John Thomas

Cranberry Township

I’m writing this not to condemn you, but to share a perspective forged by generations of service to this country. My family has a deep history of military service: my grandfather and son are combat Veterans, my father is a Veteran and I had the privilege of serving over 26 years in the Army, and the flag has always meant something deeply personal to us.

When you burn a piece of cloth, you may think you are destroying a symbol, and in a physical sense, you are. But the flag is more than just fabric and colors. It’s a symbol of the principles that have called my family to service for decades, the same principles that are now held by countless others who have worn the uniform.

You see, the real American flag isn’t something you can light on fire. It’s in the heart of every soldier, sailor, airman and marine who has ever stood watch. It’s in the sacrifices made by those who never came home, and in the quiet pride of their families. It’s in the beliefs we hold about liberty and justice, beliefs that we’ve defended with our lives.

You can burn the cloth, but you cannot burn the spirit of a nation, nor can you remove the flag and all that it stands for from our hearts. The flag you see is just an emblem of something far greater and more resilient than any piece of fabric. It is a symbol that reminds us that the freedoms that give you the right to burn it are the same freedoms my family and so many others have fought to protect.

John Thomas is a retired U.S. Army sergeant.