I was never particularly patriotic until the aftermath of 9/11. Then, like everyone else, we ran to the store to buy American flags. Remember? They were everywhere -- decorating cars, front porches, lining streets and yards -- everywhere. We couldn't even get a flag the first time we tried to. There'd been a run on them at the store and we had to wait for the next order to come in. I wonder if that will happen again now that Bin Laden has been killed?
In the days following the terrorist attacks, I felt my first stirrings of patriotism. I teared up at the sight of the flag and felt a community with my fellow Americans that I'd never felt before. The Star Spangled Banner immediately prompted a lump in my throat. The waving of the flag was suddenly one of the most beautiful sights I could behold.
Since September 11th, I've become a sentimental patriotic fool. I cried everytime I heard the first few notes of our anthem during the Olympics. I was beside myself when I saw my son's Air Force unit march with flags during their graduation ceremony. I broke down when I saw the flag draped across the coffin of one of his Air Force buddies. I tear up when I hear children pledging allegiance to the flag. I cannot stop being a proud American now.
The flag is waving again, on the streets, on TV, and all over America. I get chills when I see it. Not because I'm celebrating the death of Bin Laden, but because I am, simply, an American.
I just watched Jon Stewart's response to 9/11 (which I hadn't seen before) and it's incredible to think that was the beginning, and now this is (hopefully) the beginning of the end.
ReplyDeleteI thank your son for his service.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I sometimes feel the way that you do, but it's those other voices that are hard to ignore. I've always been an in-betweener, and it's not an easy place to be. Loved hearing your perspective.
ReplyDelete