What shall I say to you, Old Flag? You are so grand in every fold, So linked with mighty deeds of old, So steeped in blood where heroes fell, So torn and pierced by shot and shell, So calm, so still, so firm, so true, My throat swells at the sight of you, Old Flag. What of the men who lifted you, Old Flag, Upon the top of Bunker Hill? 'Mid shock and roar and crash and scream, Who crossed the Delaware's frozen stream, Who starved, who fought, who bled, who died, That you might float in glorious pride, Old Flag? What of the women brave and true, Old Flag, Who, while the cannon thundered wild, Sent forth a husband, lover, child, Who labored in the field by day, Who, all the night long, knelt to pray, And thought that God great mercy gave, If only freely you might wave, Old Flag? What is your mission now, Old Flag? What but to set all people free, To rid the world of misery, To guard the right, avenge the wrong, And gather in one joyful throng Beneath your folds in close embrace All burdened ones of every race, Old Flag. Right nobly do you lead the way, Old Flag. Your stars shine out for liberty, Your white stripes stand for purity, Your crimson claims that courage high For Honor's sake to fight and die. Lead on against the alien shore! We'll follow you e'en to Death's door, Old Flag! _Hubbard Parker_ THE UNFURLING OF THE FLAG _Song_ There's a streak across the skyline That is gleaming in the sun, Watchers from the lighthouse towers Signalled it to foreign Powers Just as daylight had begun, Message thrilling, Hopes fulfilling To those fighting o'er the seas. "It's the flag we've named Old Glory That's unfurling to the breeze." Can you see the flashing emblem Of our Country's high ideal? Keep your lifted eyes upon it And draw joy and courage from it, For it stands for what is real, Freedom's calling To the falling From oppression's hard decrees. It's the flag we've named Old Glory You see floating in the breeze. Glorious flag we raise so proudly, Stars and stripes, red, white and blue, You have been the inspiration Of an ever growing nation Such as this world never knew. Peace and Justice, Freedom, Progress, Are the blessings we can seize When the flag we call Old Glory Is unfurling to the breeze. When the cry of battling nations Reaches us across the space Of the wild tumultuous ocean, Hearts are stirred with deep emotion For the saving of the race! Peace foregoing, Aid bestowing, First we drop on bended knees, Then with shouts our grand Old Glory We set flaunting to the breeze!