A Tale of More Than Two Cities: How Flint Area And National Legacies Intertwine
By: Patrick Yambrick
Published: Saturday, Mar 7, 2026
Last Edit: Saturday, Mar 7, 2026
Many of the references I make in this post deserve expanded stories of their own. I intend to revisit some of them later.
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Profanity warning.
Clarification added that I do not support any xenophobia - there are depictions of instruments of harm in this video. My intent is not to threaten or intimidate, but to pay homage to a bygone era which played a role in the formation of myself and many of those around me, while encouraging growth toward a new era rooted in peace. Do not watch this video if depictions of violence (particularly against Arab-faced people) are offensive to you. My apologies to anybody who clicked that before I added this.
Again: do not watch the MC Breed video if depictions of violence against Arab-faced people hurt you - there is a depiction of a threat against Saddam Hussein, and of nooses as a general background feature. I hold the belief that art is meant to make us feel something. I am not looking to hearken back to post-9-11 unity against Arabs, nor to trigger any mental health issues or glorify a violent mindset, only to highlight the repeating patterns we seem to see so frequently in our world.
Someone told me recently, "I want people to choose love over hate. I want oil to weigh less than blood. I want right to matter more than what's wrong." And I agree.
If you're a real Flintstone, you already know about MC Breed and The Dayton Family. Not to be exclusionary - if you don't already know about them, feel free to go check out their linked Wikipedia entries - or wait for me to get around to telling my own take on their story.
My Last Article focused on a hero I never met, then spiraled into my original intent of informing some of my readers - real live local leaders - of a potential blindside coming their way.
If I were a morally grey SEOcapitalizing ghoul, I would make several short, snippy posts about the recent tornado in Union City, Michigan (which does deserve a post of its own - remember the Beecher tornado?), or on Operation Epic Fury. But I am not.
I am a front-end web developer with years of experience, using React and Nextjs to elevate small business in Flint, Michigan.
In this article, I will briefly explore the legacies of two bygone leaders who I have met (not former US President Barack Obama, though I embed a video of his here), spiral into some thoughts about how their energy translates itself into today's heroes, and bring things back to level with words of encouragement for everyone around Flint trying to keep their heads high and dreams afloat - while exploring some thoughts around how to bridge a divide within our community.
Unless you'd rather talk about the weather? Let Me Know.
What Is A Disruption?
Kettering University legend, Professor G. Reginald Bell'sinimitable teaching style - accessible at scale, to anybody, regardless of race, creed, income, or social standing - as I choose to believe that he and many of similar spirit to him would have liked to see.
Who was Professor Bell? You guessed it - a story for another time.
Take that and mix it with a little:
Remember when Kid Rock used to be vaguely inspirational? (Obvious profanity warning):
Or when Motown paved the way for him to do what he did to music?
Don't tell me you don't know Jack.
Oops, that's Detroit.
What about when Andre Rison was dunking on guys like my dad at 14?
Or when George Gervin and Earvin used to come around town to test themselves against the best competition?
What do you know about Terry Furlow?
Or Crews?
Did you know Chiodos were some Flint Locals from nearby Davison?
Or that a kid from near Flint owns the Pistons?
Why Bring National Politics Into It?
- Because sometimes, a little s**t (please forgive me if you read this, Ms. Copeny) from Flint speaks clearly enough to grab the ear of the sitting president of the United States.
Did you know that former US President Barack Obama used to read 10 letters from constituents every night?
- Because sometimes national leaders pretend to listen for long enough to let reality sink in.
Did you know that there is an art to war - much like there is an art to making a deal?
- Because sometimes, local leaders do the impossible in the name of fighting for democracy.
- Disclaimer: I am not - and have never been - a servicemember.
I do not know this man. I do not speak for him. My views are not his, and his views are not mine. It is not my intention to steal valor, nor to leech off of someone else's sacrifice. If you are him or someone who represents him, and would like me to remove or alter this, feel free to send me as curt an email as you care to send me, and I will respect your wishes at warp speed.
I have only chosen to highlight Mr. Richardson because he has already been exposed to publicity via that video.
- End Disclaimer
That was Command Sgt. Terry P. Richardson from Cass City, Michigan. A real, live warrior - and a protector who brings many in his state pride.
Man, Mid-Michigan has a lot of badasses named Terry. Talk about a man of service to his community. I know better than to speak for a Vietnam vet, so I will skip putting words in his mouth.
Maybe I'm reading too much into things - sir, if you ever see this, know that someone saw that moment of relief earned through your service and looked up to you (and looked your story up) for sharing it.
If you or anyone you know would like for me to take this down, I will. I am choosing to share my perspective on your story not to capitalize, but because I believe that there needs to be balance in this world, and because I don't think that people like you risked your lives so that the cycle would continue or even worsen. Someone tell me if I am wrong.
From my perspective, neither "thank you for your service" nor "God bless you" quite cuts it for our servicemembers who saw the terrors of war firsthand.
At the same time, the burden you may also carry must be immense. I won't pretend to have "been there." I know that many in shoes like Mr. Richardson's carry survivor's guilt. But 85 lives saved in a combat zone makes Captain America look small by comparison.
(This is Cal Scruby - he has nothing to do with Flint or Michigan, to my knowledge, but the song feels pertinent. He is from Ohio. Obvious profanity warning.)
Not to downplay the seriousness of his sacrifice, or to take Mr. Richardson's bravery too lightly - nor that of any veteran - I am experimenting with this as a communication style.
When he was a Staff Sgt., Richardson didn't sit in an office and call in drone strikes from thousands of miles away. And when the draft threatened to walk him down, he stood up and showed it what facing your fear in the name of serving your country can do for you.
Staff Sgt. Richardson ran up into the fray. He never hobbled away. Even when it hurt. Even when it was scary. He dragged good men out of danger, and nearly paid the ultimate price.
I want to make a data visualization tool - like a map showing the impact his 85 saved lives would have had on their communities upon their return - but I don't have time to do that immediately. In the meantime, if any of my friends want to contribute, contact me through the contact page, or through the social media channel on which you connect with me. Otherwise, I will get around to it when I can.
In the moment, if I had to guess, he would have been terrified. He ran through things that would make you or me p**s ourselves. Even the most hardened man would feel fear in a moment like the one he served as a hero in. The best of us, like Sgt. Richardson, find ways to suppress that fear and focus on the task at hand.
On my behalf, not his: Where were you during the war that took his brothers from him? Where will you be during the next one?
- Because wartime decisions impact hard-working women like one of my several grandmas, Alta.
Remember the sacrifices Rosie the Riveters made?
Drone Strikes Is Drone Strikes.
Or when Flint taught the world what a strike looks like?
If I'm going to punch up at one guy, I have to treat the other guy the same. Who set the precedent for drone strikes?
Whoever's fault this all is, here we are.
It isn't the apocalypse.
But it is as Plato said: "The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men."
Michiganders always step up.
Wisdom From An Old Man
My grandpa Earl was a Shriner who served in the National Guard. Lucky me - I got to go to the Shrine Circus every year for my birthday while growing up. My brother's favorite Shrine Circus Clown was Boats. Who was yours?
I wasn't around grandpa Earl much when I was young, but I understand him to have been a hard patriarch throughout most of his life who tried to make everything right with the loved ones he'd hurt at the end. For some, the gesture was enough. For many, it was too little, too late.
He was an Okeechobee guy. Real Florida Man.
He passed to skin cancer at 79 after spending too many days glaring at the undefeated sun.
Even he couldn't buy himself enough time to turn that tide.
How Not To Follow In His Footsteps.
I wouldn't wish cancer on my worst enemy.
That especially includes the sitting president of the United States.
Sometimes we get smacked by the consequences of our chosen lifestyle.
Sometimes we tighten up and turn things around.
Sometimes the guy telling you not to pick the fight is doing that for your own safety.
(This has nothing to do with Flint, either - just a relevant anime clip that will make a segment of my audience feel heard.)
If you want to aim high while avoiding the consequences of staring at the sun, consider shooting for the moon, instead - I've heard that even if you miss, you land among the stars.
What Does All This Mean For Your Small Business And You?
It means that small businesses, creatives, entrepreneurs, and workers from Michigan are capable of much more than we like to give ourselves credit for.
That includes you.
If you have the energy: drop that project you've been sitting on this week and watch the water ripple.
Thanks for Reading
Thank you for reading 'A Tale of More Than Two Cities: How Flint Area And National Legacies Intertwine'! Want to share your story or have your words heard? Reach out to me and let's discuss the possibilities.