Mahoning Valley - While the Fourth of July brought parades, flags, and fireworks all across the Valley, it also sparked deeper reflection.

In a nation as divided and unsettled as many feel it is today, what does patriotism really mean?

That’s the question 21 News took to the streets this Independence Day, speaking with veterans, police and everyday people who gathered to celebrate freedom and community.

“Absolutely everybody out here today...it doesn't matter what religion, what political belief you have,” said Julie Jones of Austintown, “All that matters is that we're here today celebrating our freedom.”

Many shared that patriotism isn’t about one definition. Instead, they said it’s about living the values that unite the country, not divide it.

“To me, and all the veterans of the United States of America, we still hold it true,” said Terry Mackie, commander of the Disabled American Veterans of Mahoning County, “Enjoy our freedoms. Enjoy the men and women that have given us our freedoms that we have today.”

Mackie served 21 years in the U.S. Marines.

He’s completed four overseas tours and said those experiences changed his perspective forever.

“The big thing is how lucky we are in this country to have what we have,” he said, “The things I've seen... We have it great."

Others emphasized that loving your country doesn’t mean avoiding its flaws, but caring enough to face them.

“Patriotism, to me, is caring for everyone no matter what,” said Katie Butcher of Niles, “I’m a therapist, so I believe no one should be judged or have things taken away because of who they are. You can love your country and also love what it stands for at its core, which is everyone.”

Butcher said that for her, it’s about action, not just symbolism.

“As a country, I think we need to take care of everyone who lives here, no matter what,” she said.

Officer John Marshall of the Niles Police Department said patriotism ties back to America’s founding ideas.

“Our country was formed on the idea that we wanted something beyond just the focal point of a leader,” Marshall said, “We wanted a nation comprised of the people and for the people. We still have to strive to be a unified country and do what's best for everybody, not just for one group.”

Bill Norman of Berlin Center echoed that idea: “Patriotism is the freedom to be yourself and stand up for what you believe in,” he said, “There’s always going to be stuff wrong in our country, but if we stand together, we can fix it.”

Some said unity and mutual care are more important now than ever.

“The world is so divided,” said Dontae Maxie, who traveled to Austintown from California, and his son added, "We need to come together. Work as one, because strength is in numbers.”

Others define patriotism as personal responsibility.

“Everybody needs to give back. Do something good for someone, no matter who they are,” said Ken Zwolinski, “That, to me, is patriotic.”

For many, a big part of patriotism is centered around the military and the brave actions of service men and women. 

For others, it's also about compassion, freedom of expression or standing up for the underrepresented.

But across the board, one theme rang clear: patriotism in 2025 means different things to different people, and that’s the point.

As Mackie put it, “We have the rights and freedoms to voice our opinions, right or wrong. But we have that right."

And the very ability to have conversations about patriotism in the United States, he said, is something worth celebrating.