A Youtube video at Valdosta State University has gone viral. It shows a woman trying to take an American flag away from protestors after she witnessed them stepping on it.
Another recent incident in Panama City Beach, Florida, involved men disrespecting veterans and American flags during a Wounded Warrior beach retreat.
What happened to the days when service men and women were respected and thanked for their sacrifice?
What about the utmost respect that our American flag deserves because of what it represents?
Michelle Manhart, an Air Force veteran, was arrested after standing up against student protestors who were stomping on an American flag at Valdosta StateUniversity.
According to Fox News, she came to campus when she heard from a friend that student protestors were stomping on an American flag. Manhart proceeded to take the flag away from them.
Campus police then had to intervene. Manhart was eventually handcuffed, placed in a police car, and she refused to give the protestors the flag. She was ultimately issued a warning.
“It's my freedom, it's your freedom, it's America's freedom, and I don't think I can turn a blind eye to that," said Manhart, during her Fox News interview. “It's our everyday responsibility to defend it, whether we are serving or not.".
According to Fox News, in response to the event, Frankie Gay, an alumnus, passed out 10,000 flags in memory of his son who was killed in Afghanistan.
“There is nothing more honorable than to watch thousands of our hometown heroes, veterans, women and children alike, rally, all holding flags, and flying them high," Gay said. “The flag means a lot to many different people, but the freedom it represents really speaks volumes.".
Young men were seen spitting, urinating, and pouring beer on veterans during a Wounded Warrior beach retreat in Panama City Beach, Florida. They also allegedly ripped American flags out of the ground. How is this respecting those who fight for our freedoms?
According to CNN, “the University of Florida and Emory University are investigating allegations that Zeta Beta Tau fraternity members disrespected wounded war veterans last weekend at Panama City Beach, Florida, by spitting, urinating and pouring beer on them.".
Whatever your opinion may be about these two situations, let us remember what the American flag symbolizes.
It symbolizes the freedoms that we have as American citizens, that our men and women in the military defend every day.
It symbolizes the strength of this great nation through wars and tragedies.
It symbolizes America's independence from Britain, the Fourth of July.
Daily, thousands of children pledge their allegiance to the flag. The American flag is a sacred emblem of our country. Let's give it the respect it deserves.
