Most people have probably never heard of Ringgold, Georgia. Although, if they have, they usually associate it with a tornado (April 27, 2011) or a tiger (the school mascot). While both of those things make the city of Ringgold the community that it is today, there is something else that I always think of that symbolizes it: American pride. I suppose it is a feature of the South, or maybe it is an American quality, but the city of Ringgold takes pride in our country and the men and women who have fought for it.
While Ringgold may not be large in stature, economically ground-breaking, or familiar to anyone outside of a 30-mile radius of it, the sense of American pride that the city displays speaks volumes to the people that encounter it during two holidays each year.
Twice a year the city of Ringgold puts up a unique display. Around the holidays of Memorial Day and Veterans Day, American flags and wooden crosses with veterans' names are placed around the city. The flags are meant to commemorate the men and women who have served our country. While this gesture may seem minimal, it actually causes quite a bit of commotion. The flags line multiple streets and city buildings, and the multitude of them bring visitors who alter their routes in order to pass by the patriotic assembly.
The flags remind us of the importance of holidays that commemorate our veterans and those who serve our country. The consistency of Ringgold to keep the flag display twice a year is something that we should become more appreciative of over time. In a world where values are questioned, beliefs are widely diverse, and peace is often unobtainable, it is a humble reminder that we are all part of the same country. We live in a country where our brothers, sisters, wives, sons, and daughters willingly fight for our protection and sacrifice their safety in order to preserve ours every day.
This Memorial Day weekend, while you're out on the lake, going to cookouts, or sleeping in on Monday morning without having to go to work, I urge everyone who can to consider taking a drive through the town of Ringgold, Georgia. It's not the town itself that I believe makes it a noteworthy visit this Memorial Day weekend, but it is the spirit that it represents. It is a city that is full of people who willingly come together to remember why we have the liberty to celebrate however we desire during this holiday.
Sometimes, it isn't the most animated and widely known locations that instill the best messages. Sometimes, it is the little rural town with a group of encouraged volunteers who are able to capture the essence of what it means to be an American.
