There’s an American flag flying outside my home, and it doesn’t just go up for holidays. It’s there most every day, through wind, rain, snow, and sun. It flies for the men and the women who stand for me. It flies for my family, my cousins, my grandfather, my brother, and even my son – who have all served this country in one branch of the military or another. And it flies for the ideals that make this nation worth defending: liberty, responsibility, faith, and the freedom to live without fear of tyranny, either foreign or domestic.
The Fourth of July means something to me. It always has. But in recent years, I’ve noticed a shift. The cookouts and fireworks are still there, but so are the protests and hashtags and rallies with slogans like “No Kings” and “Eat the Rich.” It’s as if some folks think July 4 is just about throwing off authority and making noise.
But that’s not what this holiday is about. At least it shouldn’t be.
The Fourth of July is about building something, not just tearing something down. It’s about declaring that people can govern themselves, that our rights come from God and not the government. It’s about vision, courage, and commitment. The men who signed the Declaration of Independence weren’t just rebels. They were founders. They weren’t looking to replace one tyrant with another. They were standing for something better. Something higher. A system rooted in law, liberty, and the recognition that freedom is fragile but worth fighting for.
That’s why the flag matters so much. It’s not just a decoration or a photo-op. It represents the blood, sweat, and sacrifice of generations who believed that freedom isn’t free. That includes the men and women in my family who answered the call to serve. Those who’ve stood and still stand watch for this country every day.
When I look at that flag, I don’t see perfection. I see perseverance. I see a country that’s struggled, stumbled, and sacrificed, but always come back stronger. I see the First Amendment, the right to speak freely even when we disagree. I see the Second Amendment, the right to defend ourselves and our families because liberty must be guarded.
Freedom is not a trend. It’s not a talking point. It’s a way of life. It’s what makes America different from every other nation on earth. It’s why we defend our borders, protect our Constitution, and take pride in our national identity.
I love this country. I’m not embarrassed to say that. I won’t apologize for standing for the flag, teaching my kids to respect it, and raising them to understand that liberty is a gift and a responsibility. You can disagree with policy, criticize leaders, and demand justice that’s part of the beauty of this nation but don’t mistake liberty for lawlessness. Don’t turn the Fourth of July into just another excuse to gripe.
Because this country still stands for something.
So this Independence Day, while I’m grilling with family and sending projectiles vertically and horizontally, I’ll be thinking about what it means to live in a place where freedom still has a home. I’ll be praying for our leaders, for our troops, and for a nation that remembers who we are and what we’ve been blessed with.
Let’s teach our kids the truth about this day not that we just broke away from something, but that we stood for something. And we still do.
Happy Fourth of July. God bless America. Let freedom ring.
Source: www.derrickhurst.org