Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1921-09-16
The FLAG.

we recall an incident tIlat udl)-
pened on the streets on the night
that the town celebrated the signing
of the armiSticc. 1t comes back to
us now because Of an incident OF
Monday. Both concerned patriot
ism. During the celebration in The
streets on the evening of November
tn three years ago crowd OF
boy almost mobbcd Il thoushtleSs
fellow because he did not remove
his hat when bandplaycd The
Star Spangled Banner That VAS
just short span OF time ago. On
Monday a former overseas soldiers
body was consigned to its last rest
ing place in Spring Hill cemetery
here. Former soldiers marched in
the line to the cemetery and 4 COM
pany of infantry stationed here was
the guard Of honor. Flying TO the
breeze at the head of the company
wan an American flag. AS the pro-
ceSsion filed through the streets not
one Of every ten persons Salutcd the
flag; none took off their hats.
Someone has referred 10 the
American flag rs the century plant
of human hope in bloom" And, in
:his connection, the American Leg
ion recently issued 4 bulletin urg-
ing respect for the flag:
Your flag stands for humanity,
for an equal opportunity TO all the
sons of men. or course, we haven't
arrived al the goal; there arc many
imustices yet among us, many sense
less and cruel customs OF the past
still clinging to us, but the only
hope of righting the wrongs Of men
lies in the feeling produced in our
bosoms by the sight of that flag.
"Other flags mean glorious past,
this flag glorious future Ii is not
40 much the flag of our fathers as
ii is the flag of our children, and of
all children's children yet unborn.
Ii is the flag OF tomarrow. 1t is the
signal of the good time coming"
II is not the flag of your king, it is
the flag Of yourself and of all your
neighborS."
OF all The signs and symbols since
the world began there is none SO
full of meaning rs the flag of this
country. That piece OF red, white
and blue bunting means five thou
sand years of struggling upwards.
Ii is the full grown flower OF ages
fighting for liberty.
When you see the Nag passing
again, salute it. You are not salut-
ing Il piece of fabric but symbal
of something. Emotions of such
kind as expressed in honoring the
flag are The most lofty in life.
Charleston Gazette
Beautiful words and noble scnti-
ment these. Would that the know
ledge of the ages of struggle behind
our flag could be instilIed into the
mind Of every man, woman and
child! That struggle did not begin
with the founders Of our nation. II
had been evolving ages before their
day. Achievements wrought in cycle
past. bourgconed into beautiful
hugh and radiant Splcndor in the
deeds OF our Fathers.
They wrought, they struggled
they founded. Ii is ours to pre-
| serve. Would that vision of the
responsibilities Of citizenship under
the Stars and Stripes be burned
into the very soul of each individ
ual in our broad land.
Salute the Flag! Yes. And il
The. salutinS, pray Almighty God IL
give each of us the comprehensive
and the power to summon tn,
courage to live daily in every ac
OF life the noble principles and higf
purposes for which the flag stands
Your Flag and mine.
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nicibIlincuT oourrnruor