The colors serve to remind of us of how we came into existence and what is required by every true patriot for our country to continue to exist. Red=sacrifice, white=purity, blue=justice.
"Sing for the flag, our country's flag,
How I love her stripes and stars!
The stars of white on a field of blue,
Her red and crimson bars.
Sing for the flag, our country's flag,
Emblem of liberty.
She floats above our beauteous land,
Protecting you and me.
Sing for the flag, our country's flag,
Oh may she ever be
A brave and gallant symbol
Of truth and liberty."
(Author Unknown)
Have you ever noticed that every celebratory patriotic event reminds us of our nation's great history? Have you ever taken the time to notice?
It used to be that our nation's Independence was really celebrated. In almost every household, it was a time of reflection, pride, and thanksgiving. However, it now seems that celebrating is the focus. The holiday just serves as a platform as we plan elaborate cook-outs, think about buying a new car because the dealerships have sales going on, and blow our hard-earned dollars at carnivals for a chance to win something we really don't need. Even the name of the holiday Independence Day ~ has been reduced to the 4th of July. I fear that with our abundance ~ we have forgotten ~ and have grown apathetic.
RAGGED OLD FLAG
I walked through a county courthouse square,
On a park bench an old man was sitting there.
I said, "Your old courthouse is kinda run down."
He said, "Naw, it'll do for our little town."
I said, "Your flagpole has leaned a little bit,
And that's a Ragged Old Flag you got hanging on it.
He said, "Have a seat", and I sat down.
"Is this the first time you've been to our little town?"
I said, "I think it is." He said, "I don't like to brag,
But we're kinda proud of that Ragged Old Flag."
"You see, we got a little hole in that flag there
When Washington took it across the Delaware.
And it got powder-burned the night Francis Scott Key
Sat watching it writing "Oh Say Can You See".
And it got a bad rip in New Orleans
With Packingham and Jackson tuggin' at its seams."
"And it almost fell at the Alamo
Beside the Texas flag, but she waved on through.
She got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville
And she got cut again at Shiloh Hill.
There was Robert E. Lee, Beauregard, and Bragg,
And the south wind blew hard on that Ragged Old Flag."
"On Flanders Field in World War I
She got a big hole from a Bertha gun.
She turned blood red in World War II
She hung limp and low by the time it was through.
She was in Korea and Vietnam.
She went where she was sent by her Uncle Sam."
"She waved from our ships upon the briny foam,
And now they've about quit waving her back here at home.
In her own good land she's been abused --
She's been burned, dishonored, denied and refused."
"And the government for which she stands
Is scandalized throughout the land.
And she's getting threadbare and wearing thin,
But she's in good shape for the shape she's in.
'Cause she's been through the fire before
And I believe she can take a whole lot more."
"So we raise her up every morning,
Take her down every night.
We don't let her touch the ground
And we fold her up right.
On second thought I DO like to brag,
'Cause I'm mighty proud of that Ragged Old Flag."
(Johnny Cash)
The Star-Spangled Banner
"Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight?
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave
O'er the Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave?
(And my favorite verse of all!)
Oh, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation.
Blessed with victory and peace, may the Heaven-resuced land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In GOD is our trust".
And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave!"
(Francis Scott Key)
Iwo Jima. The Twin Towers. The Pentagon. Outside my front door. Whenever or wherever she waves, our flag continues to show the world the steadfast resolve of the American spirit that no one can ever ignore: Freedom!
I'm in awe of how God has blessed our nation and continues to do so, in spite of ~ us.
When I stop to ponder how this great nation of ours started with the spirit of freedom and the gift of sacrifice ~ based on independence ~ I can't help but compare how God has granted me freedom with His gift of sacrifice ~ based on my dependence on Him!
Just some thoughts for this amazing day of reflection. Have a wonderful Independence Day!
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