Our Flag

Last Sunday, June 14th, we celebrated Flag Day, commemorating the adoption of the flag of the United States of America, which happened on that day by resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1777. Known by various names, the red white and blue, the Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, the Star Spangle Banner, the American flag, it is the symbol of the heart and soul of our country, and our freedom. It represents the fifty states and the blood of the men and women who died carrying it in their hearts and souls as they fought for the freedom of our nation.

Though tattered and torn, it waved as 6,000 patriots died in the Revolutionary War. It survived the Civil War and draped the caskets of many who fought and died defending freedom. It flew at Gettysburg and the Battle of the Bulge, was blood stained at Kae-son, stood watch at Pearl Harbor as ships and men died on a burning sea. It proudly flew over a blood stained mountain on Iwo Jima. It was tried on the beaches of Normandy, on Porkchop Hill, Hamburger Hill, and it waved triumphantly on the shores of Tripoli. It proudly stood while 116,000 Americans fell in WWI, and 405,000 more in World War II. It survived the Chosin Reservoir and heard Taps being played for more than 54,000 soldiers who lost their lives in Korea. It waves over a wall that bears the names of the 58,000 who died in the jungles of Vietnam. It flew for the 293 Americans' who died in Desert Storm, and for more than 4,300 Americans who have given their lives in Operation Iraqi Freedom. It continues to wave over the 260,000 Americans silently sleeping in Arlington Cemetery. When a soldier dies it drapes his casket, and with suitable ceremony is presented to the bereaved with the words “… from a grateful nation”. It still waves over our country, reminding us of the freedom with which we've been blessed, and the terrible cost of that freedom.

Many have spit on our flag, burned it and shamed it, not realizing the freedom it represents is the very thing that allows them that right, no matter how obnoxious or disrespectful it may be. But what a pity they do not know how much blood was shed so they could have the freedom to express the bitterness and hatred they appear to have for their own freedom and everything it represents.

Over one million Men and Women have died defending what our flag symbolizes, but others have died simply for living the American Dream it represents - a total of 2,986 Americans died on 9-11, the victims of evil people full of the hatred that comes with a freedom such as ours. But even then, when our spirits were at their lowest, three exhausted New York City Firemen had the inspiration to hoist an American flag for all the world to see, so they would know we had not been defeated, symbolizing the freedom, hope, and determination of the American people and the strength of our spirit. Some have purchased the freedom our flag represents, others have defended it, so that the rest of us might simply live under it in the greatest country on the face of the earth.

Some say it is not the flag, but what it represents that we should honor. I contend that we cannot honor the flag without a pledge to that flag. The Pledge of Allegiance debuted in October 1892 on Columbus Day, when 12 million children across America recited it for the first time. It has had three changes through the years, the most significant in 1954 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower added two simple words, “Under God”. He said “In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource in peace and war”. Yet the Pledge of Allegiance is only 31 words in length, words that are packed with pride, honor, loyalty and devotion.

Red Skelton, a brilliant comedian of another generation, shared a story many years ago. The story of his teacher, a Mr. Laswell, who began to think his class was just saying the pledge out of routine. This is what he said to them:

“I've been listening to you boys and girls recite the Pledge of Allegiance all semester and it seems as though it is becoming monotonous to you. If I may, may I recite it and try to explain to you the meaning of each word.”

I - me, an individual, a committee of one.

Pledge - dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self pity,

Allegiance - my love and my devotion

To the flag - our standard, old glory, a symbol of freedom. Wherever she waves, there's been respect because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts freedom is everybody's job.

United - that means we all have come together.

States - individual communities that have united into 48 great states. 48 individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose; all divided with imaginary boundaries, yet untied to a common purpose and that's love for country.

And to the Republic - a state in which sovereign power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. And government is the people and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.

For which it stands, one nation - one nation meaning 'so blessed by God.'

Indivisible - incapable of being divided.

With liberty - which is freedom-the right of power to live one's life without threats, fear or some sort of retaliation

And Justice - the principle or quality of dealing fairly with others

For all - which means boys, and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine.

Mr. Skelton said that two states had been added to our country since his childhood, and two words had been added to the pledge, the words “Under God”. Then he said it be a pity if someone decided that those two words were a prayer and should eliminated. Little did he know that just a few years later such an effort would stand before the United States Supreme Court.

But the flag still waves, our nation is still one nation under God, and we still live under the banner of democracy, the flag waves in our churches, school yards, government buildings, and always in our hearts and homes, because that's where freedom originated, and that is where it must remain. America is as much a state of mind as it is a physical location. It’s the concept of an independent people, free to follow their dreams wherever they may lead. It’s a spirit of cooperation among equals, under a mutually agreed upon law. It’s the idea that no man must be subservient to another, and that no man should enforce his will on another.

(Inspired by a 2005 speech given by Ms. Beth Chapman, Secretary of State for Alabama.)