American Flag quiz: What year do we have here?

While out on Communion calls this past Sunday afternoon, I saw this American Flag… wait… wait… that’s strange! I haven’t seen this for a long, long time. Can you guess what this is all about?

While you’re thinking, let’s listen to old Johnny tell us a story about the Ragged Old Flag. Take note of the introductory bits:

Some people object about that introduction, and to the cheers of the crowd that it brings. He says this:

• “We’ve also got a right to bear arms and if you burn my flag, I’ll shoot you, but I’ll shoot you with a lot of love like a good American.”

People think that statement refers to brats burning this or that flag. No. He expressly says that he respects the right of whoever to burn whatever flag.

The flag Johnny is speaking about – his flag – is… is… wait for it… his flag is these United States of America in their entirety, one nation, under God. Don’t believe me? Listen to the rest of the story.

This is patriotism. Patriotism is a virtue of piety. It’s a virtue of natural law. It’s a virtue described by the great Saint Thomas Aquinas.

And there we have it once again: what is held up by reason and what is lived in the faith are consonant with each other. Of course, both faith and reason come from God Almighty.

Back to the quiz. Can you guess what in the world is going on with that American Flag pictured at the top of this post?