One of the costs of having a "public" email address which is published in a variety of locations around the internet is that we receive about two thousand messages a week. Fortunately, many of the folks who submit material to the paper have discovered the convenience of sending it by email. Unfortunately, we also get substantial quantities of spam including quite a few chain emails. Like their predecessors, chain letters, chain emails urge the recipient to resend the item to others. At the very least, chain emails use up the time off the recipients as well as internet bandwith. Normally, we can't hit the "delete" button fast enough to get rid of chain emails.

However, this week we received one that, unlike most chain emails, deserves wider mention. In part it reads:

"Please join us in this FLY THE FLAG campaign. We have a little less than one week and counting to get the word out all across this great land and into every community in the United States of America .

"On Monday, September 11th, 2006, an American flag should be displayed outside every home, apartment, office, and store in the United States .

"Every individual should make it their duty to display an American flag on this fifth anniversary of our country's worst tragedy. We do this in honor of those who lost their lives on 9/11, their families, friends and loved ones who continue to endure the pain, and those who today are fighting at home and abroad to preserve our cherished freedoms.

"In the days, weeks and months following 9/11, our country was bathed in American flags as citizens mourned the incredible losses and stood shoulder-to-shoulder against terrorism. Sadly, those flags have all but disappeared. Our patriotism pulled us through some tough times and it shouldn't take another attack to galvanize us in solidarity. Our American flag is the fabric of our country and together we can prevail over terrorism of all kinds.

Fly an American flag of any size on 9/11. Honestly, Americans should fly the flag year-round, but if you don't, then at least make it a priority on this day.

"Thank you for your participation. God Bless You and God Bless America"

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Meg Morgan Norris

Publisher