They're flying now. As I type.

Yes, I know it is a day early. What can I say, I couldn't wait.

Been hoping for this, planning for it for some time (weeks, in fact). Been hampered by the lack of a reliable vehicle. Got most of the supplies I needed with the wife yesterday, but we couldn't get the 10' section of half-inch conduit.

Kinda hard to carry that in a little Subaru. Yes, I considered just sticking my arm out the window and holding it alongside the car for the ten minute drive home, but we had two or three more stops to go. What do I do with 10' of pipe? Carry it along through the grocery store? (Would certainly eliminate those pesky problems of people stopping in the middle of the aisles, though. Just lower your jousting implement and charge right through.)

So, even though I had lots of paper work that really needs to be done, I borrowed eldest son's unused Landcruiser and went in to town this morning to obtain my pipe. And, on a spur of inspiration, six little D-rings and hose clamps.

Gal at the checkout counter commented that, if you had a flag, my purchases would make a great flag pole.

Yes, they will, lady.

As I maneuvered the pipe up the front steps, a friend stops by to ask a question on our watercraft regs. Making plans for spending the Fourth on the water somewhere. And comments my pipe is too long for a flag pole.

He was right. By two feet.

Now my plan was to do this tomorrow, since I have work to do today, and tomorrow really is the appropriate day. But youngest son was curious. And actually interested in helping.

You never turn down that kind of opportunity with a 16-year old teenager.

So we worked together. Adding two brackets to the little front porch, to go with the one the wife installed so many years ago. Long before many other folks received a painful lesson on patriotism on 11 September. Before she taught me the value of displaying that red, white and blue banner.

Took him in to the bedroom and showed him the Star Spangled Banner that would go on the first pole. The one with the new constellation of stars. Then we folded it back into its symbolic tricorner and went back to the porch.

I was both surprised and proud to see him carrying that little triangle of blue. Held closely to his chest. And chastened, because I would not have thought to be so respectful.

Took some arranging, and numerous pole adjustments, since each flag is a different size, and the largest is quite heavy. Had to trim one branch off the green ash that seeded itself besides the porch quite a few years ago. But we got it done. With youngest son making several of the decisions. Becoming quite impressed with him.

So, they are out there now. The light, modern banner with 50 stars, facing to the south from the corner post. With a few threads hanging loose from years of service.

Its neighbor, facing east from the same post, is presumably on its first day of flight in over forty years. It is larger, and heavier, and a little dingy away from the field of stars. That blue field with stars arranged in the rectangular pattern so familiar to the generation before. The rectangular pattern that is actually unusual, if you review the history of The American Flag. The 48-star banner from this auction.

She had been folded so long she had to be pulled open by hand.

And besides this proud flag flies another, facing east from the top of the stair bannister. The smallest of the three, with a more burgundy red. Not as old as the cousin flying beside her, but I am certain it has been one day short of 26 years since she last flew. Now, she is a replica, of course, of the famous Betsy Ross flag, but she has a history of her own.

To my knowledge, the only time she was unfurled and flown was in a parade in Philadelphia. On 4 July, in celebration of her country's Bi-Centennial.

They're flying together now, three different generations of the Star Spangled Banner. And will again tomorrow.

Think I need to fix some lunch, and go sit on the porch.

Have a good Fourth of July, folks.