We live in a time of conflict - external and internal - when we

“We live in a time of conflict – external and internal – when we sometimes concentrate too much on what divides us. Today, fly the Stars and Stripes with pride and confidence that what unites is far stronger.” Thus spoke Charlie Dent, with words that reach into the heart of a troubled people. In his saying there is both lament and exhortation: lament, that we often dwell upon divisions, feeding discord and strife; exhortation, that we remember the greater truth—that the bonds of unity and shared destiny are stronger than the lines that divide us. The Stars and Stripes is here lifted not as mere cloth, but as a symbol of the power of common purpose, of shared identity, of unbreakable belonging.

The meaning of this saying is plain yet profound. Dent reminds us that conflict is not only fought with armies on foreign fields but also within the hearts of citizens, within communities torn by partisanship, suspicion, and grievance. In such times, people forget the strength of what holds them together. They become obsessed with difference—race, creed, class, or opinion—until unity itself seems fragile. But the flag, the Stars and Stripes, calls us to remember that beyond division lies a greater truth: a people bound by liberty, by shared history, by sacrifice.

The origin of this thought can be traced to the eternal struggle of nations to remain whole in times of trial. The American flag itself rose from such division, born in revolution, carried through civil war, lifted again in global conflict. In every age, when voices sought to tear the country apart, others lifted the flag as a reminder that the foundation of the nation was greater than its fractures. Dent’s words echo that legacy, urging us to look not at what rends us, but at what binds us with cords unseen.

History offers a shining example in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. In that dark hour, towers crumbled, thousands perished, and fear sought to shatter the nation. Yet in response, Americans across every state, every creed, lifted the Stars and Stripes above homes, schools, and public squares. In the face of external attack, internal divisions melted for a season, and unity blazed like fire in the night. Dent’s words reflect this eternal truth: when people turn their gaze from what divides to what unites, they become unbreakable.

Yet we must not wait for tragedy to rediscover unity. The danger of Dent’s warning is that in times of peace, men and women too often forget. They feed suspicion, amplify anger, and exalt their differences. In doing so, they weaken the very foundation that protects them. To “fly the Stars and Stripes with pride” is not merely to raise a flag, but to embody what it means—to live with confidence in the strength of unity, to honor the sacrifices of those who gave all so that the nation could remain whole.

The lesson for us is timeless: seek always what unites rather than what divides. Differences will never vanish; indeed, they give color and richness to life. But they must not be sharpened into weapons that rend the fabric of community. Instead, let them be threads woven into the tapestry of a stronger, richer nation. Unity does not mean sameness—it means harmony, the joining together of diverse voices in a common song.

Practically, this means living with intentional acts of unity. Speak to your neighbor across divisions, listen with respect to those who differ, and remember that in times of crisis, you will stand side by side as Americans. Honor the flag not only with ceremony, but with action: serve your community, defend justice, protect freedom, and care for one another. In doing so, you lift the Stars and Stripes higher than any pole could raise it.

So let Dent’s words echo as a call for this generation: fly the Stars and Stripes with pride and confidence, for what unites us is far stronger than what divides us. Let this truth guide your heart, that no conflict, external or internal, may tear asunder what was built with sacrifice, sealed in blood, and destined to endure as long as unity lives within the soul of its people.