14 Jun A Symbol Worth Fighting For

On this day in 1777, during a desperate war for American independence, the delegates to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia adopted the “Stars and Stripes” as the official flag of the newly emerging American nation. According to resolution: “White signifies Purity and Innocence; Red, Hardiness and Valor; and Blue, Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice.” For the first flag, these colors were organized into 13 alternating red and white stripes and 13 white stars in a field of blue.

Since Betsy Ross stitched the first banner, the American flag has continually been an inspiration to each generation. Throughout the years, American patriots have fought and died under the flag in order to secure their freedom and liberty as so boldly proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence. Today, our service men and women continue to fight and die under “Old Glory” in defense of Americans’ right to self-government.

What does the American flag mean to you? The following is an inspirational story of how far some people will go to protect the greatest symbol of freedom that our country has!

A few weeks ago at Lousiana State University, a group of students showed the meaning of “Proud to be an American.” When a small group of students decided to burn a U.S. flag in the name of “due process for students and suspected terrorists alike,” a huge crowd stepped in and stopped them in their tracks. As the would-be flag burners became a sad spectacle of their unsuccessful demonstration and the leader tried to make a statement, the growing crowd roared, “USA, USA, USA, USA.” The protesters were eventually escorted away for their safety as the group began throwing water balloons and chanted to show the love for their country. While the event shouldn’t have turned violent, this altercation over a piece of cloth reveals something crucial about the American flag—it represents an idea that most students at LSU, and indeed most Americans across the country, don’t want burned and destroyed, symbolically or otherwise.

Do you have any stories of patriotism demonstrated by the American people in the name of our waving flag? Let us know in the comments because it is always nice to hear about our people’s love for this amazing country!

Happy Flag Day everyone! Wave that flag proudly today to show your appreciation for everything that everyone has done for the freedom we live with on a daily basis!