One of my favorite projects that I had my students take part in. for maybe about the last ten years of my career, was our annual tribute to one of the symbols of our country, our Red, White and Blue, our Stars and Stripes, our Banner of Freedom, our American Flag.

The idea of a Flag Day Celebration came about as a follow-up activity we started a couple years before our Flag Day Celebrations originated, when we began inviting Veterans to a luncheon on the day before or after Veterans’ Day, and had our students break bread with them, listen to their stories, which were not always as glorified as a group of 11-12 year olds may have thought they’d hear, which, I believe made the whole experience that more impactful for the students.

Many veterans have a tough time talking about their experiences in the military, especially those who saw action in wars and conflicts. Many of them came back with some sad, and/or bad, memories of their military duty. I recall one veteran, in his early 80s, who told of his experiences as a captured Prisoner of War, which he told with tears rolling down his cheeks, in a dead silent library of kids and adults moved by the words he spoke.

I did not serve in the military, but as a teacher of World History, I had to be knowledgeable of the some of the wars fought by our country. I taught what I could from the text books, maybe a video or two, and a story here or there that my dad, a veteran, shared with us, but found it to be much more meaningful and educational for the students to hear about it from many who were actually there. I was right.

So, a couple years after the Veterans’ Day Luncheon originated, it occurred to me that the Banner of Freedom carried in the battles fought by our country, should be honored and respected as well, especially when there’s a calendar day marked with the date reminding us to pay tribute to our Stars and Stripes. Next Friday marks that date, simply referred to as Flag Day.

Our Flag Day celebrations were a variety of songs that the students learned and sang, intermingled with presentations on the meaning and proper way of traditionally folding the flag in the triangular shape, and stories about the continuous raising of flags over the Capitol Building in Washington, DC, for a brief few minutes, then taken down, folded triangularly, and boxed to give to people whose local, state, and national lawmakers have dedicated the flag to a veteran, or relative of one, in someone’s family for a reason described in a letter requesting one of the flags. I was honored to have received one and it’s displayed in our living room.

I received it because someone whose grandson I coached heard that the flag I flew in front of my house, which was my Dad’s flag which he flew in front of his house before he passed away, had been stolen from the front of my home. The gentleman, petitioned a State Senator, explaining what happened and he was approved to receive one, and gave it to his grandson to present to me before the entire team I coached between games of a scheduled Doubleheader. The American Flag was very important to Dad, and I’m honored to display my Congressional Flag, received in his name and memory.

The Flag Day celebrations at school, I believe, gave students a better understanding of the flag, it’s meaning, the meanings of the colors, the numbers of stars and stripes, the meaning of the folding procedure, etc., the etiquette that should be observed in displaying and furling one of our American symbols, and side lessons involving Arlington National Cemetery, including the Changing of the Guard ceremony, the Presidents buried there, the Arlington House, and more.

So, next Friday, or whenever else you see the Stars and Stripes flying somewhere, stop for a second or two, to pay tribute and respect, and if you want, maybe hum to yourself, or even out loud, if so inclined, sing the chorus of that great old American ditty, titled the same as is this narrative today.

(Just in case you forgot the words…)

You’re a Grand Old Flag

Song by George M. Cohan

“You’re a grand old flag

You’re a high-flying flag

And forever in peace may you wave

You’re the emblem of

The land I love

The home of the free and the brave

Ev’ry heart beats true

Under red, white and blue

Where there’s never a boast or brag

But should old acquaintance be forgot

Keep your eye on the grand old flag.”

Songwriters: George M Cohan / Paul J. Frederick / Valerie Peterson

You’re a Grand Old Flag lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc

Happy Flag Day, America!!