What the American Flag Means to Me

The American Flag means different things to different people, and thus evokes a diversity of feelings in all of us. Whether our family arrived on these shores many generations ago or we are part of a more recent wave of immigrants, whether we can trace our family’s roots to our great Native American Nations or we have only just gained our citizenship, we all share one thing in common; we are Americans and this is our flag. Wherever we go, we represent our flag as much as it represents us. It is our nation’s oldest and finest symbol, and yet, symbolically, we are its greatest reflection.

When our courageous armed forces go to distant shores to defend those whose rights are not protected by their own nations, these valiant young women and men epitomize what the color red stands for in our flag: valor and bravery. When our sons and daughters cheer on the kid who finally made his first hit at a little league game, even though the team is scoreless, those players represent the true nature of what the color white means in our flag: innocence and purity. Lastly, the blue stands for vigilance, perseverance, and justice. Perhaps Americans represent themselves and our flag best when we consider we are the nation who is the largest supporter of charities and has set the example worldwide on making volunteerism a priority. Be it the busy mom making sandwiches for a local soup kitchen for the homeless, or a teenager forgoing a fun filled summer break for a more fulfilling summer spent building homes in the Gulf states for people who lost everything, or a physician donating her expertise to Doctors Without Borders in the war ravaged refugee camps of Darfur, Americans are ever vigilant in their giving and seeking to bring justice to those with no voice of their own.

The question is, what will we do to best honor the American Flag? How will we represent our nation? If we are grateful for our liberty, then we should work to preserve freedom for those who lack it. If we are grateful for the prosperity that our country allows us to achieve, then we should make an effort to spread the abundance we are so fortunate to have to those who have none. Traditionally, the United States is a nation of doers. By taking proactive steps to make this world a better place, we are showing not only our gratitude for living in a land that offers so much; we are showing what it means to be a true American.

The Flag of the United States of America is a source of pride that deserves our deepest respect. Volunteerism is one way to show how much we respect our flag. Another way to respect a flag properly, when it is ready to be retired, is to burn it in a special Flag Retirement Ceremony. That is why I am asking the residents of Clarkstown to drop off their old, worn flags to the Clarkstown Town Clerk’s Office at 10 Maple Avenue, New City, N.Y. We will then make sure the flags are retired in the proper manner.

This year, I am instituting a new essay contest open to all Clarkstown residents. The essay’s theme is: “What the American Flag Means to Me.” Type-written essays should be submitted to the Town Clerk’s Office by June 30, 2007, and include the writer’s name, address, age, and a phone number. The contest winner’s achievement and name will be written in an archival book that will become part of the Town of Clarkstown’s permanent archives.

June 14th of this year marks the 230th birthday of the US Flag. So on this Flag Day, we should all strive to think about what the American Flag means to each one of us. More importantly, we should strive to think about how we, as Americans, want to represent our flag and our nation. Being an American is more than what it says on our passport and waving a flag at a parade. Being an American is more than what we are; it is something that we do!