Letter: The flag of freedom

To the Editor:

America was under British rule until 1776. The Continental Army of the 13 colonies defeated the British, thus securing our freedom from Great Britain. Betsy Ross made the first American flag of freedom, consisting of 13 white stars on a blue background along with seven red stripes and six white stripes.

In 1860, the Civil War broke out over slavery in the southern states and lasted until 1865. Under the flag of freedom, the North defeated the South, winning freedom for the slaves and abolishing slavery in America.

In 1942, America entered the war in Europe to help Britain defeat Hitler. On Dec. 7, 1942, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, causing America to fight on two fronts. In 1945, Japan surrendered and Hitler was defeated.

If Hitler had won, after the Jews, the black race would be next to visit his ovens because of the humiliation he suffered when Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics and Joe Louis scored a first-round knockout over Max Schmeling in 1938, destroying the myth of Aryan superiority. Hitler’s plan was to eliminate every race until only blue-eyed, blonde-haired Germans ruled the world.

The flag of freedom flies over America. An NFL quarterback would kneel and bow his head in the end zone after scoring a touchdown. The NFL made them stop because it offended some. Today, it’s OK to kneel when the National Anthem is played before NFL and NBA games, and celebrate in the end zone.

Standing erect and placing your hand over your heart after removing your hat while the National Anthem is being sung or played is a way of showing respect for living veterans, and for the men and women of all races that sacrificed their lives for the freedom we all enjoy today.

God bless America.

Leo Michalak

Lemont