Jonathan Meyer.

There are not many times when I use this space to outright endorse an event, but today is one of them.

This Sunday, the Tama County Flag Day program will take place on the courthouse square in Toledo, with festivities beginning at 2 p.m. The program will feature local residents sharing the story of our nation and our flag, while the community band provides a soundtrack of marches and patriotic music. I’ll be there myself, both participating and enjoying an afternoon that feels uniquely like us, Tama County.

I hope you’ll consider joining in.

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to attend a lot of community events. Some are celebrations, some are commemorations, and some are simply opportunities for neighbors to gather. What has always impressed me about Tama County is our ability to show up for those moments. Whether it’s a parade, a memorial service, a school concert, or a community fundraiser, people here understand the value of coming together.

Flag Day feels like one of those occasions.

I know patriotism can sometimes become tangled up in politics. Depending on who is talking, love of country can be portrayed as belonging to one side or another. Personally, I hope we can set that aside for a few hours on Sunday.

For me, Flag Day isn’t about political parties, campaign signs, or disagreements over current events. It’s about taking a moment to recognize the story we all inherited. It’s about appreciating the generations who built the communities we call home and acknowledging the freedoms that allow us to gather in the first place.

It’s also about culture. The music we’ll hear, the stories that will be told, and the traditions that have been passed down year after year are all part of who we are. They belong to all of us.

As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, I’ve found myself thinking more often about history — not as something trapped in textbooks, but as something living. Every community celebration, every local tradition, and every gathering on a courthouse lawn becomes another chapter in that story.

This Sunday offers one of those opportunities.

So if you have a free afternoon, come spend it with your neighbors. Listen to the music. Hear the stories. Reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re going. Most importantly, enjoy being part of a community that still values gathering together.

I’ll be there, and I hope to see you there too.

Until next time, I’m just Jonathan.