Happy July 4th - God Bless the USA & Our Troops!

by Frank R Kay, Commander, Alley-White American Legion Post 52 : During the recent Red, White & Blue Parade, the American Legion Color Guard counted ONLY a half dozen people, out of the thousands who viewed the parade, who stood and saluted or otherwise showed respect to our flag. This is becoming more and more common and is unacceptable. On this 4th of July, please teach your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to respect the flag when it passes, or the national anthem when it's played. For all those who ask, "do I have to do this for evey flag that passes in a parade?"... the answer, yes, if you truely honor the flag, but at least stand up, take your hat off and place your hand over your heart for the color guard leading the parade. The American flag with the gold fringe around the edges are the 'colors' of our Great Nation and demand our respect.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG,
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
AND TO THE REPUBLIC, FOR WHICH IT STANDS,
ONE NATION UNDER GOD,
INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!

We must never forget who gets the credit for the freedoms we Americans have, of which we should be eternally grateful. After God Almighty who leads us, it is the Veterans who served and sacrificed in the flesh. Be they past and present, dead or alive, of any race, creed, sex, religion or social standing, it is the veteran who purchased for today the freedoms we enjoy.

I watched the flag pass by one day,
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it,
And then he stood at ease.
- - - - - - - - - -
I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud,
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He'd stand out in any crowd.
- - - - - - - - - -
I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil
How many mothers' tears?
- - - - - - - - - -
How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom isn't free.
- - - - - - - - - -
I heard the sound of Taps one night,
When everything was still,
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
- - - - - - - - - -
I wondered just how many times
That Taps had meant "Amen,"
When a flag had draped a coffin.
Of a brother or a friend.
- - - - - - - - - -
I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.
- - - - - - - - - -
I thought about a graveyardAt the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, freedom isn't free.
(Author~ Unknown)
Enjoy Your 4th of July, Your Freedoms
& God Bless the USA & Our Troops!

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Tags: 4th of July, 2007, American Legion, Frank Kaye, Freedom, Pledge of Allegiance, veterans To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!