Flag Bearer and the Story of a Flag 
Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner. Exodus 15:17 The Epic Quad Battle was fun. However, it was the flag I made that had taught me a lesson, a lesson of how God would bless an idea as minor and “stupid” as this when I gave my best and trust Him for the rest of the way. So, here is the whole story of it.
THE IDEA OF A FLAG I was excited about the Epic Quad Battle III all along because I had not have time to attend the battles last two years. What made it even more exciting was that I was going to join the UCD Spartan along with the Cru men. Then I had various crazy ideas. The craziest one but also the only one that got through was to make a real battle flag, a fabric banner (although the 300 do not have a flag according to what I heard). I never seriously sew and stitch for real but the idea sticks. So I let it fly and ask around for two things: 1) an insignia design, and 2) a ride to get to Wal-Mart or something where I can find materials.
THE BECOMING OF A FLAG Unfortunately, no one response to both requests and I was left to do it all on my own. After a Shepherd Team meeting on Sunday, three days before the battle, I got my idea for the insignia design. From the vision of Cru and Epic derived the following symbol. 
The sword represents to WIN, the hammer symbolized to BUILD, the key signifies to SEND. Why the key you may ask. Since it is hard to find a tool that symbolized send (a letter or a plant will not match with the others), I utilized Matthew 16:19. Monday, two days ahead of the battle, I went out around Davis searching for fabrics as well as some other materials on my bike. Sadly, after four hours of looking around, I learned that there are no stores with colored fabrics in town. With determination, researching over the internet, and asking around, I found that there is one fabric store in Woodland, 11 miles away. While the Yolo bus could get there, I will still need to travel two miles from the bus stop to the store. It was around 6:30pm and I was tired, but I made the decision to try my best and lift it all up to God, knowing that everything is possible if He allows. A 30-minute bus ride and a 20-minute bike ride got me to the store and it was still open. Eventually, I got what I needed but also receive some valuable advises from the sale-ladies. After hearing what I am going to do (which entertains them), they instructed me how to make a strapped flag holder, which would free up one of my hand in the battle. This proved to be extremely helpful in the battle afterwards. Back to my apartment, it was already past 9pm. As time was running shorts because I had class on Tuesday, I decided to start on the flag after receiving some sewing instructions from my mom. Fortunately, Chris my housemate supported me along while putting his all-nighter on a paper. I sewed until 4am. Tuesday, the eve of the battle, I had class in the morning and in the late afternoon. In the afternoon, I perfected the flagpole so that it will not hurt people while still being stiff, stuffing paper into a plastic noodle. In the evening when I returned home, I continued on my flag and armaments until 4am again. However, this time Robert my housemate gave me a brilliant advice to cut my flag into the current shape. I was amazed how the flag, flagpole, shield, helmet, and sword could be completed in two nights. It could not be done if it was not by God grace.
THE SPIRIT OF A FLAG The Spartans were ready and standing in box formation in the Wellman courtyard. After a fiery speech by John Briggs our commander, I handed him the flag. When the flag was hanged onto the pole, it was not “my” flag anymore and it represents something greater than what I had intended it to be. 
THE SURVIVAL OF A FLAG The Spartans entered the Quad in between the two opposing armies, Army of the North and Army of the South. We than formed a circular perimeter with shields interlocked and facing outwards. You can see the Spartan entrance here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeDS_pXpr6M. 
I found a spot in the middle of the group and held our flag up high. Right before the noon bell rang, the two armies charged toward us. Under heavy siege, the perimeter disintegrated after a short stand, and enemies emerged from all sides. My shield took many hit and so did my helmet. Still I held our flag high to signify that the Spartans still stand despite surrounded. Then, unexpectedly, someone grab the flagpole suddenly but I yanked him off (I think this is quite normal in a real battle). He tried again after a brief moment, and my fellow Spartans were too occupied with the fight and was not able to come to my aid. Ultimately, guarding our flag with my life, the flag-stealer pulled off half of my flagpole at the end of the first wave of the skirmish. By that time, the cock ornament of my helmet was gone and the strap of my shield was so damaged that I had to hold it with my left arm, which left me no hand to hold a weapon. From that time on, my role was particularly hard. Yet, I cannot retreat because the flag represents the Spartans as a whole. Apparently, there were quite some people trying to steal our flag throughout the battle. To retain the Spartan spirit and honor, I threw whatever I got to whoever came close to our flag. I was able to hold up my flag throughout ¾ of the battle. Then while confronting several people in front of me, someone attacked me from behind and took our flag away. I closely ran after him but another person tripped me with a rope weapon (which is quite a dirty trick). Fortunately, John Mauch, a strong Spartan who caught up with the flag-stealer after seeing that I lost the flag, tackled the flag-stealer hard onto the ground and I recovered our flag. However, others came right by aiming for the flag right after I picked it up. Somehow, the design of the flagpole saved our flag from the enemies’ hand. Grabbing the flag by the top, they pulled out the cross hanging beam and the flag dropped to my hand, which I instantly hid it away. Ultimately, I lost all my armaments in the process. Once again, I did not know anything other than God’s protection that kept our flag safe. 
THE LESSON FROM A FLAG Actually, I planned to use the flag to remind the leaders of Epic (including myself) of our vision in the Shepherd Team meetings in the future. This added another meaning to my experience as the Spartan flag bearer. Eventually, Epic also needs a flag bearer to remind every member what we stood for and what we are fighting for (spiritually). This is exactly one of my roles of being in the Shepherd Team next year. There will be many times in the future when the enemy comes for our flag, and the flag bearers have to protect the flag with all costs or the spirit of Epic will die. Fortunately, the experience of the flag also reminded me how God will guide us when we trust in Him. Ultimately, the Lord is the banner of our battle. What a way to learn a lesson! 
| 
