Caroline McKaig delicately stuck an American flag in the ground at the edge of a grassy parkway on Mountain View Avenue in San Bernardino.
The girl, who will be 6 years old in a few weeks, had just finished swim class in time to “plant” some flags.
Caroline had made a presentation on the American flag, earlier in the year, to her kindergarten class at Norton Academy.
On Wednesday, she was using her youthful enthusiasm to help her neighbor, Myra Elder, put flags on display for July 4th.
For Myra, lining the sidewalk with American flags is a 27-year tradition.
She and her neighbor, Janette McKaig, buy the flags themselves, making sure they are made in America.
Myra said she liked to remind people of the freedom the flag of the United States symbolizes.
“I do it to energize the community,” added Myra, a local real estate agent for 42 years.
Janette, who is Caroline’s mother, said people really appreciate it when you display the flag.
“It’s a reminder of what a great country we live in and that this is a celebration,” she said.
As we all know, the Fourth of July celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
Less than a year later, on June 14, 1777, Flag Day originated when John Adams introduced a resolution before the Continental Congress in Philadelphia that “the flag of the thirteen United States should be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white on a blue field, representing a new Constellation.”
Most likely, the Stars and Stripes, authorized by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777, was part of the first Independence Day anniversary celebration, July 4, 1777, in Philadelphia.
Don’t worry, there won’t be a quiz on this.
Small American flags, such as Caroline was placing, have such a powerful impact on many Americans.
Years ago, I was moved to tears at Arlington National Cemetery when I saw those small flags at the headstones of fallen American heroes — all 228,000 of them.
They are emotional reminders of the bravery, courage and resilience of the men and women who have defended our flag.
Through the years, the Fourth of July has become traditional “family time.”
Bring on the fireworks, picnics and barbecues, parades and baseball games, carnivals, fairs and family reunions.
It’s time to grill those burgers and dig out the old family potato salad recipe.
I remember homemade ice cream at my grandfather’s cottage on Lake Wisconsin.
I also remember a large, whole roasted pig, turning on a spit over a bed of hot coals.
Kind of scary for a young kid to see, but I must have enjoyed it.
And there was always an eye-popping, jaw-dropping fireworks display.
I think the fireworks tradition has been around since our country was born.
In 1776, festivities included concerts, bonfires, parades and the firing of cannon and muskets.
See, not that much has changed.
After nearly 240 years, our flag flies as a reminder that we live in this beautiful country, where we have free speech, freedom of the press, freedom to bear arms, freedom to protest, freedom of worship.
And freedom for a little girl to stick flags in the ground along a San Bernardino street.
And here’s a thought for the day: Freedom isn’t free.