Honor to Old Glory

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In my heart, I believe that our fallen heroes will live on forever through the American flag. Old Glory is not just a piece of cloth; it is the final resting place of memories that are dedicated to Americans of every creed and background that have sacrificed for our nation. Until I take my last breath on this earth, I will stand to honor the flag and continue to tell the stories of those who have defended it.

As I prepare for my trip to the site of the bloodiest battle in American history, I’m reminded of a few unforgettable words. At the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, President Abraham Lincoln said the following in his infamous Gettysburg Address, “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.” As I look back on those words 154 years later, I fear that all too many are beginning to forget the sacrifices that those men made and how much that flag meant to them on the field of battle. We are at a point in our history where we must heed Lincoln’s words now more than ever. Sacrifices live on forever as long as they are never forgotten.

Gettysburg National Cemetery. (Photo: ironbrigader.com)

While every American has a responsibility to fight against injustice, disrespecting a symbol of sacrifice that means so much to so many people is not the way to do it. The American flag is something to revere because of those who gave their last breath fighting for it. It has flown freely long before our time and it will soar long after we’re gone.

I will always honor the fallen. I will always stand for the flag. I will never take my life in this country for granted.