Here is a little something for you to think about on Flag Day.
When I was an elementary school child, Sister Joy taught our music class to sing many patriotic songs. “America The Beautiful.” “My Country ‘Tis of Thee.” “The Star Spangled Banner.” The list goes on. We not only learned the words, but we were taught the meanings. Most importantly, we were taught to respect those meanings, those words and the American flag.
Admittedly, that was a different time. It was 1976, and most every American was celebrating our country’s bi-centennial by paying tribute to the historical events that led up to the creation of the United States of America. Even so, what we learned about our nation — and the need to respect it — stuck with me.
As an athlete, I continued to show that respect to the flag and to our fallen soldiers. Our national anthem would play at every wrestling meet, and I would get goosebumps each time I heard “our flag was still there.” I don’t know why. I just did… and I still do.
Our country is not perfect. Our ancestors made mistakes. We will, too. But there is nowhere else I would rather live.
Today, I fly the American flag in front of my home. Not because I belong to a certain political party (I don’t) or served in the military (I didn’t) or want to push a personal agenda (I won’t). It is because I am thankful for my rights.
I appreciate that I have freedom of speech, and freedom of the press, and the right to peaceably assemble, and to be able to petition our government. I cherish that I can openly practice my religion, and that others can, too. I value that I have the right to keep and bear arms, even though I choose not to. I revere the right to be secure against unreasonable searches and seizures.
I hope that I don’t ever have to justify these rights or the many others I am afforded as a United States citizen, but I rest peacefully knowing that I can.
As a continual reminder of these rights, and many others, I will continue to fly the stars and stripes, and I look forward to my next round of goosebumps.
Have a magnificent Monday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305 | 
