Last December, natural dye artist Elan Hagens decided to go to Willamette National Cemetery, where her father and stepfather, both veterans, are buried. It was National Wreaths Across America Day, and she and her sister were there to place wreaths and tiny American flags at every gravesite.
“It was a cold day, and I remember looking up at the flag and seeing it fly so high in the sky, and the sun was shining. It brought in a sense of pride that I don’t get often,” Hagens said.
Like many Americans, Hagens’ family includes generations of veterans, including her sister. Also, like lots of Americans, Hagens’ feelings for the stars and stripes are complicated. As a Black American, whose ancestors were enslaved and not granted citizenship until 1868, the complexities that the flag presents are ongoing for Hagens…