Having Faith in the Flag

by Henry Schulte

I’m starting off with an apology because I’m going to shamelessly market my “Fun Ways to Learn” children’s alphabet book series in this column.

It was sparked by a recent reading of my books that took place at an Alzheimer’s resident facility. I volunteer there and was asked if I could bring my books to have several girl scouts read them to the residents. I wondered how that even came about. Turns out the mother of one of the girl scouts has her own mother in the facility. The mom had heard about my books and thought it would be a cool idea for the girls to meet the author while doing some of their community service requirements.

I have six books: “Pedro the Avocado,” “Becky the Balloon,” “Clayton the Cocoa Bean,” “Daylon the Diamond” (my granddaughter’s name), “Eddie the Egg,” and “Faith the Flag.”

It was when one of the young scouts was reading my newest one, “Faith the Flag,” that I paid closer attention.

This book is a slight departure from learning the travels of Pedro the Avocado from farm to kitchen table. Or how a dirty rock can become a beautiful diamond. Without forethought, Faith is a patriotic book. Timely too, considering it’s a presidential election year. And especially timely for children to be reminded, or for that matter even learn in the first place, what makes America, America.

The Red, White, and Blue

Something as modest as material sewn together in the colors of red, white, and blue over the centuries has become an extremely powerful symbol. Powerful to those who love it. Loathsome to those who disrespect it.

My focus was drawn to the girl scout nodding her head while her friend was reading how the American flag came to be, what it stood for, and how “Faith the Flag” should be respected. When the girl read the passages about how Americans pledge their allegiance to the flag, the other scout placed her hand over her heart in reverence.

Witnessing that simple act by a ten-year-old gave me hope.

In a country filled with so much vitriol, it’s become common place for social trolls to destroy lives while hiding in cyberspace. To watch that young girl who hasn’t been tarnished (yet) by a broken school system was heartwarming. Too many schools are determined to mold children into something a school board wants them to be.

All manner of common sense is lost on perverted ideology.

In “Faith the Flag,” I point out how our flag has meant so much to so many and why she proudly waves across this great land. That she stands for freedom, unity, and independence.

I didn’t think when ex-football player Colin Kaepernick took a knee and disgraced himself and the American flag that it would cost him his career. We all know what happened after that; the rest of football and other sports thought it would be a good idea to make a point dissing the very thing that allowed them the freedom to do it in the first place. I stopped watching football after that. Not that I didn’t appreciate the point they were trying to make about racism. But because they were slamming the very symbol that gave them the opportunity to participate in sports and make fortunes doing it. I found that disgusting.

Still do; always will.

Proud to be Part of a Great Nation

Most of us grew up where every morning before school started, we’d assemble in the courtyard around the flagpole and begin the day with the pledge of allegiance. And if it wasn’t outside, it was in the classroom. We remained standing, facing the flag with our right hand over our hearts.

I’m not sure how much of that is being done in schools today. Education has taken twisted turns focusing on genders, teaching racism, and drifting away from the fundamentals of honest education and patriotism. Learning how to read, write, do real math, and learning real history should be the only things being taught. If DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion), pushing trans ideology, and teaching that all whites are bad is something parents want their kids to learn, they’re free to do it at home.

In “Faith the Flag,” I point out how the American flag is flown everywhere, at courthouses, libraries, schools and in front yards. How it unites us. Joins our hands as ones who are proud of their country. Proud to be American.

Proud to defend our liberties and our freedoms.

The Beautiful and Revered American Flag

Today, all those things are being torn down. Being rewritten. Haters preach that America is bad. They want to remove history because as they see it, no one should know how we got here. What it took to create a country from scratch. Were there mistakes? Of course. Are there blemishes in our past? Of course. Show me a person who hasn’t had his or her own share of mistakes and who’d like to erase those memories; you can’t.

Trying to hide history won’t make it go away.

America matured under the red, white, and blue. A flag that every human on the planet instantly recognizes. Our flag was flown when the massive tidal wave slammed Thailand and Sri Lanka. Our flag flew above Haiti when it was devastated by a hurricane. Our flag flew above Germany when Hitler was defeated.

The world has always counted on America and the flag under which she flies.

I have full faith in our flag to keep our nation strong. To let the world know we’re still here. That you can count on us when you need help. Americans can count on her as well to provide comfort and a bond when we have our own disasters and rough times.

For those who don’t appreciate the significance, the beauty, the importance of the Stars and Stripes, there are hundreds of other countries with a different flag you can stand below. But don’t get on the wrong side of Old Glory.

She’s starting to fight back.

To those young girl scouts, keep up the Faith. You’re the future to make sure the symbol of our freedom will continue to fly for the next generation.

We count on you.