(June 14, 2012) Today is Flag Day – a day which commemorates the adoption of the American flag by the Second Continental Congress in 1777. It provides a fitting opportunity to pause for a moment and reflect on its meaning.

The American flag is a symbol, which is to say that it represents America itself. It stands or falls, then, on the health of America itself. But where does America stand today?

Fears abound that the nation is in decline. But fears of American decline are not new. (See here) So if fears about U.S. decline were wrong in decades past, why should we believe them today? Maybe we shouldn’t.

Without question, the United States faces challenges that could erode its global position: its fiscal situation is a mess, China is ascending, and the world abounds with asymmetric threats that could undermine the liberal international order Americans have built for generations.

But America has overcome worse economic times in the 1930s and 1970s. America has coped with rising powers before. And today’s asymmetric threats pale in comparison to the existential threats posed by the madmen of the 20th century. Moreover, no country encompasses the full spectrum of geopolitical power (economic, military, cultural) and embraces universally appealing attributes (political and religious pluralism, economic opportunity, cultural openness) like the United States. This confluence of strengths gives the United States a decisive edge.

So perhaps it’s premature to replace Old Glory with a white flag just yet. 

As the president writes in his Flag Day proclamation issued Monday,

Through the successes and struggles we have faced, the American flag has been ever present. It has flown on our ships and military bases around the world as we continue to defend liberty and democracy abroad. It has been raised in yards and on porches across America on days of celebration, and as a sign of our shared heritage. And it is lowered on days of remembrance to honor fallen service members and public servants; or when tragedy strikes and we join together in mourning. Our flag is the mark of one country, one people, uniting under one banner.

When the American flag soars, so too does our Nation and the ideals it stands for. We remain committed to defending the liberties and freedoms it represents, and we give special thanks to the members of the Armed Forces who wear our flag proudly. On Flag Day, and during National Flag Week, we celebrate the powerful beacon of hope that our flag has become for us all, and for people around the world.

Now, one way to celebrate our flag and show our dedication to a strong America is to unite together in pursuit of the passage of a constitutional amendment to prohibit desecration of the flag. Old Glory was meant to be flown proudly, not burned. Burning the flag is an offense to all that it stands for and to all those who defended it.

In order to become law it needs to pass the Congress by a two-thirds vote and then be ratified by three-fourths of the states. A tall order, but passage of such an amendment would send a powerful message that we will not stand for an America in decline.

The American Legion believes all Americans should come forward and re-consecrate themselves to the patriotic ideals we have always stood for. No matter how disparate our views, no matter how much we disagree, we are all dedicated to each other and to our mutual support, and the unifying symbol of that dedication is our flag. Let us protect this flag as the one thing that unites us all, regardless of our differences. The flag is the one symbol that shows we are bigger than our differences, stronger than our squabbles. The flag is one thing we all have in common.

This Flag Day, we hope you will take a moment and honor it by sending a message to your member of Congress asking them to join us in protecting our flag and our country. For more than 230 years it has flown over the land of the free and the home of the brave. We should treat it with the honor and respect it has earned, especially in these troubled times. Our nation has so much to be proud of. We are far from perfect but we are the last best hope for a more peaceful and just world.

The symbol of our might and our mercy is our flag.

Long may she wave!

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