When I think about the American flag, I reflect on the journey of many of our ancestors who ventured across the ocean to the shores of America to build a better life and for the promise of liberty, freedom and opportunity. The flag is a reminder of what generations of Americans have fought for and the sacrifices they have made to protect our country. The flag is timeless and endures through times of peace and war.

Whether you are pledging allegiance to the flag, singing the national anthem at a sporting event, or seeing it wave on a flagpole, I strongly believe the American flag unites us. We are the land of the free and home of the brave, and I am proud of all the ideals and principles it represents. The American flag symbolizes hope not only to our nation but for the rest of the world.

- U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind.