Vince Balassone

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Happy 5th of July!

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The July 4th weekend has now came and went. The one weekend a year where everyone shows how proud they are to be an American has now passed. You have my permission to go back to the life you were living. I hope flying Old Glory was not too big of an inconvenience for you. You can take your decorative mailbox cover off and replace it with the college football team of your choice.&160;Your flag can go back in your closet until next year, or the next attack on our nation, whichever comes first. It is sad when the American Flag is now a lawn decoration much like the blow up Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny. Heck, some people leave Christmas lights up all year, but heaven forbid you leave an American Flag flying past the 4th of July or Memorial Day. Is the real “Inconvenient Truth” that Americans are only Americans when it is convenient for them to be so? You get a few days off of work, and you are proud to be an American. Come Monday, you go back to work, and the weekend of patriotism gets put in the closet till next year. Well, let me be the first to tell you, go ahead and take down your “decorations.” Thank you for showing your gratitude to this great nation for only one day a year. I understand how cumbersome it can be to fly the flag and show support for our nation. &160;&160;&160;