[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 87 (Tuesday, June 18, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4580-S4581]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FLAG DAY
Mr. ENZI. Madam President, for Americans all across the country, June
14 is a very special day--Flag Day. On that day, we all join together
to celebrate our shared heritage and our history as a Nation as
represented by our American flag.
We each have our own way of showing our respect and our great love
for this symbol of our land. Down through the years it has been given
many names, from the Stars and Stripes to Old Glory--to the Grand Old
Flag that was memorialized in song. It has so many names because of all
that it represents. The story of our Flag reminds us of all the
sacrifices that have been made over the years so that our Nation would
always be strong and free.
Each of us has our own favorite memory of the flag. There are some
that we recall from the pictures of the wars that we have seen, or from
our remembrance of all the veterans who proudly fought, especially
those who died in the service of our Nation. Anyone who has seen a
picture of the Marines raising the American flag during the battle of
Iwo Jima will never forget that iconic image. It held such meaning to
us we created a statue to memorialize that moment. It stands just a
short distance from the Capitol, a reminder to us all that freedom is
not free. It comes to us at great cost.
Although we celebrate our American flag's proudest moments on this
day, we should also remember those days when we did not treat the Stars
and Stripes so kindly. There were those who thought to use the flag to
promote their own agenda by burning it in the streets. Fortunately,
those moments were few and far between and were usually done by people
who did not understand the symbolism of the flag or fully appreciate
all they had received from their citizenship. Some of them just did not
realize how blessed they were to be Americans.
Here in the Senate, we begin each session by joining together to
recite the Pledge of Allegiance. As we do, we pledge our loyalty to our
country, our determination to do everything we can to make this a
better place for us all to live, and most specifically, we pledge our
love and appreciation for this ``one Nation, under God, with liberty
and justice for all.''
Over the years, our flags have inspired works of art of all kinds,
most especially a song with a remarkable story behind its origin. Every
American knows what happened on that day when our young Nation was in
the midst of a great war. We were fighting for our very right to be
free. As the battle waged, a young man, Francis Scott Key, mesmerized
by the action of the battle, suddenly caught sight of our Flag, still
flying proudly over the fort in the midst of all the gunshot, flame and
fire around him. The words he wrote became another symbol of our Nation
as he took up his pen to tell us about the sight. From where he stood
he could see ``the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
which, gave proof through the night, that our Flag was still there''--
the same Flag that still proudly flies ``o'er the land of the free and
the home of the brave.'' The Flag that helped to inspire those words is
still on display, one of the most popular attractions at the
Smithsonian Institution just down the street from us.
On Flag Day, and every other day, I would encourage all Americans to
fly their flag and to talk to their children and grandchildren about
the meaning of the flag and the history of our Nation. The great gifts
we have received of ``life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness''
should never become just words to us. They are our birthright as
Americans and they should encourage us to continue to remember the
sacrifices that have been made in our name. In a very real sense, Flag
Day is a call to express the great pride we feel for this country and
those who served in our Armed Forces--our great heroes of the past--and
those who continue to serve our Nation all over the world--our heroes
of the present.
I have often mentioned here on the floor what it means to me to be a
grandfather and the thrill of holding the next generation of your
family in your arms. Well, my granddaughter continues to share with us
one of those special moments we all need to experience so we do not
forget the legacy we have received from our citizenship. Every time she
sees an American Flag she pauses, looks at it with an understanding
that surpasses her years, and with a smile of pride and admiration,
says ``God bless America!'' As she says those special words she looks
around at everyone near her, expecting them to join her in expressing
that sentiment--which we do. She is only 2 years old
[[Page S4581]]
and she is already learned to do that all by herself--which makes her
twos not so terrible after all.
Friday morning, as I reflected about Flag Day I found myself reading
the words of Lloyd Ogilvie who served as our Senate Chaplain for many,
many years. In his book, One Quiet Moment, he wrote ``Thomas Jefferson
inscribed in his memorial God, who gave us life, gave us liberty. Can
the liberties of a Nation be secure when we have removed a conviction
that these liberties are the gift of God?''
On Flag Day and throughout the year, those are good words of advice
to consider and put into practice. We must never forget that all we
have received from our citizenship ultimately comes from God. Then it
is up to us to share those great blessings with all those we meet as we
work together to make our Nation a better place not only for us, but
for our children and our grandchildren so they will never lose their
fondness and appreciation for this great land of ours.
I can think of no better way to celebrate Flag Day than to join with
my granddaughter in her recognition of the flag with an exuberant ``God
bless America!'' Yes! God bless America and God bless us all. May our
future be as blessed as our past.
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