Per reports, the photo of a young man holding the U.S. flag so that it wouldn’t touch the ground has gone viral. The student took to Facebook to express gratitude for the support he has received, adding that he didn’t expect recognition for his good deed. “This picture of me got almost 100 likes and 60 shares in two hours,” he wrote, according to WBRC. “Makes me proud. Thank you all for the support! I didn’t intend to get recognized for what I did. But I am sure glad to see the support and respect for the flag. I love this flag and this country. God bless America.”
The 18-year-old teen, Cole, was reportedly driving by the school when he saw that the flag had fallen to the ground. He stopped his car and held the flag up, calling his grandmother for assistance (SEE PHOTO). His grandmother, who works at the school, arrived shortly after and took a picture of her grandson while they waited for help. The teen’s mother later posted the image to Facebook, where it was shared more than 27,000 times.
“When your son calls his grandmother and says he has a problem… it’s usually not good,” she wrote. “This is where she found him this morning. The flag fell to the ground, he saw it, stopped and held it until someone from school could come and put it back up. Proud of you Cole! There is hope for America!”
The superintendent said he wasn’t surprised by Cole’s actions. “Something like this wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for Cole,” he told CNN. “He takes great pride in our country and he knows how to show proper respect to the flag.” He said that Cole was scheduled to speak at graduation, and added that he plans to join the Marine Corps. We are republishing this story in light of recent reports that suggest more and more people all across the country are demonstrating their patriotism despite record levels of political division in the United States.
