Our Flag

When I was a boy of 6 when World War II started. I rode my bike up and down the streets of our small town and saw the stars in almost every window, representing sons that went to fight in that war. I still remember in my mind the wailing and crying of the mothers of my neighbors when the chaplain would come down the walks of their homes with the announcement that their son was “killed in action.” That left a big and very lasting impression on me, even to this day.

Over 250,000 mothers’ sons never came home from that war. Why? Because they died honoring and defending our flag. These boys would never have families, have children, go to little league games with their kids. They gave up their right to have girlfriends, wives, Christmas holidays and family reunions. Why did they go? What were they willing to lay their lives down for? I know, because of family values, our freedoms of religion and free speech, for the rights for others to have the potential to prosper, and traditional family values. They died to protect free enterprise, our Constitution, moral democracy. They died for Americanism! This so that you and I could do all these things.

I can’t honor them by going to all their gravesites or offering a hug to their moms. The only way I can honor them is saying the Pledge of Allegiance and by honoring the flag that draped their coffins when their bodies were shipped back home. We must live out the virtues they made the ultimate sacrifice for.

In our country today there is a tremendous disrespect for our leaders, our institutions and our national symbols. Cartoonists and comedians go beyond the limits of good taste, protestors show arrogant disrespect. And religious groups do not honor our flag because they say that they answer to a higher authority. However, all these people are in direct opposition to the Bible. The Bible commands respect and “honor” be given to our government, its representatives and thus, its symbols. Jesus said to honor Caesar by paying his taxes; the Apostle Paul said, “Give respect to whom respect is due and honor to who honor is due” (Romans 13:7).

Those who disrespect our flag, whether individuals, groups or companies, are not true Americans. They’re just squatters here, enjoying what others died to provide for them. They deserve to live under a socialist and poverty-stricken dictatorship. Then they might appreciate our flag! Honor is due to a president who takes his oath upon the Bible. Honor is due to the dead that gave their lives protecting us. And honor is due to the American flag.

It always seemed strange to me that certain people and groups dishonor the very country that protects them and their rights. Just as there is no greater virtue than to do good to those who hate you, there is no greater evil than to slap the face of someone (or in this case, a country) who has helped you. Whether a law is passed to protect our flag or not, citizens who disrespect the flag or ignore it, will answer to that Higher Authority. Vincit Omnia Veritas — the truth conquers everything.

Respond to this blog at coach@chapelfield.org and Coach will send you or a friend (at no cost to you) a copy of his latest book "Not Your Own" in which he presents the purpose and mission for each Christian life.

W. H. Spanjer III

Solo Christo Gloria

Next Week’s Blog: The Grannies – An Update!