I am deeply grateful that our local citizens, communities, businesses and governments have put out extra flags to honor the return of our soldiers from deployment overseas. To celebrate Veterans Day, I am sure many more flags are flying to honor all our service men and women. I only wish all you who do place flags out would remember to treat the flags with due respect. I ride around town even now and see flags stuck in the ground in front of business and most of the flags are now dragging or have fallen to the ground.

What does an American flag on the ground mean? It means there are neither soldiers nor citizens left alive to pick it up and charge the battle. A flag touching the ground is considered desecrated and should be destroyed through proper ceremony. To those of us veterans and citizens who still get misty eyed seeing the flag raised and lowered in ceremonial pomp, lowered for a fallen comrade, or just freely flapping in the breeze; seeing a flag on the ground is considered dishonorable and a slap in the face to every soldier who ever served this nation.

If you wish to honor our heroes by flying a flag, do so with honor and respect. Keep our grand old flag — the red, white, and blue — off the ground. May it forever proudly fly over a grateful nation, not lie on the ground as a soiled piece of trash.

Michael Darling

Killen