Anyone who thinks the American flag is too “political” to fly at sporting events can put this in their pipe and smoke it.
I’m looking at you, Chris Calcaterra.
Handily re-defining the term “badassery,” Jose Sanchez, a Marine veteran who lost the lower half of his left leg in Afghanistan, just ran the Boston marathon – get this – all while carrying a massive American flag.
The Texas native was injured after stepping on an IED while serving in Afghanistan in 2011. According to CBS Boston, Sanchez said the accident left him pretty messed up for a while – so messed up that he couldn’t even open a gift his fellow service members gave him while he was recovering from his injuries.
Five years later, he finally opened the box. Inside was a massive flag, signed by his fellow Marine buddies and covered in their notes of encouragement.
“Instead of putting it away, I wanted to fly this flag again in their honor,” Sanchez told WBZ-TV after the race. “It’s for others to be inspired, to be motivated. I don’t do it for myself. We live for others. I’ve learned that throughout being angry, and frustrated, and with all that PTSD. I’m channeling it to be positive and to give back to whatever I have taken away from the community.”
Sanchez ran the 26-mile marathon carrying the flag the entire way, finishing his race with a time of 5:46:13. And, if you're not inspired enough already, here's CBS Boston's report on this amazing story: