Flag Day, June 14, has always been important to me because of what the American flag has meant to me throughout the years - a symbol of this wonderful country of ours.

I guess it's easy to forget the freedom, the choices, and the possibilities we all enjoy, which so many people in other parts of the world never have. I hope I don't forget for too long, because it has always been a part of my heart.

I even stopped putting out my large flag this year, because I occasionally kept forgetting to put it out some days. But, mostly, I forgot to take it in. I hated that. But I see that old faded flag every day, and I know how much it has meant to me. I'll find out when and where to bring it to dispose of it the right way. There are organizations that do that. It's right.

Some interesting items about the flag I've gotten from a number of sources:

Betsy Ross, who made the first flag, produced and sold flags from her little upholstery shop in Philadelphia for 50 years. Many historians believe she did not actually design it completely. George Washington's original pencil sketch for the flag indicated 6-pointed stars, a form he preferred. Betsy Ross, however, recommended a 5-pointed star. When the committee protested that it was too difficult to make, she took a piece of paper, folded it deftly, and with a single snip of her scissors, produced a symmetrical 5-pointed star. This seeming feat of magic so impressed her audience that they readily agreed to her suggestion. "Old Glory" was made our official flag on June 14, 1777, by Congress: Resolved that the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the Union by thirteen stars, white on a blue field representing a new constellation."

A national flag that is flown upside down is a symbol of distress. (I said that in a previous column about New Hampshire. By mistake it was flown upside down, which we did not discover until we went to take it down, but no one came to our rescue that day.)

Flags are flown at half mast as a symbol of mourning.

When a flag is flown from over the White House, it means the president is in Washington, D.C. It is not displayed when the president is not in Washington, D.C. I wonder if that is still observed.

Humorous sayings about our flag:

A personal note:

Our 1951 Attleboro High School class knew that our classmate, and my neighborhood friend, Jeraline Nerney, who died a long time ago, was born on June 14. She was proud she was born on Flag Day.

Conversations

"No man would listen to you talk if he didn't know his turn was next." Ed Howe

Now, that makes me laugh. Do we all do that? I hope not, at least most of the time. I really love to listen to others. How else could I learn about them, their feelings, their expertises? Is it because they are so superior in their dialogue, we think we should have a better comeback? I know that's not me. But another unknown author said, "If we are only thinking what we are going to say next, we might miss the most important thing that is being given us," either personal or business-wise. That I agree with. We all indulge in gossip. If it's just information, or fun, I can't complain. If it's debasing, that's not good. Jon Sebrini says that, "Gossip is a form of free entertainment, an outlet for inner tension, and it can cement social relationships by establishing an element of trust between those sharing privileged information." And I agree with that, too, unless the one who has privileged information uses it for the wrong purposes. Am I putting myself up by saying that when I learn of personal problems in gossip, I only wonder how I can help in the circumstances? Without feeling interfering. Sometimes it's easier to not ever listen to conversations.

Now, of course, talking to friends may not be the best art to learn. Listening may be.

If our friends are happy or sad, the ability to listen is really part of conversation. If we immerse ourselves in their experiences, that makes our involvement personal, loving, and, hopefully, helpful. So just try to love talking to and hearing about.

BETTY STEVENSON is a community columnist. Her commentary appears every other Monday.