Letter: Our flag: Let it forever wave

Wednesday is Flag Day. The other morning, I was standing on my porch and heard this sharp snap. When I looked around, I realized it was our flag waving in the breeze. As I watched it waving. it summoned up many images from both the past and future; Betsy Ross sewing the first flag, George Washington crossing the Delaware River, the battle at Gettysburg, Marines raising it at Iwo Jima, the shores of Normandy beach, the jungles of Vietnam and the deserts of Iraq and so many more places.

Perhaps the most recent images we see are the people of Ukraine waving their flag and ours together. The immigrants at the Texas border often have our flag wrapped around themselves waiting to enter the Land of the Free and Home of the brave.

Our flag means so much to so many. It is the symbol of liberty, of civic and religious choice, freedom from oppression and a new life for families. It's our flag. Ours to have and carefully hold on to.

And, curiously, my thoughts shifted to a song from the First World War I found myself tapping my foot to the melody and recalling the words. Perhaps you also remember and hum along: "You're a grand old flag / You're a highflying flag / And forever in peace may you wave / You're the emblem of / The land I love / The home of the free and the brave ..."

Let's keep it waving forever.

God bless America, our flag and all of you.

Mike Formento, Commander

Glen Ellyn American Legion