When I Look at Our Flag

To a lot of people, when they look at the American flag, they see what they see every other day--an old piece of cloth.  But, what they don't think about is what it really means.  When we look at our flag, we should see the purity, hardiness, and courage that our country is built on, signified by the 13 red and white stripes.  We should remember the vigilance and justice showed from past to present that is represented in the blue canton.  And when we see the 50 stars, we should think about the symbol of perseverance, one of the most important principles in our country's history.  When I see the American flag, I think about the old values of life and liberty that keep our country going.  I remember how these symbols could even mean a new chance for someone.  But, most importantly, I think about all the people that gave their lives so that we could live here peacefully in the United States of America.