What the Flag Means This Memorial Day

Memorial Day began after the Civil War as a time to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers — a solemn tradition that eventually became a national holiday in 1971. While it marks the unofficial start of summer for many, its purpose is much deeper: to remember the men and women who gave their lives in service to this country.

For many of us, the American flag is at the center of that reflection.

It has changed 27 times throughout our history — with each new star marking not just another state, but another chapter in our shared responsibility as citizens. The version we know today was officially adopted in 1960 after Hawaii became the 50th state.

I fly the flag proudly. Not because I believe the country is perfect — but because I believe the ideas it stands for are worth protecting. Freedom. Unity. The right to speak, believe, and live differently from one another — without fear of punishment.

But I didn’t always feel that way. When I was younger, pledging allegiance in school felt like something I was supposed to do. An obligation. It wasn’t until I got older that I started to understand what the flag actually meant — not just as a symbol, but as a source of unity.

Moments That Shaped My View

Photo by: Senior Airman Alexis Morris

I still remember driving to work the day after September 11th. The roads were quiet. I turned a corner and saw a fire truck parked with a giant American flag hanging from its ladder. It was breathtaking. Over the next few days, I saw more flags — in windows, on porches, waving from car antennas. It didn’t matter who you were, where you were from, or what your politics were. For a moment, the flag reminded us we were in it together.

A few years ago, I went to a rodeo — an outdoor event at night. Before it began, a woman rode into the arena on horseback, carrying an American flag in one hand. It was quiet and still. She circled the arena slowly, holding the flag high. Then The Star-Spangled Banner began to play. No one was told to stand or sing — but everyone did. People removed their hats. Children joined in. Military veterans stood in salute. When she began the Pledge of Allegiance, voices followed. Not out of obligation — out of something deeper. Out of gratitude. Out of honor.

Moments like that are why I choose to show my patriotism — not to prove a point, but to set an example. If for no one else, then for my family and children. Because if more people understood what this freedom cost — and what it continues to mean — I believe it would be more respected, and more carefully preserved.

The Flag’s Meaning and Memorial Day

Each Memorial Day, the flag is flown at half-staff from sunrise to noon — to honor the fallen. At noon, it is raised back to full-staff — not in forgetfulness, but in resolve.

It’s a simple gesture. But it carries weight.

I’ve never served in the military. But I am deeply grateful to the men and women who have — and especially to those who never made it home. Their sacrifice is the reason we’re able to speak freely, gather openly, and live under the protection of rights many around the world still long for. I don’t take that lightly. And I hope my life, in small ways, honors their memory.

Because the best way to honor that kind of sacrifice isn’t just with flags or pledges — it’s with the lives we lead. The freedom they died to protect only matters if we use it well. If we listen. If we serve. If we take care of one another.

Pledging Allegiance — or Choosing Not To

I say the Pledge of Allegiance. I teach my kids to say it, too. But I also understand that not everyone does — and that, too, is part of the freedom we’re meant to protect.

In 1943, during World War II, the Supreme Court ruled that no American — not even a child — can be forced to say the pledge. That ruling reminded us that freedom of speech also means the freedom to decline.

There’s a difference between agreeing with someone’s protest and defending their right to protest. I don’t have to agree with how someone treats the flag to honor the freedom that allows them to do it.

And I believe that kind of freedom is worth standing for — even when it challenges us.

A Personal Commitment

What the Flag Means This Memorial Day. This Memorial Day, I’ll fly my flag. I’ll say the pledge. I’ll explain to my kids why we do it — and what it means. Because the more we understand the freedoms we have, the more likely we are to protect them.

Patriotism doesn’t have to look the same for everyone. But if, like me, you believe in what this flag stands for — I hope you’ll find a way to live it out. Not to prove a point, but to keep the spirit of freedom alive for the next generation.

And I’ll remember that others may show their patriotism differently — or not at all. That’s part of what makes this country what it is.

The flag means different things to different people. But to me, it means this: we’re still free to choose — and we’re still strong enough to stand together.