To the editor:

Recently I’ve noticed several U.S. flags. I had meant to hang mine, but I just hadn’t found the time.

I don’t claim to be for or against the war. Some days I can’t stand to even read about it. I have that luxury. Days that I do read the daily paper, I mostly read about the local controversies: The antiwar protests or the “Support Our Troops” signs that have been stolen. Recently, the articles that have caught my attention are about the young soldier, the Iraqi civilian, the soldier who leaves behind young children or a newlywed whose military husband has died in a helicopter crash. What will it be tomorrow? Well, I just don’t want to think about it.

My heart aches for many people. Families of all nationalities who wonder where their loved ones may be, as well as the victims of 9-11 and the ones left behind to mourn their loss. We learned a lot that day, especially how many people hate us just for being American citizens.

I am indebted to a lot of selfless people who guard the very freedom that I take for granted.

All I need to do is “sacrifice” less than five minutes a day to hang my U.S. flag. Such a small gesture of appreciation for our country, our troops, and those many who are willing to sacrifice everything they have “for liberty and justice for all.”

Shame on me that it took so long to get it done.

Rachelle A. Vigna,

Lawrence