patriotism: love for or devotion to one's country
source: Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

Patriotism is a love of and loyalty to one's country. A patriot is someone who loves, supports, and is prepared to serve their country. Today most people agree that patriotism also involves service to their country, but many disagree on how to best perform such service. Most believe that the national government speaks for a country; citizens should actively support their government, lest they show weakness to the world. A time we all would agree that we should be showing our patriotism is on Independence Day.

Independence Day, commonly known as the "Fourth", is the federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from Great Britain. Independence Day, the only holiday that celebrates the United States, is a national holiday marked by patriotic displays. Some local politicians that are flying the stars and stripes include; Mayor Randy Hamlin, Doug Thorndike, Swede Johnson, Lynn Schilaty, Larry Countryman, Kirk Pearson, Mike Hope and even the Governor. Choosing NOT to fly the American Flag on this Independence Day; Karen Guzak, Melody Clemens, Liz Loomis, Hans Dunshee and the 44th legislative District Office. The choice to be or not to be patriotic is completely up to the individual but one would hope that our elected officials would want to show their patriotism at least one day a year. After all, Independence Day is a nonpartisan holiday, a time of celebration of our nations history.

We commonly associated it with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, picnics, baseball games, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions, like flying the flag of the United States of America. July means summer weather, and many of us escape the heat at beaches and other vacation spots.  Independence Day is not among the legal holidays fixed on a Monday or Friday, but many people use vacation time to create an extended weekend.

History Snippet; The Revolution, the legal separation from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia. After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a committee with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4, 1776.

Declaration of Independence, the document that continues to represent, "the standard to which we hold others, and the standard by which we measure ourselves. Our greatest achievements have come when we have lived up to these ideals. Our greatest tragedies have come when we have failed to uphold them." GWB