With so many stories about racial division and strife dominating the headlines and airwaves these days, J.D. Branch, of West Bloomfield, delivered a message of unity and brotherhood Friday morning during Leonard Elementary’s Veterans Day celebration.

When the retired U.S. Air Force staff sergeant sees the American flag, the only colors he thinks about are khaki, olive drab and camouflage – the colors worn by U.S. military personnel over time.

“That’s what matters – not the color of our skin,” said Branch as he delivered some impromptu remarks to students, teachers and fellow veterans.

One other color also comes to mind.

“There’s a lot of red blood that’s been shed over the years so this flag can still fly,” said Branch, who served in the Air Force from 1988 to 2012.

Years ago, Branch attended a Memorial Day ceremony in Shelby Township and even though he wasn’t part of their generation and didn’t experience the horrors of combat as they did, the Vietnam veterans there welcomed him as a brother and that made a strong impression on him.

“These men wrapped their arms around me and said, ‘You’re one of us.’ I’ll never forget that,” he said.

To Branch, the military is “one big family.”

He said it doesn’t matter which branch of the Armed Forces a person belongs to or what they look like or how much money they have, servicemen and women can always be counted upon to “put it all on the line” to help each other.

“And they’ll do it even after their days in the service are done,” Branch said. “That’s what this flag stands for.”