Suddenly, Barack Obama appears to have acquired a taste for it. He appeared not too keen on the topic when he refused to wear an American flag lapel pen, saying that, in his opinion, the pen had replaced "true patriotism" for some public officials.

I wondered then what difference it should have made to him why others were wearing it. Their reasons for wearing it, honorable or not, should not have prevented him from wearing it. Oh! No matter, that pen is certainly not the measure of one's patriotism, is it?

The American flag flanks both candidates now almost everywhere they go. Does that make them patriotic?

Patriotism is, according to Merriam-Webster's dictionary, a "love for or devotion to one's country."

What makes one patriotic? Service to one's country makes one patriotic. What kind of service? From serving in the armed forces to becoming a hard working, productive citizen with a job is what kind of service.

Remember the line from the movie "Forrest Gump," that said, "Stupid is as stupid does?" Perhaps that might be said about patriotism: Patriotism is as patriotism does.

Given that definition, consider these and what they have done:

Samuel Adams -- leader of The Boston Tea Party and part of the First Continental Congress.

John Adams -- a vigorous promoter of American independence during the meetings of the Second Continental Congress in 1776 and later America's first Vice President and second President.

Patrick Henry -- who said and demonstrated, "I do not know what course other men will take; but as for me, 'Give me liberty, or give me death!'"

Paul Revere -- who is famous for his "Midnight Ride" on the eve of the beginning of The Revolutionary War.

George Washington -- America's first President and commander of the "Minute Men."

Nathan Hale -- who at the time of his execution said, "I regret, but that I only have one life to give for my country."

Clara Barton -- the head of The Nursing Core during The American Civil War, and the Founder of the American Red Cross.

Betsy Ross -- producing "Old Glory" for the very first time.

Jessica Dawn Lynch -- a 19-year-old woman in the U.S. Army who was a POW in Iraq, who was awarded a Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and a POW Medal.

Patriots are those who promise, officially or not, to protect and defend the U.S. Constitution and our nation against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Patriots are the reasons our nation is still free; they are the reasons our nation will remain free.

God bless our patriots!

Jack Rollins is the managing editor of the Daily Dunklin Democrat.