Thoughts on Flag Day

I have taken the flag for granted all my life and now, like witnessing the decline of an aging parent, the easy and unspoken love that was always there calls me to recognize it, and to do something. But what? Communities and groups plan activities, citizens raise the flag on poles, parades here and there beckon me. But what can I do, personally? The simple lessons and memories from childhood come to mind...being at school facing the flag with my hand on my heart, saying the Pledge of Allegiance. I never imagined those words would become so controversial. If it's any consolation, they were controversial in the past, but I was too uninformed to know it. Check it out at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_Day_(United_States). It comforts me knowing that Americans argued about it in the past, and will probably argue about it in the future. That's what we do...because we have the freedom to do so. So here it is, for those of us who have gotten rusty saying it: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Oh, and here's a bit of art thrown in...Ken of Whitmore Lake in his favorite old flag cap!