On June 14th, 1777, the fledgling government of the United States of America officially adopted the thirteen star, thirteen stripe, Red, White and Blue flag designed and sewn by Betsy Ross. It’s changed over the years, but the basic idea of thirteen stripes, commemorating the original thirteen colonies, and a single white star for each state, stitched into a field of blue.
If Mr. Obama is reading this, I’d like to point out that there are fifty stars, not fifty-seven.
In 1975, in anticipation if the 200th anniversary of the Birth of our nation the following year, composer John W. Peterson wrote a cantata he called “I Love America”. One of the songs, “The Red White and Blue,” contained the following lyrics:
Proudly it waves, Old Glory
Over the Land of the Free!
Promise of Hope and Freedom.
Symbol of Liberty!
Red, White and Blue are its colors,
Colors both bold and clear,
Colors with far deeper meaning
Than that at first may appear.
Red is for the blood of Patriots who have had died to free us
White is for justice and government of law
Blue is for honor, and faith in all we do
This is my flag!
This is Old Glory!
The Red, White and Blue!
There are others words, but you get the gist. Our flag – the symbol of what America stands for. On this day – Flag Day – I can only think of one appropriate gesture. I hope you’ll join me:
I pledge allegiance to the flag
Of the United States of America
And to the Republic for which it stands
One Nation, Under God. Indivisible,
With Liberty and Justice for ALL!
God Bless America!
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