OPEN FORUM: Why I Honor the American Flag

The following essay, written by a local youth, was the winning entry in the Nevada State VFW Patriot’s Pen contest. We congratulate Mr. McMurray on his excellent work!

By IAIN MCMURRAY

“One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, one nation evermore.”
These words from American poet Oliver Wendell Holmes, reflect my feelings on the American flag. To me, our flag represents not only our nation and the sacrifices of many men and women to keep it united and free, but also how we as Americans stand together, in other words, our flag symbolizes our ability as Americans to be diverse yet indivisible and unified.

America is known as the great melting pot because our nation is made up of People from everywhere who have flocked to this land because our flag promises freedom from tyranny and freedom of personal choice. The original settlers came from England seeking freedom from an oppressive government.

Through blood and sacrifice, they won the right to this freedom and on June 14, 1777 the Continental Congress passed an act that established our flag. Their resolution mandated thirteen strips, alternating red and white, and a field of blue with a white star representing each state and forming “a new constellation.”

Although each part and color of the flag has a special meaning, to me it is this “new constellation” that makes our flag unique. On our flag, every single state is represented as a star shining forth to the world.

Every state. Important and unites to make a whole. Tome, this means that every man or woman who lost their life or loved one in defense of this flag, this country, and this way of life, is represented on that sacred flag. It means that every person born here or who came to this country searching for freedom, regardless of the color of their skin, their financial status, or their gender, is represented on that flag. It means every child like me can grow u in a nation of safety, choice and unity that allows us to become stars shining forth in the world, just like our flag represents us to be.

President Abraham Lincoln once said, “standing as I do with my hand upon this staff and under the folds of the American flag, I ask you to stand by me so long as I stand by it.” President Lincoln, I honor our flag and I stand by it with my hand over my heart. It represents a past that I honor, a present of freedom, and a future that is full of hope.