Rome Celebrates Flag Day With Unity in Mind

Dressed in red, white and blue, dozens of Romans lined Broad Street on Sunday to celebrate Flag Day with one simple goal: remembering what unites us.

Organizer Karen Dobson made unity the heart of the June 14 celebration. She wanted people to set politics aside for a moment and honor the American flag as something that belongs to everyone.

"The divisiveness is not what I'm about," Dobson said. "I did this to try to bring some healing to the community so that we could celebrate our flag and be patriotic, and that should be a unifying thing."

The event took place outside Rome City Hall and featured speakers from different backgrounds, including retired Brigadier General Jonathan McCollum. City Commissioner Craig McDaniel opened with a prayer, and people of all ages waved flags at passing traffic.

Dobson specifically chose diverse speakers and encouraged everyone to attend, regardless of their beliefs. As America approaches its 250th anniversary, she felt it was the perfect time to celebrate what the flag represents: perseverance, hope, and shared values.

"Our flag will always be the last thing standing," Dobson said. "We will be long and gone and forgotten, but our flag will always be here."

The Ripple Effect

While the crowd wasn't massive, Dobson said the quality of people who showed up mattered more than the numbers. Neighbors who might not agree on everything stood together for something bigger than their differences.

Small moments like these plant seeds. When communities gather around shared symbols and values, they remember that connection is possible even when disagreement feels overwhelming.

The celebration reminded Rome that patriotism doesn't have to be divisive. Sometimes the most powerful statement is simply showing up, waving a flag, and standing next to your neighbor in honor of something you both believe in.