Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-12-05
THE FLAG.


THE FLAG.
What is flag? Some may answer
that it is a piece of cloth. The same
people, if limited to one definition,
would describe man as. creature
made of dirt rather than as an image
of God into whom He has breathed
His spirit. In so doing they would
most accurately describe themselves,
for in such men dirt greatly predom-
mates over spirit; in so defining a
flag they could accurately convey its
meaning to them. However, the
mere fact that we have flag is proof
sufficient that to the nation as a
whole it conveys deeper meaning.
Whatever meaning it may have other
than that of piece of cloth is put
upon it by the people. To us it is,
symbol of the accomplishments and
ideals of our own nation. Some
symbol is necessary, for man is so
constituted that his mind can but
grasp tangible things. If the thing
which he idealizes is not already inl
such form that he can grasp it with
one cf his five senses, he makes for
himself symbol through which he
can better reverence his ideal. A
slightly strained analogy is that of
beginner in the study of foreign
language. If he is given a problem
in addition in Spanish, for example,
he translates the problem into Eng
lish, adds, and translates the answer
back into Spanish. "Siete, cinco, VI
ocho' do not mean "viente," but
rather seven, five and eight which
total twenty, and whose sum is trans
lated into eviente.'' In much the
same manner we represent our ideals
by the flag and pay them homage
through this more tangible medium.
What does our flag mean to us?l
1t is all that history has made it.
1t represents young republic which
was founded on the principles Of free
dom and equality. It represents the
spirit of the pioneers who braved the
dangers of the wilderness that the
nation might expand. 1t represents
the lives of thousands who have con-
tributed to the growth of the nation.
1t represents the thousands who havel
died upon the battlefields to per-
petuate the principles of equality andi
freedom. New lustre has been added
20 y Il / h. Ia4a Ill
America entered that these priciplesl
might be upheld even across the
waters. The help our nation has rem
dered the countries made desolate byl
war and famine adds to the glory of
the flag. Our nation has had great
past and to those who look with un-
derstanding and reverent eyes, Old
Glory represents this past.
But the flag has another meaning:
Just as it is symbol of what our
fathers have done, it is an expression
Of what we are doing. The stand we
are taking at the disarmament con-
ference is helping to make the flag.
But more than that, the life each boy
and girl, each man and woman leads
is forming the flag. The flag is a
symbol of the ideals of the nation.
The ideals OF the nation are merely
the ideals of the individuals who con
stitute the nation. The ideals of these
individuals are exemplified and made
known 20 their associates and to pos
tority by their lives. Every act OF
ours either causes the flag to shine
with increased glory CT puts a blot
upon its fair folds.
Since the flag IS symbol of the
ideals ana history q our great na- |
lion, ii is due a. reverence. We ase
prond of our past and we are making
present of which the future may
well be proud. We can best evince
cur reverence for these ideals by
showing respect for the flag. Some
Of Us have the reverence in our
hearts but do not display it in our
acta. Let us briefly review flag eti- !
qmette and at all times conduct our
solves in accordance with these Gus
TINS:
When man is in uniform and the
flag passes in parade, or when the
National Anthem, or ''To the Colors"
is played, he stands at attention and
salutes; if a man is in civilian clothes
he renders a military salute, only if
he is without hat. At all other
times the man not in uniform pays
his respects to the flag or the Ma
tional Anthem by removing his hat
with his right hand and holding it
against his left shoulder; if the
weather is exceptionally inclement,
the hat may be held several inches
above his head. For women, all that
is necessary is stand at attention.