A respectful patriotic regard for the national flag

A week ago I received an email from a Vietnam War veteran living in Sacramento, California. In his message he asked how I've been getting along in these hot summer days.

In his email he attached several photos taken while he was playing golf on a beautiful golf course. In the pictures I was able to find that on each green hole the Star-Spangled Banner was set up and the flag pole was put on a support fixture, the flag poles were not touching the green.

I was so impressed by the scene that I asked the friend over the phone the reason why. To my question the Korean-American friend proudly explained that the American people have always set up the flag poles on the golf course on Memorial Day, celebrated on the last Monday in the month of May every year.

What is more, he added that on Memorial Day a lot of Korean Vietnam War veterans living in the United States have performed volunteer services of holding the flagpoles at the adjacent country clubs.

The moment I heard about USA's patriotism from the Vietnam War veteran, I felt shame because on our streets to residential areas in South Korea on Memorial Day there are only a few flags hoisted in the air.

Here I would like to loudly suggest that we should emulate the most respectful patriotic manner of the US people. To do so, I personally request that without hesitation, our government should strongly demand the entire nation to raise the national flag on national days, even by law.