Today is a national day of recognition for the ‘stars and stripes.’ According to records that I found online June 14th was the day in 1777 when the Continental Congress approved the design for the new nation’s flag. Since then the flag has changed 27 times, adding stars as states were added to the union. Now we have 50 stars for 50 states, and 13 stripes for the original 13 colonies.
Banks are closed today. Post offices are open. Just about everything is ‘business as usual’ for us.
The US flag is seen everywhere in our country. Of course it is displayed in all federal buildings. But the flag flies over all public schools, in most classrooms, outside of businesses, and homes. I often see it flying on boats as they pass my house on the river.
The Stars and Stripes, in red, white, and blue, can be found on lots of clothing too. Team uniforms. Military uniforms. And it is available in variations on lots of clothing that anyone can purchase in stores or on line. Flags are worn on coat lapels and other pieces of jewelry.
Lately the US flag has become a political sign.
It’s where we are in this country right now. Some are even flying it upside down as a sign that we as a nation are in distress.
We have flown the American flag (right side up) on our property for years. When we moved here the owners before us had already put up a flagpole, so it just made sense for us to fly the flag. We also fly the State of South Carolina flag right below it since it is our home state.
In general, flags are decorations. They are symbols. They are a statement.
The American flag is about patriotism. It means we belong here. We are proud to be here.
It should be about unity.
We are a long way from that right now.
Maybe looking at the US flag today can remind us about it’s creation, about the hopes of the founders, about all the growing pains of our country (the good, the bad, and the ugly), and about how we have to have hope for our country’s future, to hope for a better union.
Marla’s Musings 