Colorblind firefighter sees vibrant American flag for first time

It’s the most treasured symbol of our country. So imagine if you couldn’t see the red, white and blue of the American flag. That’s exactly what happened to Douglas County, Georgia firefighter Spencer Caradine.

“I never knew that there was a different red in my eyes,” he said.

Caradine is colorblind and he only recently found out because of his fellow firefighter, Jordan Gardner. 

“When I realized he couldn’t see what I saw, I wanted to be able to fix it,” Gardner said.

Gardner ordered him a pair of special glasses and planned a big surprise at the firehouse on the Fourth of July. Gardner presented Caradine with the glasses before leading him outside to see what the American flag looks like, in beautiful, vibrant color. 
 
Overcome with emotion, Caradine looked at the flag first, then looked at everything else. As for Gardner, he said seeing that look on his friend’s face was “the best feeling in the world.”

Caradine said, while he can now see Old Glory in a new way, that doesn’t change what those stars and stripes stand for.