What would you do if you saw someone stepping on our flag? My wife asked her 4th grade students this same question after seeing a news story about a middle school teacher stomping on the flag in front of his students? She asked them to have an opinion about it, write it down, and then share it with their classmates. Each one stood and read their response. One young man took her breath away. He explained that at first he would use his words and explain to his teacher that this was wrong. The flag represents the men who fought for our country and we need to show it respect. He continued by saying that if that didn’t work, he would push his teacher off of the flag. He wouldn’t care what happened to him because defending our flag was more important than any consequence he would get. This young man encouraged me that patriotism, conviction, and selflessness are alive and well in America today.
Flag Day is this Sunday, June 14, 2015. Many people in the United States of America are not even aware that we have a designated National Flag Day.
National Flag Day is a specific day to acknowledge and celebrate the adoption of the flag of the United States of America. On June 14, 1777, by resolution of the Second Continental Congress, the flag of the United States was adopted.
Our flag, often called Old Glory or The Stars Spangled Banner, refers to The American Flag. The American Flag is the national banner that represents the values upon which our great nation was founded. Those values of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation in 1916 that officially established June 14th as Flag Day. In 1949, by an Act of Congress, National Flag Day was establish. Flag Day is not a federal holiday, and in the statute pertaining to Flag Day, it is at the President’s discretion to officially proclaim its observance.
The birthday of the Army is celebrated on June 14th as well. It was in 1775 that Congress adopted “the American continental army”. Flag Day and the birthday of the Army were both adopted by Congress on June 14th. To some this would be just a coincidence, for me it is much more. It is a congruence, the coming together 0r agreement of what we believe, defend and represent.
So why does Flag Day matter? If you are like me and truly appreciate the United States of America and the principles and values upon which our country was founded, you cannot help but promote and support Flag Day. If you have taken an oath to “uphold and defend the constitution of the United States of America from enemies both foreign and domestic”, you will promote and display your flag. By maintaining the significance of our flag, we are supporting the foundation upon which our country was founded and what our flag represents, the Constitution of the United States of America.
We have seen in recent events people devaluing and desecrating our flag. It has even become what some would call a movement. That’s why I’m proud to be part of the motorcycle community. Many of us who ride belong to different clubs and organizations, and being a member means we wear our colors with pride. This is why I believe our community is one of the last bastions of American founding principles. If we do not stand by our convictions but instead do nothing, these things will become more frequent. If we do not stand for what we believe, soon we will be standing alone. Sometimes it is necessary for the few to stand, so others will have the conviction and boldness to stand as well. Fly your Flag!
See you on The Open Road,
Moto-Tec Tim