letter to the editor

Show respect for our flag

Wed, 06/07/2017 - 9:45am

Dear Editor:

There is a great feeling of pride when we see the American flag flying. We should all count our blessings that we live in the greatest country in the world.

A few years back, I was quite taken aback when the parade marshal at Brunswick’s Memorial Day parade, a World War II veteran, was quoted as saying, “It was a great parade; people were actually removing their caps as the flag passed by.”

I was surprised he said that. I remember the following message from my dad when I was young: Always remove your hat when the flag goes by, for the playing of the national anthem, and any other time when respect for your country should be shown.

I can’t imagine how any family could fail to teach this lesson to their children.

Through grade school, we always recited the Pledge of Allegiance. This taught us respect for the flag and our country – a practice I feel we need to get back to again. When this tradition stopped in some of our schools, our country changed for the worse.

As we prepare to observe Flag Day — June 14 for those who may have forgotten — we need to rally around the flag as a symbol of our strength and realize the sacrifices it took to make our country what it is today.

Munro Dodge

Boothbay