After the attacks, I displayed my flag outside my home. It flies there still and won't be coming down anytime soon.

I fly it to show solidarity with my fellow Americans, especially those in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania who directly experienced these attacks.

I fly it in honor of our military personnel who are going in harm's way. Odds are that many of them, perhaps my next door neighbor or my son, will be coming home in a flag-drapped coffin. As someone who spent over 1/4th of my life in uniform, my thoughts are with those who will fight the battles to come and to their families who worry at home.

My wife and I frequently walk around our neighborhood. We see that perhaps 20% of the homes are flying flags like ours. It's refreshing to see this, including those who for whatever reason decide not to fly a flag. The ability to hold different views is a cornerstone of freedom.