the thirteen stripes in our flag represent the thirteen original colonies.

every star in the field of blue represents a state—“a star for every state, and a state for every star.”

the flag brings a picture to our minds of all the things we are grateful for in our history, and of all the things we want our country and ourselves to be.

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questions

what does our flag mean?

are you not glad that you live in a country where all the people rule, instead of any one person or just a few people?

can you repeat the scouts’ pledge? (standing.)

who was betsy ross?

can you form a tableau like the picture of betsy ross sewing the american flag?

isn’t it almost as brave to live up to the red, white, and blue as to die for our colors?

why is our nation’s flag always hung higher in this country than the flag of any other nation?

will you bring pictures of the flags of some other countries to class?

do you think any other flag more beautiful than ours?

will you try to do all you can to honor our flag, and never to let the star of your state grow dimmer because of any act of yours?

hats off!

along the street there comes

a blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums,

a flash of color beneath the sky:

hats off!

the flag is passing by!

—h. h. bennett.