Respect For Our Flag
by Bart Buskey

I just wanted to give out a poem that I found. It is interesting to note that there are so many people who don't respect the flag of the United States of America.

I am frustrated seeing a young college senior girl who turns her back to the flag. She does this because it is her right, but if you listen to her state why she does this she is completely wrong. When I heard her talk about why she does this, to me it sounds like she doesn't understand what the flag represents, which tells me she hasn't been taught what the flag represents.

I am frustrated at those, in our country that call themselves American, who burn the flag. They do this in protest to our government. This just shows lack of understanding of what our flag represents. It also shows that they have no respect for the flag.

I am frustrated at those businesses that let the flag fly high but it has a rip or a tare in it. Believe it our not but this goes against our constitution.

I am frustrated to see kids at the ballpark who keep their hats on while the national anthem is being sung. Why aren't the parents teaching their boys to take their hats off to show respect for our country? Why are some adults doing the same?

We as home schoolers can teach our children the history of the flag and what it represents. It will be well worth it for our children if we help them understand what the true history of America is.

Help your children understand why the Separatist came here. The Separatist came here because they wanted freedom and freedom to worship God. Let your children know that many men and women sacrificed their lives so that we may have freedom, even freedom to home school. Help your children understand that they need to respect the flag, which represents our country.

Here is just one web site that I have used that gives the history of our flag: http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/4182/

I also want it to be known that I proudly say the pledge of allegiance with my hat off, and say, "One Nation Under God"

Here is a poem that was written by Johnny Cash

Ragged Old Flag
I walked through a county courthouse square,
On a park bench an old man was sitting there.
I said, Your old courthouse is kinda run down.
He said, Naw, it'll do for our little town.

I said, Your flagpole has leaned a little bit,
And that's a Ragged Old Flag you got hanging on it.
He said, Have a seat, and I sat down.
Is this the first time you've been to our little town?

I said, I think it is. He said, I don't like to brag,
But we're 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.

And it got a bad rip in New Orleans
With Packingham and Jackson tuggin' at its seams.
And it almost fell at the Alamo
Beside the Texas flag, but she waved on through.

She got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville
And she got cut again at Shiloh Hill.
There was Robert E. Lee, Beauregard, and Bragg,
And the south wind blew hard on that Ragged Old Flag.

On Flanders Field in World War I
She got a big hole from a Bertha gun.
She turned blood red in World War II
She hung limp and low by the time it was through.

She was in Korea and Vietnam.
She went where she was sent by her Uncle Sam.
She waved from our ships upon the briny foam,
And now they've about quit waving her back here at home.

In her own good land she's been abused --
She's been burned, dishonored, denied and refused.
And the government for which she stands
Is scandalized throughout the land.

And she's getting threadbare and wearing thin,
But she's in good shape for the shape she's in.
'Cause she's been through the fire before
And I believe she can take a whole lot more.

So we raise her up every morning, Take her down every night.
We don't let her touch the ground And we fold her up right.
On second thought I DO like to brag,
'Cause I'm mighty proud of that Ragged Old Flag.

Written by Johnny Cash

Bart Buskey, Meridian, Idaho - Fatherville Contributer

If you have an article you would like to submit to Homeschool Dads, please send it to us.