Reverent Disneyland flag ceremony endures thanks to Gunny — and some day the kids will return - OCR/SCNG

[Darkbeer1]

>>”You can dream, create, design and build the most wonderful place in the world, but it requires people to make the dream a reality.” – Walt Disney

At sunset on Dec. 1 last year — Walt Disney’s 119th birthday — security officer Ernie “Gunny” Napper lowered the flag in Disneyland’s Town Square, and walked it over to a private apartment above the firehouse where Disney spent many of his days and nights staring out the window at the excited crowds rushing into his newly opened fantasy kingdom.

The retired Marine Corp. gunnery sergeant and a few other security officers, custodial and maintenance staff still working at the empty park began singing “Happy Birthday” to the man who gave children from all over the world the best day of their lives.

And, as he has five nights a week for the last 29 years, Gunny lingered a bit under Disney’s window with a lamp in it that never gets turned off, to tell his boss how the day went, and how sad it is in the happiest place on earth without those children.<<

Reverent Disneyland flag ceremony endures thanks to Gunny — and some day the kids will return

The crowd these days is only a skeleton Disneyland crew still working at the park as Ernie “Gunny” Napper lowers the flag at sunset.

www.ocregister.com

 

[RunningPrince]

Good article but someone should let the writer know Walt’s birthday is December 5...

 

[TP2000]

>>”You can dream, create, design and build the most wonderful place in the world, but it requires people to make the dream a reality.” – Walt Disney

At sunset on Dec. 1 last year — Walt Disney’s 119th birthday — security officer Ernie “Gunny” Napper lowered the flag in Disneyland’s Town Square, and walked it over to a private apartment above the firehouse where Disney spent many of his days and nights staring out the window at the excited crowds rushing into his newly opened fantasy kingdom.

The retired Marine Corp. gunnery sergeant and a few other security officers, custodial and maintenance staff still working at the empty park began singing “Happy Birthday” to the man who gave children from all over the world the best day of their lives.

And, as he has five nights a week for the last 29 years, Gunny lingered a bit under Disney’s window with a lamp in it that never gets turned off, to tell his boss how the day went, and how sad it is in the happiest place on earth without those children.<<

Reverent Disneyland flag ceremony endures thanks to Gunny — and some day the kids will return

The crowd these days is only a skeleton Disneyland crew still working at the park as Ernie “Gunny” Napper lowers the flag at sunset.

www.ocregister.com

God bless that Marine!

That CM truly embodies what Disneyland is - a place dedicated to the ideals, dreams and hard facts that created America so that it could be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world!

That's exactly the kind of good news story we all needed to send us into our Valentine's weekend! It makes my heart so happy!

 

[Sailor310]

Semper Fi-always faithful

 

[MarvelCharacterNerd]

Gunny (Ernie) is the best. He's an inspiration - and an incredible gentleman. He loves and respects what he does and his presence is as much an anchor of the park for me as the castle. He is a big part of the magic. Miss seeing him regularly and definitely looking forward to seeing him when the parks (or at least the rumored Main Street) reopens!

 

[MarvelCharacterNerd]

Although thinking about it - he's going to have to change his usual habits at Flag Retreat once it returns. He always arrives early and shakes everyone's hand and thanks them for coming and thanks any veterans or currently serving military members in attendance for their service. Bless him.