How patriotic are you?

I watched the number of flags being flown at full-staff over the past two weeks, and it made me sick to my stomach. We were under a half- staff rule for Hurricane Katrina victims, and there were many who did not bother to obey it. If you choose to exercise your right to fly an American flag, especially if you are a business, you should honor and respect the flag enough to fly it correctly. You have that right at a terrible expense - an expense that is being paid every day in the lives of our servicemen and women.

I said "right," but what I should say is "privilege." I look at a flag and feel a strong sense of honor for what it represents. It has suffered at the hands of people who chose to dishonor it by treating it badly, or even burning it. There are rules that everyone - especially businesses - should follow when displaying a flag.

The most ironic situation was at Patriots Park. They flew their flag at full-staff for the duration of the order. This is a park that was dedicated to the very lives that gave them the freedom to fly it! I have often walked into a store or place of business and pointed this issue out to the managers, but I chose not to in this instance. I wanted to point this out publicly because I feel that this was the greatest insult. My children play soccer there several times a week, and I watched and waited to see if anyone noticed, but they never did.

Speak up for our flag and what it represents. If you see it being flown disrespectfully, say something - but most of all, pay honor to it at all times. It flies with blood on it.

Marguerite Creekmore

Evans