A little boy clutches onto the sleeve of his mother, sniffling his nose. A flag lays in his arms, his mother—carrying poppies. The woman and boy stand, staring at a large slab of stone with writing, it spelled out: US Army—Afghanistan, Loving Father. The boy places the large cloth in front of the stone and stares at his father's name.

“Thank you,” the boy murmurs.

There are many who don’t get to say their final goodbye to their loved ones, people who get cheated of that opportunity because of bravery. This is a country filled with proud hearts, people who protect the ones they love no matter the cost.

Americans fly the stripes and stars to show our gratitude to those who made gallant sacrifices in the name of this place we call home.

Standing the flag in the ground is a symbol of the efforts that Americans have made and the accomplishments that we’ve achieved in order to prosper as a nation.

An American flag was stuck on the surface when the first man landed on the moon. Neil Armstrong recognized the importance of this development for our nation and took the initiative to represent our country as the first to set foot on the moon.

I may not share the same experiences with every American, but I can still appreciate the importance of the flag, and I know that if I was that boy, I would be proud of my father for protecting this country too.