The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-12-19

presented possibilities unknown to any
| other country under the sun. In all
| the years of its glorious existence IL
| had stood for liberty and freedom in
| all things calculated to lead men and
women to lofty aspirations and noble
! needs. The Stars and Stripes repre-
| sent our united country, the well being
| of all her people, their aims and am
| billions. their purity and singleness OF
| purpose, their true badge of courage
and their abiding faith in and love for
an All Wise Providence, who has so
generously and plenteously endowed
| them, and so wisely directed them in
| their nation building. 1t has been the
first Of all the flags Of the world to
throw off bondage, that valorous and
| red -blooded people might enjoy free
] dom to grow, know, and to DO. Ana
as inscribed on this scroll that we also
| present you, "A thoughtful mind when
| it sees the nations flag sees not the
| flag only but the nation itself. and
whatever may be its symbols, its in
! sigma he reads chiefly in the flag the
| government, the principle, the truth,
nation that sets it FORTH
HISTORY OF THE BANNER.
| 1t is entirely fitting therefore on
| this suspicious occasion that we should
! pause for a moment, lay aside our
! everyday pursuits and contemplate, the
/ history Of this banner which is en-
| blazoned in light. and in which all men
| rejoice. 1t has cheered Americans Oh
| to victory, it inspired Washington, it
| Witnessed the surrender of Burgoyne.
| gave us Valley Forge, Morristown,
! Trenton, Yorktown, the Montezumas
and Manila. These scenes and many
| more fill the pages of history with tho
! grand deeds of American manhood and
! will inspire you with patriotic devotion
RI th1a honor of An Wit nFI
| States. Everywhere on land, or amid
| the trackless wastes of every sea has
| it waved and stood aIoft unflIrled-a
! luminous symbol of resistless and be
| Eef1cent power.
Richer thy red with blood of heroes
wet
Purer thy white through sacrificial life
Brighter thy blue wherein new stars
are set;
| Thou are become a sign,
Revealed in heaven to speak of things
OF truth that dares
| To slay the lie it shelters unawsres;
! OF courage fearless in the fight
| Yet quick it's foemen to forgive;
| OF conscience earnest to maintain it's
right
And gladly grant the same to all who
live.
Thy staff is planted deeply in the fact
That nothing can ennoble man
Save his own act,
And nought can make him worthy to
be free
| But practice in the school of liberty.
The cords are two that lift thee to
| Firm faith IN God, the King who rules
| on high:
And never failing trust
| In human nature, full of faults and
| flaws,
Yet ever-answering to the inward call
/ That bids it set the Ought above the
must:
In all its errors wiser than it seems,
In all. its failures full of generous
Through endless conflict rising with
| out pause
| To self dominion, charactered in laws
That pledge fair-play alike to great
and small,
And equal rights 70 reach beneath the
rule of all.
| These are thy halyards, banner bold.
| And while these hold,
Thy brightness from the sky shall
| never fall
Thy broadening empire never know
decrease
| Thy strength is union and thy glory
peace"
| This gorgeous emblem of the repub-
| lie, this harbinger Of peace, this refuge
| of US all we now present you with the
| fullest confidence that you will ever
keep it aloft.
There is no wind but has kissed the
| stars and Stripes and felt purer by it's
touch, there is no sea but has heard
| whipering from its folds the sweet
| voice of liberty
Avoid a fight if you can. but fight if
| YOU must in its defense and for all
| that for which 1t stands
With such a flag and such a ship
| and such crew guided and actuated
| by the inspiration of the illustrious
| records of valor and courage which
| has characterized the American navy
| since John Paul Jones. there will be no
| failure, no hating in any cause for
which the ship, it's officers and men
| may be called. Remember that God
Is our trust" and the the Star Span
gted Banner in triumph shall wave DER
| the land of the free and the home of
| the brave
1t is my pleasure. Captain Knapp, to
present You the flag OF our country and
| the flag of our navy.
Gentlemen, the colors.
| MISS THoRPE'S TALK.
Miss Kathryn Thorpe state regen.
| of the Florida Division of the Daugh-
| ters of the American Revolution as
| sisted Mrs. Mahoney in presenting the
@ags and colors, and said. in part, as
| follows:
To the great battleship which bears
| the name of our fair state-FTorida-I
| nave the honor to present in behalf Of
| the Daughters of the American Revo-
luton of the state of Florida this flag
| upon which is embroidered the seal Of
| our state and the insignia of the
| largest wonen's organization in the
world-the Daughters Of the American
Revolution.
To every daughter and patriotic citi :
zen In Florida these emblems are held
| most dear, and with these gifts. we,
the Daughters of the American Revo-
| luton of Florida, bid this grand and
magnificent battleship God-speed.
| SISTER CARLOTTAS TALK.
In presenting the loving cup from
| the Florida Division, United Daugh-
| tiers of the Confederacy, Sister Esther
| Carlotta, S. r, president Of the Flor
l ida Division, said:
| The Captain Commanding, Officers and
Men of the United States Battleship
| Florida:
The United Daughters of the Con-
| federacy have so outgrown the bounds
| OF the original Confederate States that
| from the Great Lakes to the City Of
Mexico. from the sunrise shores Of the