On a visit to Canada, I was impressed by how patriotic the Canadians are with their national flag.

The maple leaf was flying not only on public buildings but also on rooftops, private houses and gardens everywhere.

I was touched when I saw how the Americans rallied around their flag on that fatal day of September 11. My heart went out to them.

So where do we come in this patriotic league?

Well, you might see a Union flag flying on Remembrance Sunday.

But, wait, I saw a Union flag flying on a roof next to the grandstand on Brighton racecourse. Alas, after a storm at the weekend, it flies in tatters. Is this a sign of the times?

I am very patriotic and, like many others, am proud to be British. Today, Mr Blair will give the third and final reading of the EU Treaty of Nice, handing over nearly all power to the European Union without a referendum.

Although not much of a gesture, I gave two years of my life to National Service to keep this country free.

There are many hundreds of thousands of men and women who gave their all in two world wars - did they die in vain?

Some months ago, the BBC had a phone-in and, out of all the calls, nearly 80 per cent were against going into Europe. Doesn't Mr Blair have a radio?

So rally around the Union flag all you men and women good and true. Fly the flag.

-James Killick, Chiddingley Close, Brighton