A 10-Year-Old’s Tribute To Veterans

“When I See The Flag”

Written by my daughter, Kate, when she was 10 (she’s now 11)

When I see the American flag I think of the thousands of men and women who courageously sacrificed their comfort, and sometimes their lives, for the welfare of their country and the people who dwell in it. Particularly, I think of my dad’s best friend, Mr. Jeff. He had served the United States diligently in Iraq for twenty-one months, but his deployment was over. We were going to meet him as he returned. It was a hot day, and many brows were dripping with sweat. Little girls and boys, who were dressed in red, white, and blue, were jumping up and down in anticipation. The hugest flag I’ve ever seen snapped jauntily in the wind atop a fire-truck ladder. Then the Honor Guard roared into view on motorcycles, escorting the buses of returning soldiers. When the crowd spotted the buses, they burst into cheers, and peered into windows hoping to find their soldier. Then Mr. Jeff stepped out of his bus. We all laughed and cried at the same time, too overjoyed to speak. He picked up Olivia, his daughter, and threw her in the air. He engulfed his son, Jackson, in an affectionate bear hug and embraced his wife. Whenever I see our flag, I remember that day. I feel inspired and grateful to be an American, and I want to do my part to ensure that my country stays, “The Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave.”