The item that I chose to light is an American Flag.  This is something that I view as symbolic of America, in particular, viewing it as a symbol of freedom and independence.  This is meaningful to me, because my second favorite holiday is the 4th of July or Independence Day.  It is a time when my family has its second largest gathering, next to Christmas.  We all get together and grill tons of food, light bunches of fireworks, and have the best of times.  It is the staple of my summer and one of my most joyous moments of the year.