When I was a little girl, I so wanted one of my own. Did you automatically think of a dinosaur or spaceship? While that was and still is very true, what I really wanted an American flag.
I know that sounds strange even for me, but I absolutely loved watching the American flag wave in the breeze from our front porch. To me it was beautiful as well as majestic. You see, our next-door neighbor had a flagpole and, of course, they flew the flag on it. Several times I asked my parents to put one up in our front yard too. They didn’t have the extra money to do that. So, I had to watch the one next door and the one at my elementary school.
My one grand thing about my third-grade classroom was that it was located on the front side of the building. Every school day, I would watch the sixth graders raise the flag in the morning and lower it at the end of the day. I couldn’t wait to get to the chance to do that. In those days, some elementary schools went to the sixth grade.
Finally, I made it to the sixth grade. The day they asked for volunteers for raising and lowering the flag, I jumped up and down with my hand in the air: “Me! Me!” We volunteers were placed into teams of three and rotated flag duty. We were all trained on how to properly hold the flag and fold it. Also, we were not to let it touch the ground. I will have to say that each time it was my teams’ turn, everybody performed it with reference and the utmost respect. We all knew it was an honor
So, did I ever get one of my own? I did, but not in the way I thought I would. My sweet Papaw passed away in June of 2011. When my family went to make funeral arrangements, the funeral director asked if Papaw had served in the military. My momma told them: “Daddy was in World War II. He wasn’t drafted; he enlisted. He was inducted into the military at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia.” The funeral director answered: “Then he needs to be honored.” He contacted the local Color Guard. At the graveside services, the American flag was draped across Papaw’s casket. After the preacher finished, two men in military dress uniforms proceeded to fold the flag. As I watched, I saw them do exactly what we did back in sixth grade after we lowered the flag and folded it. Then one of them handed it to Mamaw Jo. As he did, he said a few words to her. The ones I remember the most were about the flag being a symbol of the country’s appreciation for Papaw’s honorable service. Four years later, Mamaw Jo passed away. As my mom and uncle were going through things, I did something I had never previously done. I asked for something: Papaw’s Flag.
“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” Romans 13:1 (KJV)
Papaw’s priorities were always: God, family, and country. To him, that was the best way to live. Even when he didn’t particularly like the administration that was in office, he knew it was God’s Will. So, he not only respected it, but he would still have defended it against enemy threats.

“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:” Hebrews 12:28 (KJV)
Yes, I have an admiration and respect for the American flag and for the ideals for which it stands. That being said, nothing compares to my solemn respect of The Lord. Nothing or no one should ever come before Him.
Papaw’s WWII picture and the one of his flag are used with the article. I have had many people tell me that I was supposed to take the flag out of the plastic before I placed it in the shadow box. I know that, but I was afraid that if the glass pane ever cracked or broke, it would cut the flag. So, if you are ever at my house and notice it, just smile and say: “That flag looks good in the plastic.”

Brooke Cox is an author, speaker, and storyteller. She was a 2016 Selah Awards Finalist for Debut Novel. Her children’s book: “Dinosaur Eggs,” is now available. It is based on Ephesians 6: The Armor of God. Her novel “Until the Moon Rises: A Conniving Cousin Mystery” is also available. Also, she has two books out in her storytelling series: “Saucy Southern Stories.” The Amazon links for her books may be found on her website: brookecoxstories.com. Please feel free to contact her. She would love to hear from you.