Any elementary school child can tell you Flag Day is when we celebrate the flag, but when you ask them why we celebrate the flag, a blank look will come across their face. Sadly, you will get a similar reaction when you ask the same question to high school students. For roughly 240 years, our nation has been represented by a red, white and blue piece of fabric dangling from a pole. To some people, that’s all it is. What I am wondering is why we, as a country, have lost respect for this iconic symbol of who we are and what we represent?

What exactly does Old Glory stand for? There is a difference between just seeing the flag and knowing for what it stands. The American flag is not an abstract piece of art; it does have meaning. Most people can tell you there are 50 stars, one for every state. Many can even tell you that there are 13 red and white alternating stripes, one for each of the 13 colonies. If you ask me, that’s the least interesting, especially since that is the emotionless and cold part of the flag. The real meaning is in the colors.

According to the CIA World Factbook, red symbolizes courage, zeal and fervency; white denotes purity and rectitude of conduct; and blue stands for loyalty, devotion, truth, justice and friendship. Aren’t those principles the very basis of our civilized American society? I think that all those points are ideals we should strive to exhibit in our everyday lives.

There was a time when people looked up at the flag and saw more than a colorful banner waving in the wind. When I look at the flag, I see a lot more than just a piece of cloth; as do the men and women who serve our country every day. When I look at the flag, I see the faces of the nearly one million Americans who have died in combat. Each of them served under a flag not that different than the one that flies in front of Thornton Academy. I see the politicians who work hard to benefit the people they represent. The spirit of the more than 300 million Americans that the flag represents can be felt when you look at her in all of her glory. Maybe if everyone saw a little bit more than they do now, when they look at the flag, we as a country would be more patriotic.

I attend the parades in downtown Saco on Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day. One time in particular sticks out in my memory. As the color guard marched down Main Street, the majority of people seemed not to care. However, there was one elderly man in a lawn chair who stood up; removed his cap and put it over his heart. Was that really so hard? Is it really that much of an inconvenience to remove the ball cap for the few seconds that the flag is passing? Earlier this year at a Sea Dogs’ game, I witnessed a similar event. Before the game, we stood while the Star Spangled Banner was performed. I saw very little reverence shown for the flag. A veteran, wearing a jacket commemorating his service, proudly stood at attention with his hand over his heart. Do you really have to serve our country to have a sense of patriotism? Shouldn’t we all be as patriotic? I think that every American can show patriotism, especially in presence of our flag.

The American people aren’t necessarily at fault here. Most of us have not had any formal education regarding flag etiquette. However, the buck stops here. There are a few things that we can all do to bring patriotic dignity back to America.

Place your hand over your heart, stand and show some respect when the pledge or Star Spangled Banner are being recited or a color guard passes by you.

If you have a tattered flag, or know someone who does, contact your local Boy Scout Troop or American Legion to dispose of it. For more in-depth instructions on how to properly display the American flag, one can easily look up the flag code online, at such sites as legion.org.

Teach the next generation about the flag and patriotism, then they will show the patriotic respect our grandparents did.

— Timothy Morris is a student at Thornton Academy who is active with Thornton Academy television station and will be writing this column for the Journal Tribune through the summer.