Here it is. The great Fourth of July. The day we celebrate our independence in America. Fireworks are one way to symbolize our joy, but one thing that gives America our own pride, is our flag. My late great-grandfather Claude L. Rickard was a wonderful poem writer, among many other things. My dad owns a book of fun poems, all written by Claude himself. One of them is about our American flag, written around 1975. I would like to share this poem simply because it reflects on today, Independence Day.
Your Flag is Proud of You
What does old glory mean to you,
Just so much red white and blue?
Just a banner floating there,
A bit of bunting in the air?
Or do you think “That is my Flag”
And do you revere every rag?
That was a symbol of our land,
Clutched by dying heroes’ hand
Can you watch our flag go by,
No lump in the throat, no moist of eye
Can you hear our anthem played,
Without a private prayer said?
Or do you think the same as me,
And in your mind see things I see?
And let that old flag represent,
Things both earned and heaven sent?
Our Constitution gives the right,
If conscience dictates, not the fight
It also guarantees each one,
The same as those fought and won
That old flag that waves up there,
Whispers softly in the air
And sends a message on the breeze,
“Hear me, hear my memories”
“I was born of freedoms womb,
And I shall never know the tomb
As long as men love liberty,
As I am now I’ll always be”
“I was a youth at Valley Forge,
There I met a man named George
With his help along the way,
I knew that I was here to stay”
“A lot of heroes of this land,
Offered me a helping hand
Politicians, fighting men,
Some with deeds and some with pen”
“But I recall a lot of things,
Each time the bell of freedom rings,
I’m just as proud that I stand for
Many things not won in war”
“I like to think of pioneers,
Railroads, cowboys, longhorn steers,
And I recall the Model T,
A preview of what was to be”
“I made the first trip to the Moon,
I plan to go to Mars, and soon
I feed the hungry, nurse the sick,
I’m tough as concrete, steel and brick”
“I represent the greatest land,
I bear no monarchs name or brand
I suffer no invaders’ scars,
I’m thirteen stripes and fifty stars”
“Two hundred years I’ve been around,
Two hundred more I’ll still be sound
And why am I so arrogant?
Because it’s YOU I represent!”
Claude L. Rickard
Annie Livengood of Covington is an aspiring journalist and will be a seventh grader at Mattson Middle School in the fall.
