As Americans, most of us are taught to honor the American flag as children.
We learn the pledge of allegiance in school, hear the national anthem at sporting events, and come to understand that the flag is an important part of our country's history.
Although most people feel some sort of connection to the American flag, nobody feels it more than members of the military.
These brave souls represent our country overseas, fight for our country domestically and abroad, and dedicate their lives to serving American citizens.
For many members of the military — both current and former — the flag represents the time they spent in the service.
It is an important reminder of the sacrifices they may have made and the friends they may have lost, and saluting it is a good way to honor our country as a whole.
One man recently came home and noticed that a mailman was parked outside his neighbor's house — and staying in his truck for an unusually long amount of time.
When he realized why the mailman was there, he pulled out his camera.
[H/T Love What Matters]
The man who snapped the photo shared it on the Facebook page Love What Matters, where it quickly went viral.
Within two days, it had over 32,000 reactions and almost 4,000 shares.
Along with the picture, he wrote:
This afternoon I was coming up my street and I noticed a stopped USPS truck across from my house.
It wasn't until I was at my driveway that I realized the USPS driver was not in the truck, but rather standing at attention next to it, saluting the flag my neighbor was raising.
I stopped right there and grabbed my camera off the seat next to me, took off my hat, and captured the moment.
I then waited until the flag was fully raised before I walked over to introduce myself, asked him for permission to share this moment, and thanked him for his service.
But again, many thanks to retired U.S. Army sergeant Robert Franklin, who is still serving his country, rain, sleet, or snow.
He is the manifestation of true patriotism, and I am proud to have met him.
This story is a nice reminder that everyone has different reactions to seeing the American flag.
While some people might drive by without thinking about it, other people — like Robert Franklin — stop and take a moment for our country.
Everyone in our armed forces deserves to be respected, as this man honored Robert Franklin.
If you respect our American flag, please SHARE this article with your friends and family!
