THE SAVIOR OF OUR FLAG AND COUNTRY Laura R. Smith A PATRIOTIC CANTATA, DRILL, AND MEDLEY IN THREE SCENES FOR A WHOLE SCHOOL This entertainment is especially adapted for primary and intermediate grades, although pupils of all grades may participate. CHARACTERS Six Sailor Boys } Six Soldier Boys } _Scene I_ Messenger } Several Drummer Boys } Any Even Number of Soldiers } An Army Captain } _Scene II_ Scott, _a sentinel_ } Old Soldier } Several Negro Boys } Three Boys } Two Girls } Scene III Seven Small Children } SCENE I--Before the War Six Sailor Boys enter from the right, Six Soldier Boys enter from the left. They march forward in two lines, carrying flags, pause and sing. Cross flags or wave them while singing the last four lines. Sailor and Soldier Boys (_sing_): _Tune_: COLUMBIA, THE GEM OF THE OCEAN The flag of our nation we're bringing, The banner for me and for you; As songs of dear Lincoln we're singing, We stand 'neath the Red, White and Blue, O flag of a nation united, We love your bright folds and your stars, We march 'neath the bonnie bright banner, This good land of freedom is ours. We'll stand by the Red, White and Blue, We'll stand by the Red, White and Blue, The flag of our nation forever, We'll stand by the Red, White and Blue! See, the bonnie bright banners are streaming, We wave them all high in the air, The Red, White and Blue now is gleaming, Beloved by all men everywhere. Oh, long may the banner be waving, Upheld by soldiers and sailors true; Three cheers for the flag of our nation, We'll stand by the Red, White and Blue, We'll stand by the Red, White and Blue, We'll stand by the Red, White and Blue, The flag of our nation forever, We'll stand by the Red, White and Blue. (Boys _march forward and back_, Soldiers _in one line abreast_, Sailors _in another, following_. _Lines march right and left_, Sailors _from one side of stage_, Soldiers _from the other, pass each other several times at center of stage_. _Halt at center of stage, the two lines facing each other, close ranks at back and spread out at front, forming an open triangle, thus_ [Greek: lambda].) Soldiers: _We're_ the boys of the land! We'll always be true To the flag of the Union, The Red, White and Blue. Sailors: We're the boys of the sea! Wherever we sail The Red, White and Blue Shall weather each gale. All (_waving flags_): The boys of the land and the boys of the sea, Sing a song for our banner, the flag of the free, The Union forever, for me and for you, Three cheers for our banner, the Red, White and Blue. All (_sing, waving flags during chorus_): HURRAH FOR THE FLAG![F] There are many flags in many lands, There are flags of ev'ry hue, But there is no flag, however grand, Like our own Red, White and Blue.