41-years-ago today, Cubs center fielder Rick Monday proved once and for all that he’s one patriotic fella. A Marine Corps reserve for six years, Monday famously stopped two idiotic anti-war protesters from burning an American flag during an early season game between the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers that was held at historic Dodger Stadium.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Monday watched the two morons run on the field and he noticed one had something cradled under his arm. It turned out to be the American flag. He wasn’t sure if they were drunk, high, or what the deal was but he later said that they gave off a “bad vibe”— and he assumed correctly.

The two protesters laid the flag out like a picnic blanket and Monday saw one of the individuals pull out a can of lighter fluid and douse the stars and stripes. The other protester attempted to light a match but the wind blew it out delaying the flag from being set on fire. That gave Monday enough time to run at the protesters, snatch the flag up, and carry it to safety just as a second match was lit. One of the protesters tried to throw the can of lighter fluid at Monday but he was too much of a pussy to throw it very far.

Years after the event, Monday summed it up beautifully as to why he rescued our beautiful American flag.

“I did not want them to be able to desecrate an American flag that some of my buddies lost their lives for, representing the rights and freedoms that you and I enjoy.”

If that’s not one of the most patriotic things ever said then I don’t know what is. For every American citizen reading this, we thank you for your act Rick Monday.