Valued Treasure

As Elise walked past her parents' room, she noticed her mother pulling a box from the closet shelf. "What's in that box, Mom?" asked Elise.

"It's full of old keepsakes," said Mom. "Letters from your dad, photos, report cards, things like that."

"Can I see it?" asked Elise. Mom nodded and handed her the box.

Elise poked around and pulled out a flag. "Look at this!" she said after unfolding it. "This is so beat up. Why don't you throw it away, Mom?"

"That flag was draped over my grandfather's casket when he was shipped home from the war," replied Mom. "He gave his life in service to that flag."

"He died for this old flag?" asked Elise in surprise.

Mom smiled. "What I mean is that he died in service to our country's flag," she replied. "He died because he believed in our freedom." She looked at the old flag. "He died before I was born, but that flag reminds me of him and of what he did for our country and for me. That's why I keep it. It's valuable to me."

"Lots of soldiers died fo