I have flown the American flag from my house every day since 9/11, rain or shine. It has been suggested I discontinue doing so until the attitudes expressed by some in our country change.
I fly the flag in honor of my ancestors who arrived in Salem, Mass., in 1632, some of them then arrested and imprisoned during the Salem Witch Trials and one who died in confinement.
I fly the flag in honor of my great-great-great-great-grandfather, who fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill.
I fly the flag in honor of my grandfathers who arrived in America as immigrants in the late 19th century and worked hard to make America the great country it is today.
I fly the flag in honor of my father, who was at Pearl Harbor on this date, Dec. 7, in 1941 and who subsequently saw action in the western Pacific. He was in the Marianas Turkey Shoot and in the battles for Okinawa and Iwo Jima.
I fly the flag in honor of my father-in-law, who drove his tank ashore at Utah Beach and subsequently fought in the Saar Valley and the Battle of Bastogne and who participated in the liberation of those imprisoned at Buchenwald.
I fly the flag in honor of my brother-in-law, who fought in Vietnam and was injured, requiring months of recovery in a hospital.
I fly the flag for myself and my service during the Vietnam conflict. I never landed in Vietnam but would have gone if so ordered.
I fly the flag in honor of my grandson, a lance corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps who is deploying to the western Pacific theater for several months to represent America’s interests there.
I fly the flag to honor all our military veterans.
I also fly the flag for those who choose to express frustration at our government today by exercising their constitutional right to burn it. I honor their commitment to making America a better place to live.
I fly the flag for military heroes like Sen. John McCain and Capt. Humayun Khan for their service and sacrifice to our country.
I do not fly the flag in honor of a draft-dodging narcissist who advocated imprisoning those who choose to burn the flag and who denigrated Sen. McCain and Capt. Khan.
So, I am proud to fly the flag for the America I believe in, and I will continue to do so.
David J. Blomberg is a doctor in Duluth.
