Our nation's flag is a symbol of our country and all it represents. Flags are waved with great pride during parades and radiant joyous celebration for Olympic athletes who wrap themselves in their nation's flag after victories. Perhaps most importantly, a nation's flag is a sign of unwavering hope that difficult times won't last, and better days are just around the corner.
The residents of Moore, Oklahoma are emblematic of that feeling. After a tornado ripped apart their small city this past May, neighbors returned to their homes to inspect the awful damage, hugged each other and quickly planted flags in the most unlikely places. They were hung from trees stripped of leaves and bark, from broken, leaning telephone poles and from twisted chunks of metal. Amid a landscape of ruin, the sea of red, white and blue was startling and defiant.
"It represents our spirit as Oklahomans and Americans," said Chris DeWitt in a Washington Post article. DeWitt pointed to a newly planted flag on a badly damaged basketball frame. "We're here, we're proud and we'll be back."
When Kevin Gibson returned to the remains of his home after the tornado he located his American flag near his partially collapsed garage. He and his nephew stuck a pole in the ground, raised the Stars and Stripes and heartened their neighbors. The flag seemed to say, yes, this was a disaster but we will emerge triumphant from this ordeal.
The reaction of Moore, Oklahoma residents to comfort themselves with the American flag parallels the nation's reaction during difficult times. United States flag sales traditionally spike during wars or terrible moments in our nation's history. After the attacks of September 11th, 2001, American flag sales increased dramatically and flag companies worked overtime to meet the incredible demand for their products and to soothe a troubled nation.