Michele Wallace Campanelli

Immediately after the attacks of September 11, 2001, Americans began to feel a renewed sense of patriotism and pride in their country. Houses and businesses everywhere began flying the American flag; businesses put up signs reading "God Bless America" and "United We Stand." Bumper stickers with similar sayings and magnetic flags soon appeared on cars and trucks. Author Michele Wallace Campanelli writes in the following essay about her search for an American flag.

Flags were flying on every house down my block when I realized that my husband and I, who had recently bought our first home, didn't have a flag of our own. Donating blood and money no longer felt like enough.

A Quest

Immediately, I left on a quest to find an American flag to show my patriotic spirit. After starting up my ancient car, I headed to the local...