Joseph T. Burns: “I rise today, Flag Day, in support of S.J. Res. 12, which seeks to establish a constitutional amendment to ban the…”

“I rise today, Flag Day, in support of S.J. Res. 12, which seeks to establish a constitutional amendment to ban the desecration of our flag. From the time of our Revolutionary War to this very moment, Old Glory has been the undying symbol of our Nation. While it is a symbol that has many different meanings to many different people, it is the one symbol that represents the hopes and dreams of millions of people who have fled tyranny in another land and fought to preserve freedom here at home. More than anything else, it represents the selfless sacrifices of previous generations who have willingly laid down their lives so that we can live in the most prosperous and free nation in the history of the world. As a Marine, I served under our flag as I proudly do now as the Senator from the great State of Montana. Thus, I know a thing or two about what our flag stands for--as does most every veteran who served and sacrificed under our flag, or who has fired and been fired upon in combat defending what our flag stands for. Countless millions of American soldiers have done and continue to do the same. As we speak, there are over 14,000 Montanans in the service of their country, 1,365 of whom are now serving overseas. It is simply an insult to these brave Americans that the sacrifices they have made in the name of liberty under the American flag are spit on by people who would burn, trample, or otherwise willfully desecrate our flag.…”