To the editor:
The American flag is more than 13 stripes and 50 stars on a piece of cloth. It flies because of the many men and women, who fought and gave their all for the freedom we enjoy today.
It honors those mothers, fathers, wives, children, and other family members of those who died defending this great country of ours. It honors the tears of our Gold Star mothers.
The flag is not something to be used as a protest, but to be saluted for what it stands for — freedom. Were it not for that freedom, we would not have the right to speak out and to protest. If we are going to protest, let’s not use the flag or the National Anthem to do it.
Let us honor the stars and stripes. In doing so we honor the men and women who have served our country, who have died for it, and who have defended and preserved our rights as Americans.
They gave their lives for us. Surely we can stand up for them regardless of who our president is or what he may say or do.
May God bless America.

Roger J. Hardin
USAF veteran
Elizabethton