As a military veteran, I wondered whether anyone realizes how the American flag is described in the statutes of the US Flag Code (“Flag flying, flag burning’’). The code states, “The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.’’

Anyone so inclined to set alight our sacred flag should remember that hundreds of thousands of our veterans have sacrificed their lives to protect and preserve this “living thing’’ called the United States of America.

John Meinhold

Portsmouth, N.H.