The American flag is one of the most recognized symbols throughout the world.  It is seen as a beacon of opportunity, democracy, and power. Seeing our nation’s flag waving in the wind is a familiar sight but we need to remember what it represents. 

Before the war of 1812, no significant meaning was attached to the flag. This changed when Francis Scott Key saw the American flag waving through the smoke after the battle of Fort McHenry. Key saw more than a tattered flag; he saw a symbol that represented bravery, sacrifice, and patriotism and wrote a poem that became our National Anthem. You can see the flag that inspired these famous words on display at the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. 

Imbedded in the American flag are our nation’s rich history and the stories of the men and the women who helped shape our country and those who fought to defend and preserve our freedoms. 

When lowered to half-mast, the flag becomes a sign of our collective mourning in honor of great Americans who have passed on. Last week flags in Arkansas flew at half-mast to pay tribute to Scott County Sherriff Cody Carpenter and Wildlife Officer Joel Campora, public servants who lost their lives in the recent flooding. Across the nation, the flag flew at half-mast to honor WWII veteran and New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg. Seeing the flag at half-mast is a painful, yet necessary reminder of those who have given so much to our country. 

The American flag embodies everything that makes the United States of America a great nation. Representing the people of our nation, the American flag is a strong symbol of national pride.