Letter: The fading of our flag

To the editor,

Recently my daughter went through a chapter in her Social Studies class on American history that got me thinking about our country. In my line of work, I travel throughout the metro and have an opportunity to view both private and public facades from U.S. post offices, churches, various government buildings as well as businesses.

Over the last handful of years, I have observed one item increasingly showing up absent without leave: the flag of the United States of America.

Oh, there are flag poles still encased in concrete footings, but the poles are stripped of “Old Glory.” I believe this is emblematic of our disappearing patriotism. It seems awkward writing on this subject when just a few short years ago patriotism was at fever pitch.

Brought on by the wicked, murderous attacks of terrorism on our American soil, flags where flying everywhere. However, that was short-lived. Like a Fourth of July bottle rocket launched out of a beer bottle at a celebration party, patriotism went up, displayed some color and before you knew it, it was gone. As bad or even perhaps worse are the tattered, torn and faded flags that are ignored and allowed to fly months or even years after they need replacing.

This red, white and blue symbol of America once stood for something. We were proud to fly her and eager to raise her up anew each year on Flag Day. Something is happening to our country. An insidious, pernicious spirit is attacking everywhere and everything that stands for America. A once great nation that stood for freedom, liberty and justice is on a downward spiral. Buying new flags and replacing old ones will not by itself make us any more patriotic than standing in a garage will make us a car. Remember what I said earlier, that this is an observation. I have used up my quota of words here in this column to outline a cure.

However, I would like to point the reader in the right direction. It is found on the back of every dollar bill printed here in America. Let me quote: “In God we trust.” Let me paraphrase: “With God all things are possible.”

Terry Crisp

Hastings

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