By Nina Anderson | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice
With Flag Day approaching, I took a moment to swap out the American flags at our home—a tradition we’ve kept ever since our son joined the Navy nearly three years ago. That decision changed how we saw everyday things. Since then, that flag hasn’t come down once. It stays up through wind, rain, and snow. We fly it for him, and for what he represents.
We were raised to treat that flag with respect, because it stood for something bigger than ourselves. So no, changing it out isn’t just a chore. It’s a way of showing we still care. It’s an act of gratitude and principle.
Such dignity is shown by never allowing it to touch the ground, ensuring it is properly illuminated if flown at night, and when it becomes too worn, it should be retired respectfully—ideally by burning, in a dignified ceremony.
The Flag Code’s been around since 1923 and became law in the ’40s. It spells out how to handle the flag: don’t let it drag, keep it lit at night, and when it’s worn out, retire it respectfully. That kind of care still means something. They’re gestures of honor.
When it came down, I folded it properly and set it aside. And even though it has served its time, I’m not tossing it in the trash. I’ll drop it off with a veterans group that handles retirements the right way. It’s not just routine—it’s a personal gesture of respect for what this country has given, and what so many have given for it.
This flag tells a story—ours. The flag holds our history—but it also speaks to what we still care about. Sacrifice, courage, and a shared future. That story reminds me that this flag belongs to every generation.
They’re on porches, buildings, poles—but how often do we really take them in? But it holds pieces of real life—families, battles, hard decisions.
One man, Captain William Driver, named his flag “Old Glory” nearly two centuries ago—and the name stuck. And in 1969, Neil Armstrong planted one on the moon. It’s still standing today, though the color’s long gone from the sun.
Even television carries its echoes. In the opening of Gilligan’s Island, a flag flies at half-staff on the S.S. Minnow, filmed on the very day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
It matters how we display our flag. And it matters even more why. The U.S. Flag Code states that no other flag should be placed above or to the left of the American flag. The only exception is at United Nations headquarters.
When other flags are flown at equal prominence at our own White House, many Americans feel uneasy—and I understand why. These codes aren’t just bureaucratic. They exist to preserve a sense of national unity and respect.
Not everyone sees it the same way. I get that not everyone agrees. In 1989, the Supreme Court said flag burning counts as protected speech. I understand the legal side—even if I don’t personally agree with the act.
For me–it’s not a political act–honoring the flag. It’s about principle. It’s about love of country. It’s about remembering that freedom comes at a cost.
When we’re in mourning—Memorial Day, national tragedies, the loss of a leader—we lower the flag. There’s a right way to do it. And we do it because that gesture still brings us together. That silent symbol speaks when words fail.
And it speaks in celebration too. When we gather for a flag wave, something beautiful happens. You hear horns honk, see strangers smile, and watch kids waving flags out the windows. And in that moment, it hits you—we’re still connected. That we are Americans first.
I keep a few small flags and pocket Constitutions in my bag. Sometimes people light up when you hand them one. There are plenty of flags in the world—but only one tells the American story.
Let’s protect it. Let’s honor it. Let’s help the next generation understand what that flag represents. Love of country isn’t about noise—it’s about quiet strength, and showing up with heart.
This Flag Day, may we raise our flags with purpose—and be thankful we still have that freedom.
Nina Anderson is a fourth-generation Colorado native and successful business leader who founded Express Employment Professionals, helping place over 7,400 Western Slope residents in jobs with local companies over nearly two decades. A descendant of homesteaders and sheep ranchers, Anderson brings deep roots and rural values to her public service, currently serving on the governor-appointed Colorado Workforce Development Council as a Western Slope representative. She is currently running for Colorado State House District 54 in the 2026 election. Anderson holds a degree from Regis University and has served on numerous community boards including the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce and Mesa County Workforce Development Board. Learn more about her background and campaign priorities at nina4colorado.com.
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.