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It's
a Grand Old Flag
John Lenote
10/03/06
 I have heard comments recently,
some even from people close to me, that they won’t
fly the American Flag because they oppose President Bush’s
policies. They will fly the flag when a new President is
in the White House. In response, I say that the flag is
not the property of Republicans or Democrats. It belongs
to ALL
Americans. The flag is a symbol of our country. And
proudly should we salute it, fly it and swear allegiance
to it.
I bring you a quote from an American Legion Flag Day
speech: ”It touches us and calls out to us. Franklin
K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior, delivered a 1914 Flag
Day address in which he repeated words he said the flag
had spoken to him that morning: I am what you make me;
nothing more. I swing before your eyes as a bright gleam
of color, a symbol of yourself.
And sometimes we are so awed and inspired by the message
that our flag silently sends to us that we find ourselves
responding to this living symbol of all that we stand
for.
This happened to Captain William Driver, a shipmaster in
Salem, Massachusetts, in 1831. As he was leaving on one
of his many voyages aboard the ship CHARLES DOGGETT he
was presented with a beautiful flag of twenty-four stars.
His crew opened the banner to the ocean breeze for the
first time against the deep blue skies.
Captain Driver was awestricken by the beauty and
magnificence of the living portrait before his eyes and
affectionately addressed the flag as “Old Glory!”
That name has stayed with our flag for 175 years. Old
Glory, accented by 50 stars and 13 stripes, symbolizes
the blessings of liberty and reminds us of the freedom we
share. It is also the symbol of our patriotism.
That’s why the flag is seen everywhere. Whether it’s
in front or on top of buildings, hanging from the rafters
at sporting events, displayed proudly on our home, or
draped over the coffin of a fallen hero who fought in the
war on terror, the flag is a testament to the ideals of
American democracy.”
Lest we forget that over 1 million men and women have
died for our country and how many more have been
physically and mentally wounded in defense of America.
The troops certainly have personal views on politics, but
never the less, they perform their duties on land, sea
and in the air. And do so in defending us, our freedom,
our way of life, our future. They salute the flag daily,
wear it on their uniform and eventually it will drape
their casket.
Have we forgotten the errors of how the troops of the
Vietnam era were treated? Or are we becoming complacent?
The shock of 9/11 is not all that long ago. I for one am
proud to fly the flag at my home and one day it will
drape my casket. And it won’t matter if I voted
Democrat, Republican or Independent. Show support for our
troops! Fly the flag!
John
Lenotte is the American Legion Commander, District
8/Essex County and Adjutant, Post 4, Haverhill
*Send your questions comments to ValleyPatriot@aol.com
The September, 2006
Edition of the Valley Patriot
The Valley Patriot is a Monthly
Publication.
All Contents (C) 2006, Valley Patriot, Inc.
We publish 9,000 newspapers and distribute in Andover,
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