13 stars and stripes on the first flag. It doesn't seem like a lot. But it was a good start to what would be many more. 13 gets a bad rap - the number of bad luck. I don't believe in luck, good or bad. Only blessings and "God Things".
We put our flag up on Memorial Day every year. Flag Day and the 4th of July are not too far behind, and we let it fly a little longer. But then it was the Olympics and our evenings were filled watching not just the United States athletes, but athletes from all around the world show their muscle, coordination, grit and stamina. It seemed fitting to let the flag fly. Just a little longer, I told myself. But the flag stayed up after the closing ceremonies. My need to show gratefulness to a free country and for the men & women who have sacrificed for it was lingering long these months. Freedom. Sacrifice. America. Those words don't seem to mean the same to many, but they do for me.
Today is August 26th and the number 13 has made the news - Darin, Hunter, Daegan, Humberto, David, Jared, Rylee, Dylan, Kareem, Maxton, Ryan, Johanny, and Nicole. Their names point to many different ethnicities and yet they were united in their commitment to our country. They were each someone's blessings. Someone's "God Thing". Now our flag flies for them.
Patriot Day is almost here. Has it really been 20 years since that painful day?
And I'll just let the flag fly a little longer ..... maybe we need a flag pole.
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