Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-07-02

, Americans sometimes believe that
| no other nationality appreciates it's
nag 80 thoroughly as do the people
/ OF the United States. In an address
delivered some time ago by the then
chairman of committee on the flag
appointed by the Sons of the Ameri-
can Revolution, 1t was stated that
practically all other countries have
laws under which dissertation of
their flags can be punished, but no
such federal law exists in the United
States affecting other than govern
| ment territory. Yet in other coun-
tries there is little occasion to en-.
force such laws. for Dissertation of
| their flags is so repugnant to public
sentiment that such an act is almost
unheard of. The speaker added,
Some foreign countries which
have no special legal provision re-
ferring to dissertation of. or insult to.
the national colors. have similar
| articles in their respective codes of
law, which provide that any one de-
stroying or injuring any object. des-
tined for public utility or public
decoration, shall be liable to i'm
prisonment and fine"
1t Is believed that the overabun-
dant display of Old Glory in Amer
Of the disloyal or thoughtless, and
thereby makes dissertation more cas-
lily tolerated.
the substitution of sentimentality in
place of sentiment. Are not Amer
cans overgiven to sentimentality
and lacking in deep sentiment? Wit
ness the enthusiasm OF cheerin e
when 1.-The boys" embarked not TO
come back till it's over. over there.
and the readiness of the masses to
declare that the war was over. even
while thousands Of broken young
g,
Old Glory-too often neglected, of
visits of sympathy at their bedsides
of pain and loneliness in hospital
| wards.
The flag Is holy symbol and de-
serves veneration. 1t is the visible
token of the hottest aspirations OF
men and women toward all the I'M
sullied ideals of a free democracy, for
which they or their dearest relatives
and friends-their ancestors ana the
heroes of every struggle that lib.
erty shall not perish from the earth
have offered their lives and all that
went with their utmost efforts to
maintain and preserve.
He who has not seen his country S
flag afioat in foreign port mas
failed to experience some of life's
warmest thrills. But only the SOL
der who has witnessed Old Glory
break through the fog or smoke of
battle, waving triumphant in battle
victory, has felt the overpowering
emotion indispensable in human Ian
guage. 1t tells no story of the cru
elites Of hate or of bloody struggle in
passion, 1T expresses no personal
greed of ambition, but it speaks I'M
earthly eloquence Of purity. of right
eousness, Of justice, of liberty tri-
umphant, of solemn separation from
sordidness and unworthiness, of self
placement that the true should pre-
vail.
Standing in gratitude and reverent
salute before its spirit, realizing the
blood of sacrifice it's vermilion be-
okens. the purity Of purpose and
courage in the white prayers of its
millions who have died for what it
means the celestial faith in it's blue,
the eternal, unchangfng right in its
stars-that is. it's pure gold-not the
tinsel of decoration.
Sign of a nation. great and strong,
To ward her people from foreign
wrong;
Pride and glory and honor-all
Live in the colors to stand or fall
Hats off,
The flag is passing by.'
copyright. 1924. by Paul v. collins)