(This was first posted last July. I haven't time for any such cards or decorations this year, so I thought I'd share it again, especially since many of my readers won't have seen it.)
A couple of years ago, when my son was still in the Marine Corps, I flew a flag at my house that was kept up during the duration of the time his unit was in Afghanistan. He had not deployed that go round due to an injury, but I was in constant contact with other parents of those who were serving with his battalion.
As Old Glory flew over my house all those months while the men were deployed, it became tattered, faded and worn. Although I know we are not supposed to fly a flag in that condition, it was an especially symbolic and sentimental flag to me and it was my constant reminder to pray for these men each day. I wanted that flag to fly until they returned. Every time I went out my front door or came back in and had to flip the flag back around the pole as it got twisted in the breeze, I would pray for the Marines of the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines.
