Oh, say, can you see anyone flying their American Flag this July 4th?

In our new neighborhood, on our street, I can count one other American Flag flying today besides ours, and no others in sight. Sad.

We plan to begin attending our homeowner's association meetings starting with the next one and you can bet this is a topic I intend to bring up.

231 years ago on this day 56 American patriots signed the Declararation of Independence officially breaking their ties with England and formed the United States of America.

In signing the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776, these 56 brave men pledged "to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."

Pretty heady stuff pledging your life, your fortunes, and your honor for something you believe in.

Here's what happened to some of the signers: "Five signers were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary War, another had two sons captured. Nine of the fifty-six fought and died from wounds or the hardships of the Revolutionary War."

Tortured, killed, sons killed, homes burned, and died from wounds suffered in the war. Wow, that's is an impressive committment to one's ideas.

Our Nation's Flag is the representative of those ideas and of those 56 brave men.

You can buy an American Flag most anywhere with a staff for about $15-20.00 bucks. A good resolution to make for next Fourth of July, if you're not flying your flag this one, is to buy a flag kit and fly it proudly.

If 56 brave men were willing to pledge their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to begin our great nation, it seems the least we can do.