Legend of the Orange Hat

September 10, 2025

You may be asking, “Why the orange hat?”

Let me explain with a message I included with my 2024 Christmas cards:

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Chaplain.  Captain.  Coach.

While the title preceding my name has changed over the past twenty five years or so, one thing has remained constant.  Upon my head, I wear an orange hat.

The legend of the orange hat started on the soccer field as I coached my daughter’s recreational league team.  New parents would call and ask, “Coach Alan, where can we find you?”

“Look for the orange hat.” 

It didn’t matter which field or park we played at, they could always find me.

In the Civil Air Patrol, I was a ground pounder, a ground team member.  Basically, we hiked around the woods of Colorado in camouflage BDUs looking for lost aircraft.  It’s amazing how quickly you can disappear when you’re in the woods in camouflage!

“Captain Hergert, how can we find you?”

“Look for the orange hat!”

This was also very handy for air crews and pilots to see me whether they were in the air or on the runway.

In 2016 at HeavenFest at Bandimere Speedway, I was helping with the baptism team.  I remember talking to Emily.  She wanted to be baptized.

“How will I find you?”

“Look for the orange hat!”

Early in my career as a Bandimere Speedway track chaplain, I heard the question, “Where’s Chaplain Alan?”  This prompted me to revive the orange hat.

“Look for the orange hat!”
 
My orange hat is visible and recognizable.  While I could blend in with more conventional headgear, I choose to be set aside for God’s purpose with an orange hat. 

In Zechariah, we read that one day even common items, such as cooking pots, will be holy, set aside for the Lord’s purpose. 

“On that day holy to the Lord will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the Lord’s house will be like the sacred bowls in front of the altar. “  (Zech 14: 20) 

I am the most common of the common yet I am set aside.  I pray I never forget either.

Keep an eye out for the orange hat!

Merry Christmas,
Alan