Unending love affair

What a beauty she was and is. I fell in love with her at an early age. Old Glory is her name.

Our affair started while attending grade school and continued thereafter. Each morning before starting classes, we pledged allegiance as Old Glory hung on the wall above the teacher’s desk. This affair blossomed while a youngster growing up during World War II. Many families displayed her proudly as loved ones were in foreign lands serving, fighting, and dying to protect her dignity. Families proudly displayed “Blue Star Banners” in the front windows with a blue star for every family member serving. Many banners displayed a gold star indicating a loved one was lost in action.

My love for Old Glory grew even more when I had the opportunity to hear a former Vietnam prisoner of war speak of his prisoner experience. After he was released he was taken into his commander’s office and saw Old Glory displayed in the corner. He stated that the experience of seeing her displayed was so overwhelming and the greatest sight that he had ever witnessed, and he broke down in tears of joy.

As I think about those who served, fought, and sacrificed their lives to protect Old Glory’s dignity, it is shameful when she is desecrated in any manner. She deserves the honor to stand alone when being displayed.

Our United States of America is being separated so much by various special-interest groups. I pray for the revival of the major priority of “Country first,” above all interests, second only to God.

I do and will continue to love Old Glory and consider it an honor to carry that love to my grave. GLENN A. SPUNG Little Rock