The Raymer enterprise., 1923-06-07

, tionnl inspiration. Here the patriotic sons OF me
, early Republic crushed one Of the most ambitious
. lnyasions ever aimed against our nation. Here
during the rage Of combat, was born the swelling
anthem Of American patriotism.
1t is wholly fitting that Flag Day should be
chosen for this commemoration and rededication,
! because our hymn Of patriotism Is an apostrophe
TO the flag we love- Yea, 1t Is apostrophe and In
, vocation as well. born of patriotic and poetic
soul In the travail Of a sublImely heroic night.
/ If one. forgetting the music, Will ponder that
, poem Of battle and victory and thanksgiving !
. think he will comprehend the elements that have
made II great-great as song OF patriotism ana
exatatIon, great merely as piece Of poecal por-
traIture. The first stanza tells the anxiety with
I which, after the bombardment had ceased. the
4 author peered through the mists Of dawn and
, asked the one question whose answer would tell
, the fatefu story:
can you see. by the dawn's early light.
What 50 proudly we hard at the twiiishts last
In the second stanza he gllmpses the banner and
I bursts into song Of rejoicing. The third stanza
is defiance of the oppressor; and then, In the
fourth and last stanza, find the note Of thanks.
\ civag. the prayer that the victory may be justi
. fed in the conduct of a race of freemen:
O. thus be II ever when freemen shall stand
, Between their lovd home and the wars desolaton.
I That was the poets prayer. We may fairly
I claim, IN pride for the deeds of our fathers our
! sons, OUT brothers. the prayer has been granted.
i The faith has been kept.
, 1t is the hope of every American heart today
In, Il lima ha
century has brought our country power and high
place 1t has cast upon US heavy burdens Of re-
sponSlblty, making US share the difficult problems
of 4 world in the turmoil of new time. We need
all the inspiration and faith which fired his glow
I Ing soul Of patriotism. No generation Of men
has ever come into the world to find Its path
! snoohed, or to find Its problems solved for It In
, advance Solution Is the fit price we pay for our
great inheritance Of liberty and opportunity
The outstanding and the reassuring thought of
today is the supreme exaltatlon Of Key In the
hour of great trial. to reveal the soul of pa
triot in the night Of surprising anxiety and de-
vot0n 10 country
No concern for self narrowed his thought No
, glorfcation of the Individual marred his vision
, No pursuit Of fame set his soul ablaze No per-
! sona advantage hndered his pen His country
and his concern for Its safety were combined In
his all.consnmlng thought; the nation was the
great uplifting and exalting love. In this I'm
paSsoned. anxious, selfsacrfcing exaltng and ex-
ultIng love Of country transcending all else Key
reached the sublime heights. and wrote the poetic
. revelation Of an American soul aflame
An American citizenship of the high and simple
:. faith of Francis Scott Key, ahame for defense
and no less devoted In meeting the problems Of
peace. will add to the luser Of the banner he so
proudly acclaimed. Every gllttering star Is fixed
every Worthwhile procession Is the more impress
sve for Its bearing. every passion for country Is
| refined by Its unfolding. On ships of mercy or
vessels Of war. in the armed camp or at the memo.
, rals Of peace In rejoicing procession or flying
from the staff over the simple temples Of the
schooling youth of Amerlca-everywhere It pleases
the eye and reassures the heart and stlrs the
soul until we sing In al, confidence with the poet.
patriot
i The star-spaneled Banner In triumph shall wave
Ger the land Of the free and the home OF the brave