5 16 HENRY HOLCOMB BENNETT see what the flag means. Yes, the colors mean all that the f stanza says. Cannon salute it; foreign nations honor it. Let us always take off our hats and keep them off while "The flag is passing by," to show to everybody that we love our beautiful country. truly loyal American boy or man will stand covered while "The flag is passing by!" Study carefully the meanings of the following words before y study the poem : blare of bugles: a loud, harsh noise of trumpets. ruffle of drums : a low beat of a drum, not so loud as a roll. equal justice: the same justice to rich and poor. equal right: the same right for all citizens, rich and poor. equal law: laws which give equal protection to all. stately honor: the solemn, dig nified honor that we show the flag. reverend awe: a deep and sile respect shown to the flag the symbol or sign of country's greatness. to ward: to guard. foreign wrong: mistreatment American citizens when foreign lands; or attacks up America by foreign nations. 2 Blue and crimson and white it shines, The colors before us fly; But more than the flag is passing by. 3 Sea-fights and land-fights, grim and great, 4 Days of plenty and years of peace; March of a strong land's swift increase; Stately honor and reverend awe; 5 Sign of a nation, great and strong To ward her people from foreign wrong: all 18 HENRY HOLCOMB BENNETT QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION 1. Describe the scene 2. What do all loyal American 3. Why do they do this? Answer by reading al the fifth stanza. 7. What three things stand fall with the flag? men and boys do when 8. 9. What is "equal justice Henry Holcomb Bennett, the author of this thrilling poem abo "Old Glory," was born at Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1863. There are many flags in many lands, There are flags of every hue, But there is no flag in any land Like our own red, white, and blue. AMERICA SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH Nearly every country has some song which it calls its "National Hymn" or its "National Anthem." In England the people sing God Save the King"; in Italy, "The Garibaldi Hymn"; in France, "The Marseillaise" (mär-se-laz'). In America, we sing "America" or "The Star-Spangled Banner." Every one is supposed to know the words and the tune of the national hymn or anthem of his country. It is sad to say, but it is true, that only a small part of our hundred million Americans can repeat the words of "America" or of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Every American boy and girl should know them both with their tunes, so as to be able to join in singing them whenever they are sung. Whenever you hear "America " or "The Star-Spangled Banner" sung or played, you should stand up at once, and all boys and men should at once take off their hats and stand uncovered while the music lasts. This is to show our respect and our love for our dear old flag and for our beautiful country. "America" was written in 1832 by Dr. Samuel Francis Smith. The tune is a very old one. It was first sung in England about the year 1640. It is also the tune of the English National Hymn, "God Save the King," and of the hymns of other countries. To this tune, Dr. Smith wrote the famous song "America" in less than an hour. This great song has been sung by many millions of people who have loved the hymn and the beautiful country of which it tells. Remember that in the first three stanzas you are singing of and also to your own country, but that in the last stanza you are singing to the Great God who has done so much to bless and protect your native land. If you are a good patriotic American boy or girl, you will feel your blood tingle at the words and the music of the great song, and you will at once rise and remain standing till the song is finished. Whether you are a good singer or not, you should join lustily in the singing of the hymn. Now what does the song mean? What kind of land does the poet call it in the second line? What is the very first word in the song? Whom does that word mean? The poet says, "Land where my fathers died." Find out what he means by this. Do you know of the American Revolution and what it was fought for? Do you know of any other wars in which our "" fathers died" to keep our liberties safe? The poet says, "I love thy rocks and rills, Thy woods and templed hills; My heart with rapture thrills Like that above." This means that his heart thrills with a rapture like the love that the angels in heaven feel. Do you also love your country's rocks and rills and templed hills because they are a part of your beautiful country, America? Do you love our beautiful flag because it stands for America and for liberty? Does your "heart with rapture thrill" when you see the beautiful flag flying high on a great flagstaff? Are you trying to get an education so that you will be able to know what our country and our flag stand for and so that you can be a good citizen? To sing "America" loudly does not mean much unless you are also willing to work for your country, to be a good, loyal citizen, and to give up your life for your country if she needs it. A "good citizen" is one who loves his country; who obeys |