Congress

The ‘Appeal to Heaven’ Flag Is All Over Capitol Hill

Republicans are only clinging to the flag tighter after it became more controversial in recent weeks.

The Appeal to Heaven flag stands with the Louisiana state flag outside the district office of Speaker of the House Mike Johnson in the Cannon House Office Building.

The Appeal to Heaven flag stands with the Louisiana state flag outside the district office of Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. J. Scott Applewhite/AP

By Haley Byrd Wilt

June 03, 2024 06:00 AM

Two years later, the conversation still stands out to Rep. Don Bacon.

A woman at a conservative event tried to explain to him that she wanted a patriot who would fight. Bacon, a Nebraska Republican, told her he’d served in the Air Force for nearly 30 years and had been deployed in combat four times. He sees himself as a patriot.

“No,” he remembered her responding. “We want someone who’s going to fight for our country. Literally fight.”