I am wearing my ribbon again today. It is a simple red white and blue ribbon looped once and pinned just above my left pocket. I am not the only one wearing this type of ribbon as you have probably seen many people proudly wearing it also.
People are also flying the American Flag outside their homes and apartments. Some fly the Flag on the antennas of their cars. American Flags are in great demand wherever you go. Retail stores have not been able to keep up with the demand for Flags since only a few days after the events of September 11th.
Although flags and ribbons are such simple symbols, the love for them goes much deeper than their simplicity. The first time I had seen such patriotism was in the 1950's. I was a boy of about seven or eight decorating my bicycle with ribbons around the wheel spokes, streamers off the hand grips and flags on the handle bars. It was Memorial Day and the town parade route started in our neighborhood. America still had memories of the Korean War and World War II.
I wear my ribbon today for many reasons. I wear it for the victims of the attacks at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the passengers and crews that were on the four commandeered flights. I wear it for the families they left behind. It is worn for the firefighters, police and emergency crews who have gone very much beyond the call to duty that they were recruited for. Many lost their lives trying to save others. Others are still working at Ground Zero clinging to hope that there might be just one more miracle.
I wear it for our military, many who have not even reached the legal age of twenty one, all sworn to defend this great country of ours. They are living up to their pledge with honor, following any and all orders coming down from their Supreme Commander, the President of the United States.
My ribbon is worn for the wives, husbands and children of our servicemen and women. I also wear it for their parents. All are presently going through a terrible ordeal, knowing their loved ones are enroute to the region either by air, land or sea. They know not where their destination is, or what is in store for them. I was in this position when my son served in Somalia and Haiti. It is an agony I would not wish on anyone.
I wear this ribbon for our Congress. May they continue to stand behind our President and offer as much support as they can. May the party lines that came down since the attacks stay down. May they vote on all bills for their merit and for the good of the Nation.
This ribbon is worn for our President's aides. May they be able to offer him their best assistance. May they pool all their past experience and expertise to help provide him with any answers or solutions that are needed to get America through this time of need.
I wear this ribbon for our President. I, like many did not vote for him in the past election, but today I firmly stand behind him and his decisions. He is my President, our military's Supreme Commander. We have been at war the moment the attacks occured. Although we have not declared war, the fact remains that war has been declared on us. We are the United States of America and united states is exactly what our President needs for him to do the job he now has to do. He, in the very near future, will have to make some very hard decisions that will affect many many lives. He needs us to stand united behind him. We united as one will enable us to take this fight to our enemies, on their lands, not on ours, as we witnessed September 11th.
I wear my ribbon for our children and future children of America. We hold not only our future in our hands, but theirs as well. May our actions during this crisis provide them with a free, strong and safer America.
