Joe Smith: What Does the American Flag Mean to You?

How many times a day do you drive or walk past an American flag?  If you take a moment to think about it, you may do this more than you think.  For example, the Lindenwood University and Saint Charles Community College campuses, along with any Government Building or secondary and elementary schools or most importantly any of our Veterans Organizations.  Do you stop and think about what our grand nation's streamer of red, white and blue really stands for?

I believe that a reminder of the flag's rich history and guidelines brings its meaning to light:

Our flag is a banner so sacred that it has its own pledge of allegiance.  It has a particular set of guidelines and standards for use, display and disposal.  For instance, it must never touch the ground and must be illuminated if flown at night.  If it is no longer useable, the flag must be burned.  Our flag must never be dipped.  This rule became most widely-known in the 1908 Summer Olympics in London when each country's flag bearer dipped their flag to King Edward VII -- the American flag bearer was the only one who did not.  After the ceremony, Team Captain Martin Sheridan was quoted as saying "this flag dips to no earthly king."

Old Glory has been planted on the moon and it has been bravely erected by the soldiers at Iwo Jima.  From the Revolutionary War, marking our freedom from Great Britain, to the current war in the Middle East -- our flag has flown proudly, serving as a great reminder to our nation and to the world that we are strong.  Though torn and tattered, ridden with frost in the winters and sweltering in the heat of the dessert sun, our flag still stands.

When I think of the American Flag, I think about the lyrics to an age-old song sung most frequently on the 4^th of July holiday, "You're a Grand Old Flag".  The lyrics are simple, but the message is strong:

You're a Grand Old Flag, you're a high-flying flag and forever in peace may you wave;
You're the emblem of the land I love, the home of the free and the brave.
Every heart beats true 'neath the Red, White and Blue where there's never a boast or brag;
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, keep your eye on the Grand Old Flag.