She witnessed the battle of Fort McHenry and heard 35-year-old poet Francis Scott Key admire her beauty.

She kept Gen. George Washington's group warm during the cold winter at Valley Forge and, more recently, led the way through the mountain passes of Korea, the jungles of Vietnam and the deserts of the Middle East.

She is identified as the "Star-Spangled Banner," the "Red, White and Blue," the "Stars and Stripes" and, as an old sea captain once called her, "Old Glory."

Today, the United States celebrates 231 years of independence with the traditional fireworks and outdoor barbecues, but it will also be a time to reflect on patriotism and the symbol of a nation: the United States flag.

For a people, the flag has been more than a piece of cloth. It has served as an embodiment and icon of the nation's principles and values.

Orangeburg American Legion Post 4 Commander Jerry Lewis' respect for the American flag runs deep and when he sees others disrespect the flag, it upsets him.

"If you don't have something to stand up for and be proud about, you can go to Iraq and those other countries," Lewis said.

He told of how, during a recent American Legion Post 4 baseball game, he saw a team member talking during the singing of the National Anthem and pointed the player out to the coach later. "That is how much I believe in it," he said.

Sen. Brad Hutto, Cub Scout Pack 90 committee chairman, said the pack is taught about the need to show respect for the flag.

"We teach them about the flag and how to fly the flag and store them," Hutto said. "When it is brought into the room or raised it is saluted, and when lowered it is saluted. The Scouts are taught to salute when in uniform and when not in uniform, to place their hand over the heart."

The same is called for during the Pledge of Allegiance.

Hutto said the flag is taken on camping trips and where a flagpole is not available, a makeshift flagpole is used. Each Scout uniform has a flag patch on the uniform.

"A lot times we see the flag and they know it is our flag, but they don't understand the history and significance of it," Hutto said. "It is truly one symbol no matter where you go in this country."

The American Legion periodically will host a flag-retirement ceremony for unserviceable flags on its Riverside Drive grounds.

Lewis said this year alone, there are about 300 flags in the Legion's drop-off box. Flags are ceremoniously burned about twice a year.

He said the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan seemed to have heightened Americans' respect and recognition for the flag, but Lewis still finds it hard to accept the idea of those who burn the flag in the name of the freedoms the flag symbolizes.

"This is a great country where you can do what you want to do, but I think we need to draw the line and when it comes to burning Old Glory. I just can't agree with that," Lewis said.

The flag code says torn and tattered American flags should no longer be displayed. The flags are burned and the remains are collected and buried together on the American Legion grounds.

The Legion collects used flags in a specially marked container at the Legion building.

When asked the difference between the Legion's burning of the flag and those who burn in protest, Lewis compared it to burial.

"You can kill someone and bury them or you can bury someone with respect," Lewis said.

Hutto said while he disapproves of burning the flag in any way but out of respect, he said as part of a country that prides itself on freedom of speech, the right to burn the flag is protected.

"It represents the freedom we have in this country," Hutto said. "Being an American we have more rights than anybody else and can say and do things that may upset people."

The United States flag has long served as a symbolic expression of the nation.

The stars have been said to symbolize the heavens and the unity of 50 states becoming "one nation under God." The red represents valor, zeal and loyalty; the white -- hope, purity and integrity; and the blue -- the heavens and the importance of acknowledging the divine in the pursuit of truth and justice.

T&D Staff Writer Gene Zaleski can be reached by e-mail at gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5551. Discuss this and other stories at TheTandD.com.

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