Ceremonies - Closings

A Talk About Our Flag I have often stopped to look at our Flag rippling in the breeze from a flag staff atop a tall building and marveled at it's beauty, with it's 13 stripes of Red and it's Stars of a field of Blue. I often wondered why these colors were chosen, and I find that Red is a symbol of Bravery, White is a symbol of Purity, and Blue is a symbol of Love and Devotion. The Cloth of which our Flag is made is made up of millions of threads and stitched, and all bound together and each doing it's part, it makes the background for our Flag. In the same way our Country is made up of millions of individuals, with different Religious beliefs, different colors and creeds, but all bound together in the common cause to see that Liberty and Justice prevails in this Country of ours. When looking at out flag, I can understand how proud of it Francis Scott Key was when he wrote our National Anthem. He had gone over to a British battle ship anchored in Baltimore Harbor to intercede for the release of a friend of his held captive by the British. When he walked into the British Captain's cabin he overheard the plans the British were making to assault Fort McHenry that night. The British Captain agreed to release Key's friend on the condition that Francis Scott Key remain overnight aboard the ship so that he could not tip off the plans for the assault.  As darkness was closing in, Francis Scott Key was on the deck of the ship and the last thing he saw was Old Glory proudly floating above Fort McHenry. During the night the British made a terrific assault on Fort McHenry and Francis Scott Key had his doubts as to whether the Fort could stand during the night. As dawn was breaking, Francis Scott Key walked out onto the deck of the ship and the first thing that met his gaze was Old Glory still proudly floating above the Fort, and the words of our National Anthem, The Star Spangled Banner, came to him at this time. Oh say can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming. I think we should be as proud of our Flag as was Francis Scott Key, and that we should re-pledge our Allegiance to our Flag. (Have all stand and give Pledge of Allegiance.)