Evening star., 1939-02-19

of religious and other beliefs. might take
refuge and enjoy Life. Liberty and the Pur-
suit Of Happiness"
All other nations had been formed for
power. for aggrandizement. This one was for
Life. Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
1t was star moving ever westward that
led the Shepherds and the Wise Men to Beth
teach the world new philosophy and give to
men a new moral CODE code of love and
kindliness in place of cruelty and greed.
1t was star by which mariners set their
course across troubled seas to discover this
1t is star that heralds dawn and twilight.
Thirteen stars tn a blue field representing
the rise of nev constellation in the Heacens,
signaling to mankind the birth of the first
nation on earth dedicated to personal and
religious freedom.
This was the answer to my question, why
stars in the Flag"
When Congress wrote the words of the Act,
they were challenge to the old world and
promise to the new. Today, they remain
challenge and promise, more timely than
ever In world gone mad, the symbolism Of
the stars pledges that in one country, at least,
sanity and decency shall prevail.
To me the Flag is no longer just gallant
arrangement of colors, the insignia of great
and powerful people; it is magnificent ex-
preston of exalted human aspiration.
Before knew what the Stars meant, |
faced the emotional upheaval of naturalza-
ton with foreboding. What did really know
about this country? What did know of
American ways: Would there be dark days in
which could not share a belief. inconsistent
cies with which could not agree?
thought about it for a long time. read
again of the Founding Fathers and their
dream of passing down to their children
Constitution that would stand the test of
time To their task they gave wisdom culled
from the experience of an old world. but they
gave ideals and hopes. too; ideals as high as
the Stars yet not beyond the reach of the
humblest man.
And they had given so greatly. that was
suddenly filled with the desire to give, too;
not Just in the technical matter of signing
naturalization papers. but to give something
of myself, in gratitude to the Founding
Fathers and the promise of the Stars.
What could l. a new citizen, bring to this
country that was not already here? Suddenly
knew that l was not really forswearing my
own country. with its beloved happy ways,
but rather bringing gift of such things to
the spirit most loved, to this new land of
my husbands.
1t won't be difficult now to swear allegiance
to the American Flag. Whatever happens to
me in this new country. whatever may find,
the symbolism of the Stars will remain.
And if dark days should come. if ahead
there should lie some period of doubt l will
look up at the Flag again and remember an
old astronomers words to his pupil Calico:
why should we who have so loved the
stars
Be frightened of the dark?'
The corer bhotograbh Of Washington profile
was taken by Lincoln Borglum, who has worked
as assistant to his father, the sculptor Gutzon
Borgl,lm on the Stubendous CARING OF the
Mount Rnshmore Memorial, in South Dakota.
The younger Borglum is a noted photographer
as yell as sculptor, and has compiled bicto-
rial history Of the work since its inception.