Close readers will know that I am a huge fan of lapel pins. Others may go here to find out just how huge. Naturally, then, I was impressed by the large, double-flag lapel device of the true Übervaterlandsfreund that Sarah Palin has been wearing since her anointment. God forbid we should think she was running for vice president of Brazil or the United Arab Emirates.
And yet it slipped past me that she has lately abandoned Old Glory entirely. It didn’t slip past Don da Man, who sends the picture below and wonders what the hell that thing is. My first thought was Gold Star Mother, except the star is blue. Anybody actually know?
Don't know about the pin, but the jacket looks like the one Ernst Stavro Blofeld wore in one of the James Bond pictures. Her Majesty's Secret Service?
Posted by: Aitch Jay on September 25, 2008 4:27 PMI'm putting my money on the Alaska National Guard flag pin since she's commander of that entity. But I can't find an example of the pin, only a mention of it on an Alaskan web site.
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"How many times have we seen Governor Palin at troop deployments, returns, celebrations, and Memorial events in the past several years. I, as a Veteran, am proud of the work Governor Palin is doing in this area. She proudly wears her special flag pin and Guardsmen should be proud to call her their commander. She, unlike her Democrartic opponets, is a person that I could see as the Commander in Chief. She has proven that she has the troops best interests at heart.
Thank you Governor for serving us in this area and so many others so well."
http://community.adn.com/node/130322 See Comment 6
But I can't find an example of that pin yet.
Posted by: Buck on September 25, 2008 5:02 PMEureka! Here you go. http://www.serviceflags.com/servicelapelpin.htm
The service lapel pin may be worn by members of the immediate family of a person serving in the Armed Forces of the United States during any period of war or hostilities in which the Armed Forces of the United States may be engaged, for the duration of such period of war or hostilities.
Posted by: Buck on September 25, 2008 5:17 PMYa gotta wonder though. Who thought up this service lapel pin? Is it officially something the US government authorizes or is it just some marketing gimmick by some sleazebag company making these things in China? In WWII, I saw that there was a service lapel pin that was officially sancitioned by the government, commonly referred to as the ruptured duck pin.
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Honorable-Service-Lapel-Pin
But who authorized this thing other than some marketing outfit? And if it was authorized, who's making all the money. Virtually nothing has been done in this administration without some moneymaking scheme for some administration croneys. Maybe this was some Bush Pioneer or Ranger scheme. Who knows the answer to that question? The website where these things appeared in my previous comment says: "DoD Certified Manufacturer of the Service Flag - First to be Authorized after 9/11".
Is that true and if so, who in the DOD authorized it and what's this companies connection to the administration or to Sarah Palin. Oh well, more questions than answers from me. And it's only a damn pin. But there's money in them thar things ya know.
Posted by: Buck on September 25, 2008 5:55 PM