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 Memorial Day is a special day in State College, Pa.
Each year, the town's hippies, like those college hippies around the country, recall the tradition of turning their backs on the nation's fighting men and women. It's a proud tradition. "My great-great-grandfather castigated those who served in the Union Army during the Civil War," said Karlton Fletcher. "Calling them, Butchers of Atlanta, for seeking to enforce the imperial will of the Republican government on the southern states and their unique economic needs." Fletcher's non-fighting lineage continued through America's involvement in the Spanish-American War and World War I. His family passive-aggressively fought for whoever was fighting against the American interest. The streak lasted until World War II. "My grandfather fought against America's involvement in World War II, but then changed his mind," said Fletcher. "Right about the time the Nazis invaded the Soviet Union, coincidentally enough." Bella Hunt, a Penn State flower child in the sixties, was also remembering the actions of her fellow hippies in the battle to bring back the boys from 'Nam. So they could then harass them and spit on them. "Well, a little saliva is better than pungi sticks, right?" said Hunt. "Baby killers." Hunt said she supports today's men and women fighting against the fighting men and women involved in conflicts overseas today. "It's just good to see those knee-jerk reactions are still with us," said Hunt. "No matter what the cause." Domenick Banns, a protest veteran of Desert Storm, said most Americans fail to understand that their actions do support the troops. "We do support the troops," said Banns. "It's just that we support the troops of countries and ideologies that are fighting American troops."
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