The Monday After: 'Hold fast' — Dame Flora calls out her troops

If perchance you ever visit Scotland, you must go to the village of Dunvegan. It is found on the Isle of Skye at the foot of Loch Dunvegan, where Dunvegan Castle stands guard. And please, tell them you are from Canton, Ohio.

An email from a transplanted Dunvegan native brought a tear to my eye. She was surfing the Web when she chanced upon one of my gardening columns.

“When I read you’re from Canton, such memories. I grew up in Dunvegan, and we well remember our Dame Flora MacLeod visiting your city.”

I was around 4 years old. My dad, in typical Hillibish fashion, developed a passion, this time for Scottish history. He converted his Boy Scout Troop 28 into a clan modeled after the MacLeods of Dunvegan. His scouts shared his fascination as the troop drew members throughout the city, 60 in all, the biggest troop in town.

My dad was a careful lawyer. He wrote the clan headquarters respectfully seeking permission to use the MacLeod tartan as neckerchiefs and the troop flag. What a surprise when its 28th chieftain, Dame Flora MacLeod, wrote back. She was highly pleased.

In the last paragraph, she asked a favor. She would like to visit Canton and “review my troops.” Dad about fell off his chair.

THE BIG VISIT

A few weeks later, an emissary from the British consulate was in Dad’s office with a list of requirements. Dame Flora was a Lady in Waiting to Queen Elizabeth II. Security was essential, and royal protocol must be observed.

Dad had a lot of friends, and soon civic events were percolating. The mayor was readying a proclamation and key to the city. The Scouts were busy getting haircuts and shining shoes. A banquet was planned Oct. 22, 1953, at the troop’s sponsor, Lowell Reformed Church. A Court of Honor followed at the larger American Legion auditorium.

My mom sewed Dame Flora her own neckerchief, and two more. Dame Flora was bringing her twin grandsons, John and Patrick.

A procession of cars greeted the dame and her retinue at Cleveland Airport. Dad did not know what to expect of royalty. Dame Flora was grandmotherly but at all times deeply steeped in the pride of the Highlanders.

The audience hushed at the American Legion Hall. Suddenly, the droning melody of “Glendaruel Highlander” broke the silence. Grandson Patrick and his bagpipe led the procession of Scouts into the hall.

The Dame’s words made Page 1 news in The Repository:

“My grandsons and I feel one with you and hope we are helping to light a flame of fellowship that will blaze around the world. One of the happiest days of my life will come when I receive a letter from Scoutmaster Hillibish saying your passages to Scotland have been booked.”

Each Scout got a royal pat on the head and a MacLeod pin.

ROYAL STORY

As they were relaxing later on, Dad asked her how she received her royal title.

In 1940, the Nazis were sending submarines to isolated areas of the United Kingdom, scouting landing zones for Operation Sea Lion, their amphibious invasion. Dunvegan on the map looked promising. One morning, Dame Flora on her castle rampart spotted a U-boat as the mists cleared on the loch.

She knew what to do. No hesitation. She called out the clan for battle. It had been centuries since the MacLeods last marched to war.

Led by her, the MacLeod flag and the town’s bagpipes, all of the men marched to the shoreline. Those without firearms raised axes and pikes.

The Kriegsmarine captain in his periscope saw an angry  woman leading an angry horde. It was enough for him. The sub retreated full speed. Sea Lion was abandoned as futile.

It wasn’t the last of Dunvegan for the submariners. A new sub-fighting frigate in 1945, the HMS Dunvegan, was involved in numerous sub battles in the North Atlantic.

Just weeks before Dame Flora visited Canton, Queen Elizabeth presented her with a title for chivalry, Dame Commander of the British Empire. Flora had become a national heroine of Britain’s darkest time.

Dame Flora Louisa Cecillia MacLeod DCE, 96, died in 1976 and rests in her clan’s cemetery with other MacLeod chieftains spanning 800 years.

Her boys of Troop 28 became known as the super troop. My Dad was proud of them as they prospered in their lives.

Dad never got to Dunvegan, except in his dreams.

The email I received contained “Hold Fast” at the bottom. I found this to be the MacLeod Clan motto. They always held fast when bravery called, and you can believe they still do.