My Flag

By Ray Rogers

This is my flag, I mean that in the sense that not only is this my flag it is the flag of the greatest country that ever was or ever will be and I'm proud to call it my flag.

Everyone should memorize the preamble to the Constitution.

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

It has been the greatest experiment of all time: a nation where the people govern themselves. Not only was it a success we became the richest nation on the planet with the most powerful military in the world. Where people would come from all over the world to achieve for themselves the American dream. Some countries loved us, others feared and hated us. We were a proud people, we were free.

For years I can remember saying the pledge of allegiance to this flag, not knowing the full extent of why. As I grew older and became more educated I understood more of why I was pledging allegiance to our flag.

This flag represents strength, honor, courage, purity, innocence, perseverance, vigilance, and justice.

To me it's a symbol of freedom and sacrifice. The sacrifice that our forefathers (patriots) made for us.

A patriot is a person who has committed their self to realizing a vision for their country, no mater what it cost them. They would give everything they had for freedom and liberty.

Great patriots like Patrick Henry who said at the end of a very powerful speech "give me liberty or give me death."

Throughout the history of our country there were times when father, son, and brothers fought together side by side for the same cause (freedom). Sometimes seeing one another fall and would still counted all as righteous.

If it weren't for our patriots fighting for freedom around the world tyrants would be able to take a foothold and take over the weapons and forces of our allies and use them against us. This is why we have troops stationed at strategic locations around the globe.

So next time someone refers to our military as war mongers think about the price that was paid by these brave men and women that made it possible for them to have the freedom to speak their mind.

Our flag has changed 26 times throughout our history. Starting out with 13 white 5 pointed stars in a circle on a blue background, with 13 stripes, 7 red and 6 white. Also known as the Betsy Ross flag. Still having the original stripes we now have 50 five pointed stars to represent our 50 states.

These flags have flown over the battlefields of our victories and our defeats. They have flown proudly over our schools, court houses, capitols, fire departments, police departments, and other public buildings. They have draped over the coffins of our fallen soldiers, our presidents, and other of our public servants. For some reason even though I was only 3 years old I can still remember seeing pictures on TV of our flag covering the coffin of President John F Kennedy.

Our flag has been stomped on, spit on, and burned by people who hate us and hold our nation in contempt, all the while being adored by other people because this flag gives them hope.

Here lately I've seen people change our flag to their own version to suit themselves. As for me, I'll stick with a winner. 'Old Glory'. The flag that my great grand father, grand father, and father served in the military under.

I don't understand how anyone that was born in this country could hate it. Do you really believe that you would be better off in another country? We have such a great history. I'm proud of our history, our heritage, and our flag. God bless America once again.