1967
1968

 

 

 

 

SOUTHWORDS
April 1968

South presented memorial flag

    The flag which is displayed over the south door of the Maine South library has an interesting history.
    It begins with Marine Lance Cpl. Russell Rowe in April of 1965. The young marine was trapped in a machine-gun ambush on April 30 of that year. He was shot in both arms, both legs, and the abdomen.
    In a letter written to his fiancee the night before his tragedy, Russ said, "Now is my chance to do something for my country. America is the greatest place in the world. There'll be a lot of fighting, I imagine, and I might get hurt. But don't worry, I'm on the right side and fighting for a good cause. I imagine that they'll have church services tonight, and I'll go. Don't worry about me, for I've always made out.
    "We're fortunate people living in a country like ours. If you'd seen what I've seen in the past few days, you'd understand. As soon as I get a chance, I'll write again. I really shouldn't write, just pray. I should be scared, but I never was like the normal because I'm really not scared. I feel proud to be a Marine."
    The letter and the story of Russell Rowe were printed in the Chicago Sun-Times on May 6, 1965. Readers' cards, messages, and wishes poured forth for Russ, lying in critical condition in Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, DC.
    For a month, Chicagoland residents were concerned about this young man with a purpose. At the end of that month, Russell Rowe contracted pneumonia and died.
    The following autumn, Congressman Harold Collier arranged an American flag to be flown over the Capitol in Washington in memory of Russell Rowe.
    This flag was then presented to Maine South by Mainites in Motion.