Do you know what really grinds my gears? Seeing people blatantly disrespect the American flag. I like to think that I'm the most patriotic person I know, and if I had it my way, I would paint the world in red, white, and blue.

For those of you who don't know, let me give you a little background information on our flag. Our modern flag was created in Lancaster, Ohio, in 1958 by a man named Robert Heft. The flag consists of 50 stars, one for each state, and it is comprised of three colors: red, white, and blue. The colors each hold their own valuable meaning. Red signifies valor, white signifies purity, and blue signifies justice.

All in all, it would suffice to say that the flag represents our great country, the United States of America. That being said, why does it bother me when people disrespect our flag? Let me give you a hint: it has nothing to do with the flag itself.

The flags we see flying on government buildings, in our churches, and in our schools are nothing more than fabric. On their own, they are simply an insignificant mixture of different colored fabrics that have been designed to represent our country.

It's not the actual flag that I care about. It's what it stands for.

It stands for freedom, courage, and sacrifice. To me, when I see our flag, I think of all of the brave men and women who have dedicated their lives to this country. I think of the men and women who are separated from their loved ones in the name of serving this country. I think of the many, many men and women who have died for us, people they never knew.

I think of my cousin who is currently serving as an Infantryman in the Army. I think of my uncle who served in the Air Force. I think of my grandfather who served in the Air Force during Vietnam. I think of my great grandfather who served in the Army during World War II. I think of my brother, Rob, who still lives with battle scars from his time as an Infantryman in the Army. I think of the great nation that I am blessed beyond belief have been born in.

To you, the flag may mean nothing. You may use your freedom of speech to burn it, defile it, mock it, hate it, and not respect it. To others, however, this flag means so much more; it's the flag they or their loved ones fought and died for. Before you exercise your "right" to disrespect the flag, take a second to reflect on what the flag really stands for.

It's not about the flag at all. It's about the sacrifice many American men and women have made in order to protect the freedoms we can enjoy today.

To all who have served or are currently serving, I say thank you. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for your service.