Discussing the news story on "flags turn rag", a female passerby chuckled that it would require the reincarnation of Susannah Lewis and her seven colleagues to get the Flag of Liberia, and perhaps the flags of counties, tidy up. Contemporary Liberian tailors and seamstresses have lot skills to reproduce or duplicate the national and provincial flags. Flags are in short supply. Some public offices run without hoisting the flags. Some substitute cotton clothes with sheet of papers studded in red, white and blue. Consequently, fluttering over public buildings and offices, including the Capitol Building, are what one newspaper described a "filthy pieces of rag" called flag.

No doubt, national ensigns carry an enormous amount of unspoken but vivacious chunk of pride in every good citizen. They lie in the core of our love for dear country; they recharge our patriotism and nationalism in moments of combat and competition with others not our kind. They constitute the epic center of our national identity. Unfortunately, knowingly or unknowingly, most Liberians treat national ensigns with utter contempt and impertinence. They leave our national and county flags utterly dilapidated and worn out. Even the annual celebration of Flag Day, along with the big speeches and grand marches, often come to pass without recharging the conscience to take a remedial course of action.

The worst comes when Government, boasting of spiraling increase in fiscal budget, is unable to purchase or reproduce and distribute the National and Provincial Flags; when the Government looks unconcerned and our national ensigns turn to fluttering "pieces of rags" over public buildings. This is a complete shame that we continue to shield with colorful parades every August 24. It must be corrected.

As we celebrate this year's August 24, the usually handsome budget written to cover cost for parade and coordination must also consider the annual renewal or reproduction of our flags, both the National Flag and those of the 15 counties. After all, the flags are the single most instruments of national identity that reminds the citizenry of the blood, tears and sweat which our forebears shed so that this Glorious Land of Liberty prevails over all others. There is no better tribute we can offer those who sacrificed so that we live here than making our State's ensigns visible and dignified. Susannah Lewis and others don't have to relive before our flag can put up its original colors and value.