Old Glory needs our support more than ever

Old Glory has taken a beating this year.

You may have seen videos or photos of people standing on our flag in a display of protest. You might recall a California university banned the American flag from campus but later reversed its decision.

These stories enrage American Legion members, our servicemembers, patriotic Americans and others. Often, the national media jump on stories like these at first but then move on to something else.

With Flag Day just around the corner, American Legion departments, posts and members have an opportunity to steer attention back to our beloved Stars and Stripes.

For example, National Headquarters is putting together a flag bookazine. Titled “Indivisible: The Story of Our Flag,” this collector’s item is an American Legion tribute to our nation’s colors, exploring the flag’s meaning, the price paid for all it symbolizes, and the special place it occupies in our culture and conscience.

The $9.95 bookazine will be available on newsstands in November 2015, but you can pre-order your copy of the 112-page bookazine today. Posts, Auxiliary unitsand Sons of The American Legion squadrons may wish to order these in bulk from emblem.legion.org and use them as a fundraiser for programs.  

Here are some other ideas:

• Share your photos. Join our campaign to promote the flag on social media. Share your favorite flag photos on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by using the hashtag, #MyUSFlag.
• Community events. I encourage you to get out into your communities and generate awareness of Old Glory and what our flag represents. Flag Day is an ideal time for this, but our commitment to her endures each and every day.