Is It A Sin

Is it a sin to be patriotic today? It is sad to watch a parade, whether it be a Memorial Day, a Flag Day or even a Fireman's parade and note the disrespect so many people display when the American Flag passes by. This can be observed not only locally but watch carefully the next time a parade is flashed on your TV screen. You will see dozens of spectators along the sidewalks all looking at the parade. When the Flag passes by you will see very few stand erect and remove their hats and-or place their hands over their hearts. It is not uncommon to see a policeman direct his attention suddenly elsewhere for the moment rather than stand at attention and salute the Flag. We have seen servicemen on the streets paying more attention to the legs of the young majorettes than the Flag. We have seen on several occasions several teen-agers walking on the streets with the American Flag sewn on the seat of their pants.

We have seen disrespect at football games when the National Anthem is being played by high school bands. As the Flag is being raised, most of the crowd do stand at attention but there are some adults and students who continue walking toward the bleachers in order to get a place to sit before someone else will get that place. We have observed many who laughed or made snide remarks while the crowd and police are saluting the Flag. To me, this is indeed very disrespectful in all degrees.

When we were young we were taught to respect the Flag. Fathers and grandfathers would remove their hats and hold it over their hearts as the Flag passed by at a parade. They stood at attention. So did the old soldiers of previous years. Not too long ago an old man was seen removing his hat and holding it over his chest. As he looked about him not a single other person had followed him. So, he meekly slipped his hat back on his head in fear someone would make some silly remark about him. I would have admired the old man a little more if he would have kept his hat off his head for a few seconds longer.

I wonder if the people, especially the younger generations, really know what the Flag really stands for. Have they really forgotten or don't they give a damn?

Millions of lives have been sacrificed since the first Memorial Day or Flag Day. Actually when we salute the Flag, we are saluting our country and the men who died to protect it. Perhaps one of these men was a classmate or school friend when you were young. Perhaps he might have been a relative.

The next time a Flag passes you-show your respect to these men AND the Flag. You might be surprised to see the flag wave back at you.