It’s good to be back. The flags are flying proudly, snapping in a wonderful Iowa breeze. I’m enjoying that first cup of early morning coffee, waiting for the sun to slowly light up Our Neighborhood with long shadows, turning the acres of grass to brilliant green. The birds are just waking, letting others know that they’re up.

It was a great vacation, so rewarding and rejuvenating: a month-long drive through the wonders of western U.S. national parks, sparkling waters of the Pacific Ocean and the still-snow capped peaks of those incomparable Rocky Mountains. Now we’re back and those flags are reminding me that they, too, have had some vacations along the way.

The stripes speak of a humble beginning as 13 colonies worked together to throw off the shackles of an oppressive government. Those 50 stars in their blue heaven, orderly rows that have grown in number as our nation has grown as well. It is a physical example of Out of Many, One — e pluribus unum.

These United States are another year older — 248 so far. In two more, we’ll be a quarter of a millennium old.

Not too long ago, across one of the oceans that help to protect us, a foreign politician promised his supporters that he would build a nation that would last for a thousand years; we helped end his tyrannical rule and that nation lasted a mere 20 years or so.

We’ve had other enemies. Most of them are now our own allies, not “subjects,” but actual co-workers.

I have to admit I feel a bit proud about having done a very, very small job in seeing us last this long. Fifty years ago, it was a place called Vietnam and it was way too ugly. I’ve been around nearly 70 years, which seems like a long time, but it’s really just over a quarter of our united journey.

These days I hear people, lots of people, harping and complaining, protesting this or that action that we, as a nation, are taking. Then the historian in me kicks in, reminding me of those radical colonists dumping tea in Boston Harbor, or those radical abolitionists demanding freedom for the slaves, or those radical union strikers wanting a decent workplace, or those radical war protestors wanting to stay alive.

It reminds me that, like Our Neighborhood itself — so full of individuals who were all so different but still the same, residing under their markers — that we are all so different.

I have to believe (to remain sane), we all desire to live in a place that is better. We may have different ideas of what “better” is all about, but it’s still a common desire.

E pluribus unum. The real trick is to, somehow, work it out together. I am a firm believer in not taking my ball and going home, a willingness to shake hands across the aisle, to come together in honest conversation, with respect for others’ feelings.

Yes, it’s good to be back. The vacation was both exhilarating and exhausting; a small part of me hopes you missed Our Neighborhood while we were away. We definitely missed all of you.

Now we’re back. The flags are up. The scorched marks from launching fireworks will soon be washed clean again. Those bits and pieces of the loud noises of simulated combat explosions will be overgrown, actually helping to make the grass stronger, making me remember how scary, and exciting, fireworks are.

I hope you all had a memorable Fourth of July.

Now it’s time for all of us to get back to work — together.

Our Neighborhood is a column by Michael Eckers focusing on the men and women whose presence populates Graceland Cemetery in Webster City.