I am the US flag; the flag that you saw when you recited the pledge of allegiance as a child. The 50 stars stand for the 50 states of the union, and the 13 stripes stand for the original 13 states. The flag that represents freedom, democracy, patriotism, progress, liberty, and justice for all.
When you honor me, you honor these ideals, even while recognizing that we sometimes fall short of them. We learn from our mistakes to build a brighter future.