Wave Your Flag

[Kathy]

Its time to celebrate the Fourth of July! Add your thoughts, pride and joy.

Why to you think the USA is a great nation?

P.S. For the month of July, this thread is for the challenge: Wave Your Flag CLick here for more info (http://www.girlsgetgoing.com/challenges.php?do=view&cid=50)

[gemsab]

Kathy, Since 9/11. we have displayed our Flag almost daily (weather permitting, of course)on our front porch. Why? Because we feel our country is the greatest nation in the world because we are FREE!!!!!! We have all the advantages in the world to do and be what we want to be. God bless America!

Emily

[charliemae]

Since 9/11, we've displayed our flag also, but we display the British flag, too! Why? Because England was the first country to support us, and I have nothing but great respect for Tony Blair, despite his unpopularity in his own country.
As to why I think the USA is so great, we have the freedom to worship as we please. We don't have a caste system, so if we are born into a poor family we don't have to remain poor for the rest of our lives...we can strive for something better. If we don't like a certain law, we can help to change it in some cases. Where else can a person poke fun at a politician and not be punished for it?

[spasmo]

Ever since we got married we have waved the flag. It makes me so proud each day when I see it. I always remember the challenges and sacrifices that my great grand parents (on my Mom's side) and my grand parents (on my Dad's side) made to immigrate to the US from Europe. They left their lives and families behind in hopes that their children would have a better life. They came here dirt poor and worked hard and their children did have better lives. Education was important to each family and there was greater opportunity for the children in the United States.

I also think about my parents meeting and marrying on the island of Saipan during WWII. My Mom had been an Army nurse and my Dad had been in the Army and they met on that remote island, fell in love and married while serving their country. How gutsy it was to go halfway across the world (in a time when there was not email) and haul off and marry someone that your family had never seen. It is this type of guts that I think of when I think of America and I see the flag.

I also think about freedom all the sacrifices that have been made and continue to be made for the sake of freedom. I have lived in Europe where people did not have freedom of speech. Sometimes we tend to take that for granted. Sometimes we tend to get complacent. We have to fight this. I try to make a point to remember that when someone says something that go against my personal beliefs that no matter what I am just grateful that they have the right to express their opinion… just like I do.

So when I look at the flag I see opportunity, guts, sacrifices and freedom. And it makes me very proud to have others see me waving a flag.
:usflag:

[TessiNY]

We also wave our flag daily--and why? Because we are Military and this year is extra special. I have officially received word that my husbands unit will be returning from Iraq between July 14-18!!! He's with the 10th MTN Division and returning after a year over there. :D I am counting down the days!

[ScrapbookingZebra]

We are really patriots! My parents raised me with flag waving, flag history and flag respect.
I am an Election Inspector for our city, and love to make sure that our flags are cared for properly. I am also trying to raise thankful, proud kids for our country who pray for it, the leaders and our nation daily.

[natomah]

I am proud that we have rights that many others in the world do not.
Jeanna

[CiociaJudy]

I'm a flag waver from way back. My parents always had the flag flying at their home. When I moved into my apartment, I placed flags in the windows. Now that I'm a homeowner, the flag has been flying since I moved in. I've had flags flown over the Capitol for friends and family and have even had a flag flown for me!

I have a minimum 45 minute commute to work each way daily. As I look at the mountains in PA during my drive, I always think how lucky I am that I can enjoy this beauty.

I have also been lucky enough to travel throughout the United States. How blessed are we that we can go where we want to go, when we want to go and see all the magnificent scenery our country has to offer.

I just returned from a convention in Gettysburg. One of our speakers was President Lincoln (portrayed by Jim Getty). He re-enacted the Gettysburg Address as well as talking about women in history and their role in the Civil War.

No words can express the joy of having the freedom to do so many things. Flying the flag allows me to let everyone know how proud I am to be an American.

:usflag:

[ScrapbookingZebra]

I think that we all should be flag wavers. I get a bit miffed if people don't like what our people have done in history for the free-ness that we have here. My brother is not a flag waver, and I just don't understand it, since he would be the first to get angry if someone took away his freedoms! We have had some good history, some bad history, and some trying history, but...I think that in the most of it all, we are better as a nation for going through it. God Bless America!!

[zoyajoy]

I feel very blessed to live in this country. I think we forget, quite often, what those in our military throughout the years have done for us.
My grandpa fought in WWII, while in the Army. I'm very proud of him for that. We must also be proud of our military today. Their battles are just as important as those in the past, for us to keep our freedom.
God bless my nephew, who leaves for Iraq this month! I wave my flag in his honor, and also for those who are serving along with him.

:usflag: zoyajoy

[GooglGirl]

Happy 4th July to you all. I know how important this day is to you all. God Bless America from us Aussies!
Actually today has some significance for me as well as it is the day I arrived from South Africa to Australia 25 years ago.
I am just as patriotic about Australia now as you guys are about the US.

Have a great day!

[100792]

I have been flying my flag since 9/11. DH put this up shortly after 9/11 to show our support. When DH went to Iraq for 18 months I made sure my flag was out at all times and replaced as needed.

I was able to find a place to recycle my old flag and have been replacing my flag as needed since finding this place.

We just moved into our new home last week and tomorrow we are going to town to purchase some house supplies and I have put a mounting bracket on the list.

During the time my DH was deployed, my work insisted on putting up a flag on our building. Ever since then it is put out in the morning and taken down in the evening. Because we are a Canadian company we do put out the Canadian flag when we have Canadian guests come in.

[charliemae]

I am especially proud of our military men and women. I am thankful for the families who have endured the separations from their loved ones, and I rejoice with the families who have someone coming home to them. As for those who have loved ones going over to the war zones, I pray with you all that these wonderful people return safely to you.
God Bless America!

[rowdyazell]

We are so free, that we are able to say what we want... even to complain about our country's leaders. No other country can do that. We (by we, I mean all americans) wave our flag (or not) because we want to. The people in other countries wave flags under compulsion. We are free, so free... we don't always realize how free.

[Casperkat]

What i find absolutley amazing is that the very thing that we abuse - our right to freedom of press darn the consequenses, our right to complain, our right to freedom of speech even if it is to burn our flag, our right to live in a country that has no restrictions on religion - is the very thing our flag stands for and for which lives have been lost. We live in a country where we are free to live however we want and people come here by the thousands to be a part of it and too many of us forget that. Our fathers, brothers, husbands, sisters, mothers, and past family members have drawn the line in the sand and said - :we will not tolerate injustice, we will not tolerate inhumane behavior, and we will not tolerate actions which put our people in harms way. That is what the flag means to me. We will stand and fight for our right to be free and live how, when, and where we want! For all of our issues, America is still the best country! i am proud to salute "Old Glory" and may she fly free and proud for years to come!

[rowdyazell]

Tracy, That is what I was trying to say! Thank you for articulating it so well

[luv2bdr]

I've always had a flag waving in front of my house as I was born into a military family and married a military veteran. My oldest daughter also served 4 1/2 years in the Air Force. My husband has a very large U.S. flag waving in front of his business. We are proud to be American's. God Bless American!
Keep Waving!
Bridgette

[donna6171]

To me, the flag represents the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. It also represents the many men and women who (over the years) gave their lives so that we may enjoy the freedoms that we have. My heart goes out to all the parents of the military personnel that are overseas and in danger. I pray everyday for their safe return. I get angry and hurt when I see people burning the American flag. Our flag is a symbol of freedom, love, and the sacrafice many people have given. May God continue to bless this country and bring our military home safely.

:usflag:

[Ann2006]

As a former military brat, I have tremendous respect for the flag and all it represents. As a teacher, part of my duties are to oversee and guide students as we recite our daily pledge of allegiance and sing our national anthem. Students who choose to be disrespectful during this time give me a great opportunity to teach them about our flag and why we must be grateful that we are given the opportunity to honor it daily. By the end of the first week of school, I usually have 100% participation from my students. Our flag is the reason I can live the way I choose in this wonderful country of ours. It represents all who took a stand against injustice so that we can go about our daily lives with freedom and security. I fly my flag proudly both at home and at school!

[mimarg5557]

I also have joined the DAR...my aunts had done all of the work for the genealogy...Very interesting. Anyway, I will be helping to take care of a veteran's home and also i will be helping to sponsor a "flag burning" ceremony at the start of the school year...

Don't forget to wear red on fridays as a movement of solidarity for our troops.
Mary

[TessiNY]

Mary,
Please explain the idea of red on Fridays. My husband just returned from a year in Iraq and this is the first I've ever heard of this. Thanks :confused:

[mimarg5557]

:D this was started in an email, I don't think it originated in Louisiana where I am. But, I took the idea to heart, and so I remember always to wear my red on Fridays. Easy to do, as my "family" all wear red...we tend to attract hummingbirds with the color too. :rolleyes: