister-March--by-Joan-Brunwasser-Pussy-Hats-170212-681.html

"Creativity and Healing: The Work of Meryl Ann Butler" by Burl Hall is at
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Creativity-and-Healing--T-by-Burl-Hall-130414-18.html

Burl and Merry Hall interviewed Meryl Ann on their BlogTalk radio show, "Envision This," at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/envision-this/2013/04/11/meryl-ann-butler-art-as-a-medicine-for-the-soul

Archived articles www.opednews.com/author/author1820.html
Older archived articles, from before May 2005 are here.