In many ways, our country is divided, with passionate debates over issues such as police brutality and systemic racism. On Sunday, let's use Flag Day to celebrate our unity.
We're all Americans. We're blessed to live in a great nation. A nation that's not without its faults, but a great nation nevertheless. While we may disagree on important issues, we all care about the future of our country.
Our flag goes by different names: "Old Glory," the "Star Spangled Banner," "the stars and stripes," and "the red, white and blue."
Likewise, our people go by many names, come from many places across the globe, have different skin colors, different faiths and different beliefs about how we should live.
But we unite over our Republic, and we should celebrate our diversity. We collectively celebrate our freedoms and our government - "of the people, by the people, for the people."
Respecting our flag doesn't mean you agree with everything in our country. The respect is for our forefathers, our ideals and - it can't be stated enough - our freedoms. Our freedom to pick our leaders, to influence our government, to be able to right wrongs through change and to keep the status quo for things that are working.
Our flag represents our pride in all of these things.
On Sunday, let's proudly display our flags at our homes, businesses and public buildings.
But let's not limit our flag-flying to one day a year. Flying our flags every day won't make Flag Day any less special. It might just send a constant message of unification, 365 days a year.
News Tribune