Take one step inside Peggy Walther's home and there's no mistaking what her favorite holiday is.

"My granddaughter calls me the red, white and blue grandma," said the 82-year-old Walther, who taught elementary school in the Clover Park School District for 21 years.

The Lakewood resident's white kitchen is filled with red, white and blue serving dishes, platters, cups and jars. The table is covered in a festive tablecloth and the red chairs are adorned with patriotic blankets and pillows. She once even considered painting the walls red to kick it up a couple notches.

"Someone told me that you can't sell a house with red walls," Walther said with a laugh.

The garage is filled with even more patriotic goodies.

"Countless items," said Walther's husband, George, a former C-141 Starlifter pilot who retired from the Air Force while he was stationed at McChord.

While some of the patriotic items have a permanent home somewhere displayed prominently around the house or yard, Walther really lets loose come July.

"That's the kid in me," she said. "I just go overboard."

And going overboard is something she loves. As a member of the Mary Ball Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Walther has served as the chapter flag chairman for the last 11 years. She recently spent Flag Day going around the community dressed as Betsy Ross, handing out mini flags and educating people on the proper way to take care of a flag.

"I just love talking to kids and telling them how the flag represents our country - it's not just a flag of pretty colors," she said.

Although Walther's days of marching in Fourth of July parades are a thing of the past, she still plans on hosting family and getting out into the community and passing out flags come Sunday.

And after the work is done, the day would not be complete without fireworks. Like they've been doing for years, Walther and her husband plan on taking the last ferry out to Anderson Island, then staying on for the return trip to Steilacoom while viewing the fireworks shows from celebrations across the Puget Sound.

"You can see glows from all over," she said.