What’s in a flag?

I ask this question for several reasons. First, Memorial Day, Flag Day, July 4th, Veteran’s Day, and now Wreaths Across America, are all American holidays.

The official symbol which is used for all these events is the American Flag. Simple pieces of fabric sewn together as stars and stripes with three specific colors of red, white, and blue. - WIKIPEDIA

Have you ever thought about why these colors? White signifies purity and innocence.  Red expresses hardness and valor. Blue is for vigilance, perseverance, and justice.  - LEGION.ORG The American flag symbolizes something special for all of us, as a symbol of freedom, liberty, justice, and love of country and national purpose.  MYASSEMBLY.GOV  

All together expressing our nationalism with dignity, and the meaning of being American.  Second, the Rainbow Flag. I am not a “flag-ologist”, but I can share some of the history on the Rainbow Flag. First and foremost, it is meant to represent intersectional diversity. The Pride flag popularized as symbol of the gay community by San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker in 1978. The flag was originally made with eight colors, but the pink and turquoise were removed for production purposes. Since 1979 the flag has had six stripes. The red stripe is placed on the top, so the colors appear as a natural rainbow. Here is what the colors mean: Red-life, Orange-healing, Yellow-sunlight, Green-nature, Blue-harmony/peace, Purple/violet-spirit, Pink-sexuality, Turquoise-art/magic. In 1980 a black stripe representing aids victims was added to the bottom. There is so much more to share about the development and incorporation of LGBTQIA+ flag. It continues to develop and change in meaning even today. One thing is true the Rainbow Flag is not the same as the Rainbow Covenant of God. The Rainbow was not and is not just a flag!  It is so much bigger than that. In Genesis 9: 13 – 17 God’s promise of a rainbow as a sign of the covenant between God and the earth, and with all living creatures. - BIBLE GATEWAY.  Let us not be confused by what we think we know and what we still need to learn.

May we each go out this summer with God’s promise for all of us. Hold whatever flag you hold up high and know we will continue to be an all-inclusive church community.

Praise God. Amen.

Peace,

Pastor Cheryl Rieder