I hope those people didn't die for a friggen flag. I hope they died to protect their family and friends. It is not the same thing.
Think of the soldiers who died in Somalia. WTF did they die for? Or the many other stupid things we get involved in. Our flag does not mean anything anymore. When the constitution died, the flag died with it. When the constitution is honored I will start honoring the flag.
Until then I honor my family and friends. Falcon, I appreciate and have a great deal of respect for all those who serve, in the spirit that they are protecting the people of the country, not the government itself. You put your life on the line for the people of the country, which is the highest calling, but I hope it wasn't for a friggen flag.
But that is my perspective that the flag stands for the bastardized republic. To some it may mean the people, but I'm just following what the pledge says.
BTW, I consider my fellow countrymen who find freedom important my friends, such as I do all of you.