Fly the Flag!

            June 14 is known as Flag Day in the United States. It is a day set aside to commemorate the adoption of Old Glory as the national flag on June 14, 1777. (Is it a coincidence that June 14^th is also the birthday of the U.S. Army?) June 14 was officially established as Flag Day in 1916 in a proclamation by the President of the United States. Even though Flag Day is not an official federal holiday, Congress established National Flag Day in August 1949. The President of the United States is requested to make an annual proclamation concerning the commemoration of Flag Day. This writer finds it interesting to learn that there is also a week known as Flag Week and Flag Day usually falls within that week.

            Flag Day is an official day to honor the U.S. flag, but patriotic Americans fly the flag at other times as well. Some Americans raise the flag every morning and lower it every night, while others fly their flags on holidays or other special days. On 9/11 the U.S.A. was turned red, white, and blue by the many U.S. flags flying. September 11 is now known as Patriot Day, a day that still turns red, white, and blue. Independence Day, celebrated on July 4^th, is the birthday of our nation, and this day brings lots of red, white, and blue flags, clothing, decorations, and tableware. Most Americans want to see the Star Spangled Banner flying high and proclaiming freedom.

            Yet, there are people living in America who do not want to see the U.S. flag at any time or in any place. This group includes enemies of the United States, but it also embraces other people, people who should be grateful for the freedoms and opportunities that the flag represents.  One such person is Craig Calcaterra, the lead baseball writer for NBC Sports, who claims that the “image of the American flag is political.” He wants to keep sports “political free” by eliminating the U.S. flag from all sporting events. This writer guesses that Calcaterra would also like to eliminate the singing of the U.S. anthem at sporting events.

            Numerous American students are denied the right to wear patriotic clothing to school in order to appease those who feel uncomfortable with it. There are schools that no longer require students to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, and other schools that have eliminated the Pledge from their program. Still other people stomp Old Glory into the ground or light it on fire.

            There are people, living in the United States and taking advantages of all the freedoms and opportunities provided by this great nation, who are unhappy when they see the U.S. flag. This writer questions the purpose for their being in America. Why are they here if they hate America so much? This writer suggests that all these people move to another country where they will not be forced to see the U.S. flag flying proudly and proclaiming freedom. Fly the flag and be grateful for the freedoms it provides – or leave!