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It's even better than Christmas lights

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This year is the third time I've put together a Christmas lights contest for this newspaper. Thankfully, we received enough good nominations this year to pick winners for some of the categories. But not all the good houses were nominated.

Christmas lights and decorations are just one of the ways to put us into the Christmas spirit. I saw one particular thing in some yards and on some houses around the cities that doesn't have anything to do with the season. In fact, these folks keep them out all year long - American flags.

Driving around all the different neighborhoods got me to thinking. All these houses get dolled up and lit up for Christmas. Some even go overboard with Halloween decorations. What is the ratio of residents who fly American flags on Memorial Day, Fourth of July, D-Day, Veterans Day, Pearl Harbor Day or any other day of remembrance to those who light up their houses for Christmas?

But please don't go thinking I'm Mister Scrooge who says join the service. I'm not. Some of my fondest memories of the holidays were on a naval vessel or in a foreign port.

I remember clinking turkey legs like they were wine glasses with my shipmates on Thanksgiving in France. I remember getting a care package a week after Christmas and feeling like it was actually Christmas Day. I remember stringing white, red and green lights in our berthing compartments so we could feel the Christmas spirit inside our ship while out at sea off the coast of Spain. And I remember Christmas Eve 1994 when I was a 21-year-old sailor who thought I just may see a sleigh and little red nose in the sky when I stood my lookout watch.

Na, I'm not a grouch. I love Christmas as much as everyone. I had a blast at the Leander Christmas parade and tree lighting. I love the Cedar Park tree lighting. And the Cedar Park Parks and Rec Department was kind enough to let me volunteer at Santa's Workshop this year. I guess that as I get older, I become a more grizzled veteran.

So I'm not saying don't decorate your house, business or tree this time of year. They're beautiful and I love to see them. But so are flags flown from houses and businesses on days of remembrance. Besides, compared to Christmas lights, it's only a small price.

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