There’s something sacred about those beloved colors of red, white, and blue. They’re more than just a color scheme for a t-shirt or those skirts around floats for a parade. They tell a story. They tell our story whether we like it or not. Every thread of that flag carries the weight of history and the hope of tomorrow. The American flag isn’t just fabric. It’s a symbol of everything we’ve fought for, everything we still believe in, and everything we pray our children will carry forward.
Red stands for the blood. Not just blood spilled, but blood given. Willingly. Courageously. From the hills of Valley Forge to the deserts of the Middle East, brave men and women have laid down their lives so this flag could wave high and free. Red reminds us that freedom has never been free. It’s been paid for with dog tags, folded flags, and silent salutes.
But red also represents valor and bravery. It symbolizes the kind of courage it takes to stand when others sit, to speak truth when it costs you, to fight for what’s right even when it’s not popular. When I see that red, I see generations of my family who stepped up to serve. I see the cost. And I honor it.
White stands for victory. Not perfection, not prideful boasting, but the hard-won triumph of liberty over tyranny. It reminds us that light still conquers darkness. That hope still overcomes fear. That this nation, for all its struggles, has always found a way to rise.
And more deeply, white symbolizes purity and innocence. These are the ideals at the core of our founding. The belief that people should be free. That every human life has value. That government exists to protect, not control. It’s not a denial of our flaws, but a declaration of what we aspire to be. It’s a challenge to live up to the principles we were founded on. Life. Liberty. The pursuit of happiness within a orderly system.
Blue reminds us of the skies that shelter us and the seas that protect us. It’s the color of depth and endurance. It stands for every watchful eye, every long night, every man, woman, and child who stands with unshakable resolve. Blue is the quiet strength behind our freedom.
It signifies vigilance, perseverance, and justice. These three traits we desperately need today. Vigilance, to guard our freedoms and resist the slow creep of apathy or rejection. Perseverance, to keep pressing forward when the road gets hard. Justice, to ensure liberty isn’t just for some, but for all. Blue is the backbone of a republic that still believes in right and wrong, and isn’t afraid to defend it.
And then there are the Stars and Stripes.
The stripes tell our story. Thirteen bold colonies that stood together, now part of a union that has endured through civil war, world wars, and cultural change. They stretch across the fabric like the timeline of a nation built on grit and grace.
The stars shine with promise. They are the fifty sovereign states, united not by sameness, but by shared belief. They represent our present and our future. They are a reminder that we are stronger together, even when we don’t always agree.
The flag is not a decoration. It’s a declaration. It says we remember. It says we’re still proud. And it says we still believe in liberty, still value sacrifice, and still love this land we call home.
So the next time you see Old Glory waving in the wind, whether it’s outside a home, on a military base, folded at a gravesite, or lifted high at a small-town parade remember what those colors mean.
They are not about a political party. They are not trendy. They are timeless.
Red for the blood, valor, and bravery.
White for the victory, purity, and innocence.
Blue for the sky, and for vigilance, perseverance, and justice.
Stars for our unity.
Stripes for our legacy.
This flag still speaks.
The only question is are we still listening.
Source: www.derrickhurst.org