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I have watched this video a number of times and I am moved by it every time I watch it. Whether you are a Veteran or a Patriot, this is a must see video. Once you have everything on the checklist, you will be ready to watch this video on youtube.com.

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Governor's Abuse of Flag Code confuses flag owners

Unpublished -

The American Flag is a perpetual symbol of independence, freedom and liberty. It is a declaration of the sovereignty of the United States. Old Glory flies high atop her pole as the ultimate icon of truth, justice and democracy. Our flag is a standing reminder that our nation is a republic, which broke away from the grip of tyranny, in order to form a more perfect union.

The American Flag soars over our federal buildings and welcomes us to our national monuments. It lines the streets of our cities and leads the way in our parades. Our flag flies proudly at our job sites, our schools and our places of worship. Our National Ensign sways in the wind aboard our naval vessels and greets us at the gates of our military posts.

The American Flag personifies the patriotism of our elected officials and our government employees. It is a reminder of the commitment and dedication of our nation's police officers and fire fighters. The Stars and Stripes also represents the honor, courage and sacrifice of every American who has served in our armed forces and it drapes the coffins of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

Our flag is all of this and much more. It is many things to many people. However, one thing the American Flag was never meant to be is the symbol of a state mandated protest against war. Unfortunately, that is exactly what is happening right here in Michigan.

Governor Granholm has abused her authority by using the American Flag to stir up animosity toward the Bush Administration's management of the war in Iraq. Ordering the flag to be lowered to half-staff every time a service member from Michigan is killed in combat is not authorized by the U.S. Flag Code and yet, that is exactly what she has done. Can you imagine this being national policy? The flag would be at half-staff every day for ten years, just because of the war in Iraq.

The Governor has confused a great number of Michiganders regarding the historical purpose of our National Ensign and has bewildered the state's flag owners with her half-staff protest. On any given day, you can drive down the city streets of any Michigan town and find some flags at full-staff and others at half-staff. Sometimes, these opposing posts will be on adjacent properties. The spirit of the flag has been severely darkened and the significance of lowering the flag to half-staff has been profoundly diminished by this deviation from protocol.

While it is acceptable for individuals to lower their personal flags because of the loss of a loved one, it is inappropriate for the governor to abuse the power of her office in this way. The U.S. Flag Code does not grant her the authority to disparage the American Flag under the guise of honoring our fallen service members. If the policy were meant to be used this way, every flag in the country would stay at half-staff every day. In fact, it would take 95 years just to honor those who died on Iwo Jima, thus eliminating the significance of lowering the flag.

If you have not done so recently, I would ask you to read the U.S. Flag Code. Be sure to look up the half-staff requirements and a governor's authority in subparagraph (m). While you are there, read the segment on Memorial Day. Even on the national holiday for honoring our fallen heroes, the flag is to be lowered to half-staff only until noon, then briskly raised back to the top of it's pole.

Governor Granholm's policy may appear to serve an honorable purpose, but after reading the U.S. Flag Code, one cannot help but question her motives. If Michigan cannot convince her to retract this policy, Michiganders should at least stop participating in her protest. We should all disregard her calls to lower our flags and instead abide by the federal policy. As for me, I have not and will not lower my American Flag at the command of a pretentious and seditious Canadian.

No Citizenship for Illegals

Published in the Holland Sentinel on June 18, 2007 - By Alan Helvig

The preamble of our Constitution says, "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Upon assuming his office, our president raised his right hand and made the following promise to the citizens of America: "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Likewise, every one of our U.S. senators took a similar oath upon assuming office: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God."

Legislating a path to citizenship for illegal aliens represents a violation of these oaths. Giving them citizenship will negatively impact the future of government in America. If these one-time fugitives become citizens, they will have not only the right to vote, but the power to run for and hold political office.

They will be eligible to serve in law enforcement, serve as judges and even work with classified material. They will be allowed to work with children in schools and day-care facilities. In spite of their criminal background, they will have the same rights as every other naturalized citizen in this country.

Well, Mr. President, exactly which clause of the Constitution are you preserving, protecting and defending by offering citizenship to illegal aliens? And how about you senators? Do you expect us to believe that providing citizenship to millions of international trespassers is in keeping with true faith and allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, which you swore to support and defend? Where is justice in your "comprehensive immigration reform act"? Do you honestly believe you are promoting the general welfare by circumventing our immigration laws and offering citizenship to millions of illegal immigrants? We think not.

In order to establish justice, we must enforce all existing immigration laws. To insure domestic tranquility, we must stop illegal immigration and control the flow of all immigrants. To provide for the common defense, we must secure our borders and strengthen our border patrol. To promote the general welfare, we must require proof of legal residency for all public services, including emergency health care and especially public education.

Now is not the time for new immigration legislation. In fact, there should never be a time for offering citizenship to illegal aliens. Granting citizenship to illegals is a slap in the face of every law-abiding American, especially those who have gone through the arduous process of naturalization.

Now is the time for "we the people" to hold our elected officials to their word. Now is the time for us to remind our president and our legislators that they are in our government and they work for us. Now is the time for us to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, even if those enemies are in Washington.

Now is the time for "we the people" to secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves by standing firm in our sovereignty, as one nation, under God.