[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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