Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Confessions of a Flag Lover
Hi. My name is Simple Faith and I love the American Flag.
Not "love - love" silly, as a grade schooler might say. But, you know, the type of love that respects, honors, and protects. The type of love that defines priorities in my life.
This love affair started as a child. My tiny town in the southwest corner of my panhandle state always had a huge (for us) 4th of July celebration. I grew up waving a flag while riding a bicycle or on a float in the parade.
But the true moment of falling completely in love happened while I was in high school. A veteran came and spoke to us in a school assembly one day. He was an older gentleman, missing an arm, and having an air about him of orneriness. He spoke of serving in the war (I don't remember which one) and of what the flag meant to him. He spoke of leading men to battle and of losing 50 men under his charge. When he looked at the flag, that is what he saw. The fifty stars symbolized the loss of life he had personally experienced. I was never able to see the flag the same again.
I became the type of girl who gets goose bumps when I see it raised and who stands at attention when the "Star Spangled Banner" is played. I became the type of girl whose heart aches when I see it flying at half staff, knowing that as a nation, we are in mourning.
I am the type of girl who flies my flag on official holidays (I even keep a listing of those days posted). I am the type of girl who sometimes flies my flag just because it seems like a wonderful day to do so. I am the type of girl who disposes of my worn flags properly.
I do not like to see the flag improperly used on clothing. I do not like to see faded or worn flags flown. And I do not like to see the flag disrespected or burned in protest.
On occasion, I still see the fifty stars and remember the veteran and his story. Sometimes the flag brings to rememberance the past and the victory and sacrifice of our nation. Other times the flag brings to rememberance courage, honor, discipline, and devotion. And there are even times as I see it flutter in the wind that I think of the constant winds of change that blow around us and the stability the flag represents in my life.
I hope my love affair with the American flag will last a lifetime!
Simple Faith
Hi. My name is Simple Faith and I love the American Flag.
Not "love - love" silly, as a grade schooler might say. But, you know, the type of love that respects, honors, and protects. The type of love that defines priorities in my life.
This love affair started as a child. My tiny town in the southwest corner of my panhandle state always had a huge (for us) 4th of July celebration. I grew up waving a flag while riding a bicycle or on a float in the parade.
But the true moment of falling completely in love happened while I was in high school. A veteran came and spoke to us in a school assembly one day. He was an older gentleman, missing an arm, and having an air about him of orneriness. He spoke of serving in the war (I don't remember which one) and of what the flag meant to him. He spoke of leading men to battle and of losing 50 men under his charge. When he looked at the flag, that is what he saw. The fifty stars symbolized the loss of life he had personally experienced. I was never able to see the flag the same again.
I became the type of girl who gets goose bumps when I see it raised and who stands at attention when the "Star Spangled Banner" is played. I became the type of girl whose heart aches when I see it flying at half staff, knowing that as a nation, we are in mourning.
I am the type of girl who flies my flag on official holidays (I even keep a listing of those days posted). I am the type of girl who sometimes flies my flag just because it seems like a wonderful day to do so. I am the type of girl who disposes of my worn flags properly.
I do not like to see the flag improperly used on clothing. I do not like to see faded or worn flags flown. And I do not like to see the flag disrespected or burned in protest.
On occasion, I still see the fifty stars and remember the veteran and his story. Sometimes the flag brings to rememberance the past and the victory and sacrifice of our nation. Other times the flag brings to rememberance courage, honor, discipline, and devotion. And there are even times as I see it flutter in the wind that I think of the constant winds of change that blow around us and the stability the flag represents in my life.
I hope my love affair with the American flag will last a lifetime!
Simple Faith
Labels: Life
# posted by simple faith : 10:22 AM
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You give it to an organization that does a flag burning ceremony. I give mine to a boy scout troop, but I would imagine the VFW also performs this ceremony on a regular basis.
I'm one of those girls, too. I get a tear in my eye at most every Pledge of Allegiance and a lump in my throat at The Star Spangled Banner. We always attend a memorial service on Memorial Day (at the 45th Infantry Museum). Last summer I attended my first Flag Retirement ceremony where a Boy Scout troup retired 56 flags (by fire). It was so solemn. Very special.
I have not attended a Flag Retirement ceremony, but I do think it would be a very special experience.
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