During Memorial Day weekend, I took note of the severe lack of evident patriotism while driving around my neighborhood. That holiday was created to allow Americans an opportunity to stop running through their crazy lives and reflect upon the freedoms they enjoy as a result of the hundreds of thousands of American Veterans who died to preserve those very freedoms people tend to take for granted.

Displaying the American flag on holidays such as Memorial Day, July 4th and Veterans Day is the best way to show the respect due to the committed members of our society that honorably risk their lives for this land we love. The huge reduction in the number of displayed flags seems to imply that people are severely taking this for granted. After 911, there was a huge increase in flags displaying our love of this land, but sadly that enthusiasm seems to have dwindled. I hope America will use the designated holidays to fly our flag high and remind those around them that we are lucky to live in this wonderful country and are thankful for those who make sure we are still the land of the free and the brave.

Ralph A. Figueroa

Air Force Retiree