Posted on 06/14/2008 1:43:46 AM PDT by lysie
Flag Day and National Flag Week, 2008
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
The American flag has been our national symbol for 231 years, and it remains a beacon of freedom wherever it is flown. Since the Second Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as our flag in 1777, it has stood for freedom, justice, and the resolve of our Nation.
When Francis Scott Key saw the American flag flying over Fort McHenry in 1814, he believed that liberty would triumph. The flag that inspired Key to write our National Anthem still energizes and emboldens the American spirit today. As our Nation faces the challenges of a new era, Old Glory reminds us that liberty can prevail over oppression.
Since the first days of our Republic, Americans have flown the flag to show their pride and appreciation for the freedoms they enjoy in this great Nation. Every day, Americans pledge their allegiance to the flag of the United States, and our troops carry it before them as they defend the liberties for which it stands.
On Flag Day and during National Flag Week, we remember those in uniform whose courage and sacrifice inspire us here at home. We also remember the rich history of one of our oldest national symbols and reflect on our duty to carry our heritage of freedom into the future.
To commemorate the adoption of our flag, the Congress, by joint resolution approved August 3, 1949, as amended (63 Stat. 492), designated June 14 of each year as "Flag Day" and requested that the President issue an annual proclamation calling for its observance and for the display of the flag of the United States on all Federal Government buildings. The Congress also requested, by joint resolution approved June 9, 1966, as amended (80 Stat. 194), that the President issue annually a proclamation designating the week in which June 14 occurs as "National Flag Week" and calling upon all citizens of the United States to display the flag during that week.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim June 14, 2008, as Flag Day and the week beginning June 8, 2008, as National Flag Week. I direct the appropriate officials to display the flag on all Federal Government buildings during that week, and I urge all Americans to observe Flag Day and National Flag Week by flying the Stars and Stripes from their homes and other appropriate places. I also call upon the people of the United States to observe with pride and all due ceremony those days from Flag Day through Independence Day, also set aside by the Congress (89 Stat. 211), as a time to honor America, to celebrate our heritage in public gatherings and activities, and to publicly recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.
GEORGE W. BUSH
That Ragged Old Flag
Johnny Cash
I walked through a county courthouse square
On a park bench, an old man was sittin there.
I said, "Your court house is kinda run down,
He said, "No, it will do for our little town".
I said "your old flag pole kinda leaned a little bit,
And thats a ragged old flag you got hanging on it".
He said "have a seat", so I sat down,
He said, "is this your first visit to our little town"
I said, "I think it is"
He said "I dont like to brag, but were kinda proud of
"That Ragged Old Flag"
"You see, we got a little hole in that flag there,
When Washington took it across the Delaware.
It got powder burned the night Francis Scott Key sat watching it, writing
"Oh Say Can You See"
It got a rip in New Orleans, with Packingham & Jackson
tugging at its seams.
It almost fell at the Alamo beside the Texas flag,
But she waved on tho.
It got cut with a sword in Chancellorsville,
Got cut again at Shiloh Hill.
There was Robert E. Lee and Beauregard and Bragg,
And the south wind blew hard on
"That Ragged Old Flag"
On Flanders Field in World War I,
She took a bad hit from a Bertha Gun,
She turned blood red in World War II
She hung limp and low by the time that one was through,
She was in Korea, Vietnam, She went where she was sent by her Uncle Sam.
The Native Americans, The Black, Yellow and White
All shed red blood for the Stars and Stripes.
And here in her own good land,
Shes been abused, burned, dishonored, denied and refused,
And the very government for which she stands
Has been scandalized throughout out the land.
And shes getting thread bare, and shes wearing kinda thin,
But shes in pretty good shape, for the shape shes in.
Cause shes been through the fire before and she can take a whole lot more.
So we raise her up every morning
And we bring her down slow every night,
We dont let her touch the ground,
And we fold her up right.
On second thought
I do like to brag
Cause Im mighty proud of
"That Ragged Old Flag"
Written by Johnny Cash
Good morning.
Thank you for posting the splendid tribute to our Flag. As soon as the sun comes up here, I’ll display ours.
My son’s flag from Iraq is displayed in it’s case in our living room.
I will mention the sidebar mess to the mods.
Why are there so many non ATRW posts in the AMERICA - The Right Way!! (General/Chat) sidebar? Thanks.
Very nice. Thanks, Dolly. Good morning.
re: sidebar.. my guess is not that the posters of the threads mean to infringe, but just see the categories & feel
well, gosh.. my thread is AMERICA THE RIGHT WAY!
my own story
when I first joined FR.. it was in response to a quick trip I was making to Valley Forge for the Glenn Beck Rally in 2003. I had to register to chat with the folks on the thread.
When I returned after the rally & began to poke around the forum the FIRST link I perused was the ATRW.. and this thread & began posting & getting acquainted.
I dont think any of the posters who use this connection mean harm.. I would just continue t notify the mods to move the threads & give the posters a nice (develop one) FR Mail explaining & inviting to thread.
Just an idea.
Happy Sat to all
Good morning, Jem. Happy Flag Day. Looking forward to seeing your flag.
Good morning, all!
My flag is up, and I am ready to tackle the day.
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Good morning, Jane. It warms my heart knowing your flag is up.
Hooray President Bush! Flag Day BUMP!
Good Morning.
Welcome. My pleasure.
Good morning to you. My flag is up. I’ll have to go run out and take a picture of it.
I saw your message on the previous thread. Your apology, of course, is accepted.
I thank you for your advice concerning this election. Nobama is really, really scary. I dread what may happen if he is selected.
Good morning.
Congratulations on the Army’s 233rd birthday! Good job on becoming regular Army (from the reserves) yesterday!
I second that.
Hot climate or cold, tree leaves stay in comfort zone: study
Funny how the wireless icon now says excellent connection and yet..it won't connect. I guess that means that the signal to the modem/router has an excellent connection.
Maddening!
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