The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1923-05-23
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HERE COMES THE FLAG.
Arthur Macy

fere comes the Flag.
Hail it!
Who dares to drag
Or trail it?
Give it hurrahs-
Three for the stars
Three for the bars!
Uncover your head to it!
The soldiers who tread to it
Shout at the sight of it,
The Justice and right of it,
The unsullied white of it,
The blue and the red of it,
And tyrany's dread of it!
Here comes the flag!
Cheer it!
Valley and crag
Shall hear it! ~
Fathers shall bless it,
Children caress it!
All shall maintain it,
No one, shall stain it.
Cheers for the sailors who fought or
the wave for it,
Tears for the men who went down tt
- the grave for it.
Here Comes the Flag!
"And the flag first rose over thir-
teen states along the Atlantic sea-
board, with a population of some 81
100000 people."-U. S. History. -
Today, the flag flies over forty-eight
states; extending across the cOntin
ent and over great islands OF two
oceans; and 130, 100000 owe it alleg,
lance.
1t has been brought to this PROUD
position by love and sacrifice. Citi-
zens have advanced it and heroes have
died for it. 1t is the sign made visible
of the strong spirit that has brought
liberty and prosperity to the people
of America.
The American flag saved the civil.
cation of the world. with patriotism
in our hearts and the Flag of Oul
Country in our hands, there is no dan
, ger from Anarchy and no danger tc
the American Union" 1t is the Flag
of all of us alike. Let us accord il
honor and loyalty.
THE OBSERVANCE OF PATRIOTIC
HOLIDAYS.
Your committee on post activities
has this to say about the observance
of patriotic holidays. 1t is recognized
that the American Legion must now
take the lead in seeing that these days
are properly observed. Proper obser-
vance may consist on the one hand oil
a quiet, dignified program of speeches
selected vocal and instrumental mus
ic and reverent tributes to the soldier
dead, as on Memorial Day. On the
other hand it may properly consist OF
celebrations, ball games, races, flying
exhibitions, dances, etc., as on the
Fourth of July. Both days are be-
Y coming more and more American Leg
ion days. The character of their OBJ
servance should be, however, quite diff
ferent and distinctly so.
In connection with the observance.ot
Memorial Day this year it occurs to
your committee that not every post
officer in Minnesota realizes that this
is the day for dignified and reverent
tribute to the soldier dead. The ball
game and the dance should be taboo
This is the one day in all the year
when we can afford dignity, rever-
ence, peace, quiet, restfulness, re-
freshment of our memories. We car
play ball and dance and do other
things most any day of the year, but
Memorial Day alone should be dedi.
Gated to the sacred memory of those
who made the supreme sacrifice; 8
day of quiet observance and not one
of celebration. Some posts have pas
sed resolutions condemning ball games
on Memorial Day. In most cases res
olutions have not been necessary wher
it became known that The American
Legion would frown on any celebra.
ton, ball game or dance. Most com.
munities automatically have accepted
the Legion idea. The Legion leads.
There is another feature of this
Memorial Day observance. We Leg
ion fellows have been hogging the lime
light a-plenty during the last four OF
five years. Let US not forget that
Memorial Day was established as such