RECITATION BY THREE BOYS WITH THREE FLAGS First Boy: The flag that speaks of men made free, The flag of sword and drum, 'Tis the bonniest banner in all the world, The flag of battles won. Second Boy: The flag that speaks of Gettysburg, Upheld by faithful men Amid the battle's storm and strife, Shall wave for us again. Third Boy: The flag that waves o'er Lincoln now, Means freedom for the slave; So waves the bonnie stars and stripes O'er many a patriot's grave. All: No North, no South, no East, no West, A union of all states is best; One flag for all is a nation's pride, The Blue and the Gray lay side by side. A Girl (_comes on stage and recites_): OUR HERO Today the flags are flying, For a hero that we love; We all sing of Lincoln, While waves the flag above. Bring out the bonnie banners, Flags of shining stripes and stars, Lincoln was our country's hero, And the victory is ours. Another Girl (_enters and recites_): OUR LINCOLN Crown him with wreaths of evergreen, Our Lincoln. Bring fairest flowers ever seen, For Lincoln. Crown him today with fragrant flowers, The war is o'er, the victory is ours, Above all men this great man towers, Our Lincoln. Crown him with gentle words of love, Our Lincoln; And place the banners high above For Lincoln. Raise high the flag of liberty, For one who set the slaves all free, Ring out his praises from sea to sea, Our Lincoln. (Children _carrying flags and flowers and having shields on their breasts, each bearing one letter to spell the word "Lincoln," enter. The cards bearing the letters are hung from the neck, and when children enter are blank side toward audience. Each child turns his letter to view of the audience after reciting his lines and disposing of his flowers and flag. They stand in order, and when through reciting, place the flowers and flags around the portrait of Lincoln._) L: Lincoln's name we all repeat, And bring for him our flowers sweet. I: In peace or war a nation's pride, We place our banners by his side. N: No North, no South today is seen, We bring our wreaths of evergreen. C: Crown him with honest words of love, And place the stars and stripes above. O: One nation and one flag is best, Place flowers where our hero rests. L: Lincoln, we all love to bring Tributes, while of thee we sing. N: No more he hears the bugle's call, We scatter flowers over all. All (_return, grouping themselves nicely and sing_): LINCOLN DEAR[H] Wave the bonnie banners high, O Lincoln dear! A host of children passing by, O Lincoln dear, Will sing to you their sweetest song, As they now proudly march along, For laurels unto you belong, O Lincoln dear.