Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-09-12
WHAT The FLAG STANDS FOR

Father Thome, the pastor, presided
over the exercises, which were in
charge of general committee, of
which B. Mueller.was Chairman and
]. Walter, Secretary. The Reception
Committee was composed of Frank
A. Kopp, John H. Walter, Peter
Gerstle, Joseph Schrecker and Jacob
II. Walser. This committee waited
upon Lieut.. Gov. McDermott and
escorted him to the school, where he
was received by the Rev. A. j. Thome
and the Rev. F. ]. Keller, assistant
pastor. The exercises began with a
song by the school children, each OF
whom carried an American flag.
Fred Herp recited the history of the
flag and Maria Voll recited "The
Banner Betsy Made" after which
Father Thome blessed the flag and
the children sang the Star Spangled
Banner" as Rose Kopp and Carl
Huber raised the colors to the top of
the staff, the audience standing the
while. Herman Guenther recited a
salute to the flag, after which
Father Thome introduced Lieut..
Gov. McDermott.
Gov. McDermott complimented the
parish on it's patriotism and unity
and in an eloquent tribute to the
Stars and Stripes said:
This is a lucky parish. You have
handsome church, large, beauti-
full and comfortable school and a
new, beautiful American flag float
ing in the breeze over your children
Thus, for yourselves and your chill
dren, you have provided an altar
dedicated to religion and morality, a
school where free education may be
given your children, and a flag to
inspire patriotism in the old and the
young.
''The motto of our State is, United
We Stand, Divided We FALL A
congregation, so united and enter
prising as you are, must flourish and
be happy in the full enjoyment of
civil and religious liberty.
"A flag is the symbol or emblem
of nation, the standard held aloft
to identify its supporters and denote
their character and also to inspire
them with love for their fatherland
and courage to defend it. This flag
of ours recalls our battles for free
dom, our noble Constitution and our
proud history. It's white bars speak
to us of purity; its blue of truth and
loyalty, its red of vigor and cour-
age; its stars remind us of our great
constellation of free States which
make up our solid and imperishable
Union.t
"In foreign lands and seas / have
seen the beautiful flags of other
great nations, but none seemed so
beautiful to me as this flag which is
the emblem and protector of our
free and happy home.
Fortunate indeed is that land
where religion, education and free
dom develop, purify and enlighten
its men and women, making them
better able to lead a good, moral,
contented life while enjoying the
comforts and pleasures of the high
est civilization.
Some men are willing to quarrel
and fight for their country or their
religious faith and yet they will not
make their daily life conform to the
laws of their country or to the
teachings of their protested religion.
This flag of ours assures all of
us that the rights guaranteed each
of us by our Constitution shall be
ours in fact and the Inheritance of
| our children. Among other rights
the flag tells us that before the law
all citizens are equal, whether rich
or poor, proud or humble; that
every citizen has the right of free
speech, subject only to punishment
for an abuse of that precious priv
llege; that every man has a right to
choose and practice his religious
faith without being called to ac-
count for II and without having his
rights impaired on any pretext by
those who prefer a different faith
that all must have an equal right to
vote or to fill a public Office or to
mold our laws, an equal right at the
polls, equality in taxation and in the
courts; that every citizen must per.
form his duties to the State and obey
the laws in loyalty and good faith
that each of us must stand for Law
and order and for justice; that e
enjoy our rights each of us must
honestly and at any sacrifice oil
danger, perform our manifold duties
as citizens, not grudgingly, but witt
cheerfulness, unselfishness and cour
age.
while We are devoted and loya
to our flag and country, II does mo-
follow that We should hate or revils
or make war upon other countries
who do not have our ideas or insti
tutions similar to our own. II pos
sible, We want to be at peace with al
the world. Therefore in the clash
ings OF other nations we must b,
temperate. fair and Just to them II
our thoughts, words and actions.
ut is easy to err in passing judg
ment even on our friends. II is fai
easier to err In passing judgment OF
strangers who are far removed from
us In distance or In ideals or insti
buttons.
with charity to all men and to al
nations, with loyalty and love To-
our own dear land and for our nobl
Constitution and all II implies, WI
proudly unfurl this beautiful flal
TO the breeze and hope that. here an,
everywhere, for ages 10 come, II ma,
be the embIom nj Iiberfv an a ~,