Wayne Allard: “I rise today, June 27, 2006, between Flag Day and Independence Day, to speak on behalf of the American flag. The…”

“I rise today, June 27, 2006, between Flag Day and Independence Day, to speak on behalf of the American flag. The American flag is a symbol, a physical embodiment of the freedom and liberty that we as Americans are blessed to claim. More than a mere banner of red, white, and blue, our flag characterizes the fundamental essence of what it means to be an American: liberty, justice and equality. Whether flown at a high school football game, in an Olympic arena, or over this very building that we stand in today, the American flag is an image that commands worldwide respect, while at the time symbolizing the triumph of representative Government over the inequities of tyrannical rule. To allow for the physical desecration of such a symbol of opportunity and liberty is not quite tantamount to condoning an assault on the very foundation of our individual freedoms, but so close as to have damaging effects. Strength in symbolism can oftentimes rely upon the extent to which an image is protected by the society it represents, which is why this is not an issue pertaining to freedom of expression, but rather an issue of patriotic reverence and national identity. The American flag has done more than wave as a symbol of freedom; it has served as an inspiration, a guiding light to our men and women in uniform throughout our Nation's history.…”