Flag Day

Today's a good day. It's Flag Day. I love our American flag. Old Glory has been very important to me for a long time.

I think it started when I was quite young. My father served in the Army Reserves when I was growing up. He was on active duty when I was born at Fort Ord, CA (now closed). I don't remember a lot of specific things my parents did to show patriotism, though I remember doing patriotic things (parades, flag raisings, musical productions (particularly the bicentennial), etc.). But I know I felt our country was very important to them, and thus became very important to me.

Our National Anthem—what a fantastic song. Michael Ballam has spoken of how difficult a song it is to sing; it has a very broad range of notes and takes a lot of energy to sing. It's very representative of our country, built on stamina, hard work, and enduring faith. There's other patriotic music that I enjoy. I even enjoy other countries' national anthems, and seeing natives of those countries being moved the same way I am when I hear my own National Anthem.

I remember 9/11. The actual day of September 11th, 2001 isn't one I look back on with fond memories. However, what I DO look back on fondly is the national response in the weeks following the tragedy. American flags were everywhere. People hung them in their cars, on their garage doors, in windows, offices, on buildings. A beautiful sight nearly everywhere you went. And one very specific memory I have is seeing people of all walks of life, coming together in a way I don't think people have done in my lifetime, working towards common goals that we share, but for sometimes vastly different reasons. Some are grateful for religious freedom. Some, the right to bear arms. Others find a safe harbor from the oppression of their homeland within the borders of our country. To each person freedom means different things. But to all, that freedom is guaranteed by The Constitution of The United States of America. There truly isn't a better place to live in the world. I honestly believe that, and thank God for his hand in my life, and in the formation and continuation of this great country.

"Oh, thus be it ever, when free men shall stand

Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation!

Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the heav’n-rescued land

Praise the Pow’r that hath made and preserved us a nation!

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto: “In God is our trust!”

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!"

Francis Scott Key