Fabric Of Honor...

230 years ago to the day, the Second Continental Congress by proclamation adopted "Old Glory" as our nation's flag, albeit with 37 less stars than adorn her field of blue today. In 1916, then President Woodrow Wilson issued a decree that officially established this date, June 14th, to henceforth be recognized as "Flag Day." It wasn't until 1949 that Congress got on board by passing legislation that officially designated June 14th as "National Flag Day." Thirteen years between Wilson's proclamation and Congress acting in concert seems about right for that august body's deliberative skills. But I digress...

I tried in vain to search the WEB in hopes of finding a particular photograph that depicted a explosive surge in "flag waving patriotism" that occurred nationwide following 911. Perhaps it was a commercial aired on television as opposed to a single photograph, but I distinctly recall a long rows of townhouses on either side of a typical American residential street that prior to 911 had perhaps one or two American flags waving in the breeze. The next scene - post 911 - returned to that same street view. This time every home was festooned with Old Glory filling the screen with an explosion of red, white and blue, tugging deeply and profoundly at one's patriotic heartstrings. I wonder if that same street would be as equally decorated with our nation's flag on this commemoration day. Like the fabric on which our flag is imprinted, memories and motivations fade.

I am encouraged, however, by an article that appeared in today's issue of the Detroit Free Press in which it is reported by national retailers that U.S. flag sales are rebounding significantly since the unprecedented sales that were stimulated immediately following 911. The increase in flag sales seem to be attributable to middle America's desire to be more visible in support, not of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan per se, but for the men and women who are immersed in fighting these wars. And the demographics of flag purchasers are also shifting from the more traditional age group base of 35 and over to younger citizens who wish to honor and support friends and loved ones serving our military. Said one young college student quoted in the article, "Flying the flag symbolizes a lot to me. My parents raised me to understand what it means. There are people who die for our freedom."

Eloquent in its simplicity, his understanding of the deep rooted traditional symbolism that the flag represents underscores an inborn sense of national pride of who were are and from whence we have come. As a people we are today a nation divided philosophically, ideologically and politically, engaging in heated and vitriolic debates about the means and methods by which to confront the forces of the radical religion inflamed evil that would purge our way of life. Yet underlying these debates beats the hearts of the true Americans who recognize and honor the goodness that our country symbolizes, a shining light of hope and freedom for a world that would otherwise plunge itself into a darkness of repression and despair.

There remains some among us who refuse to fly our flag in protest to what they perceive as a misguided quest for America to be the sole arbitrator of what is good for the world. There are others that would strike a match to the flag and spit on its ashes to denounce their allegiance to this nation that nevertheless guarantees unwaveringly their right to exercise such a personal protest. I find fault myself with much that our country is doing and has done in the name of preservation. Yet, because America allows me to disagree with her without fear of reprisal, it is this freedom, and for the men and women who stand in harm's way to protect this freedom, I choose to proclaim her as the gift from the God from which this nation was birthed. To fly her flag and proudly so remains an honor for which I will always give humble thanks.