In style, it’s a classic American farmhouse, with a wide screened porch running across the front, overlooking a long driveway that heads toward the road.

But instead of previews, an American flag materialized on-screen, waving amid palm trees in an idealized, tropical summer breeze. It was an old reel (a reel!), sepia at the sides and skipping a bit.

This weekend I will be putting our American flag out on its well-worn bracket on the front of our house to celebrate the Fourth of July weekend. Happy birthday, America. Sincerely.