Speech delivered by former WKU President Kelly Thompson on Flag Day in 1980

Thompson, Kelly

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Western Kentucky UniversityTopSCHOLAR®WKU Archives Records WKU Archives6-14-1980UA3/3 Flag Day AddressKelly ThompsonFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/dlsc_ua_recordsPart of the Community Engagement Commons, and the Speech and Rhetorical StudiesCommonsThis Other is brought to you for free and open access by TopSCHOLAR®. It has been accepted for inclusion in WKU Archives Records by anauthorized administrator of TopSCHOLAR®. For more information, please contact connie.foster@wku.edu.Recommended CitationThompson, Kelly, "UA3/3 Flag Day Address" (1980). WKU Archives Records. Paper 3619.http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/dlsc_ua_records/3619• TODAY WE PAUSE ON NATIONAL FLAG DAY TO PAY A HOMAG E SALurE TO THE FLAG OF OUR COUNTRY. IN THIS BRIEF FLAG DAY ADDRESS, I DESIRE TO DEVELOP ONLY ONE IDEA IN ORDER TO MAKE A SINGLE POINT. WHAT IS THE AMERICAN FLAG? IS IT THE WHITE CLOTH ON WHICH BRILLIANT COLORS HAVE BEEN APPLIED? IS IT THE PAPER ON WHICH THE STARS AND STRIPES HAVE BEEN PRINTED? IS IT PLASTIC OR OTHER MATERIAL FROM WHICH FLAGS OF EVERY SIZE ARE PRODUCED? OR IS IT THE SPIRIT ENGRAVED DEEP WITHIN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO RESPECT AND LOVE OUR FLAG? WHAT WE SEE WHEN WE LOOK UPON THE CLOTH OR THE PAPER OR THE PLASTIC OF THE PHYSICAL FLAG IS ONLY A SYMBOL. IT IS COMPARABLE TO LOOKING AT A PHOTOGRAPH OF A LOVED ONE. ANY LUNATIC OR IDIOT MIGHT BURN THE SYMBOL OR DESECRATE IT IN SOME OTHER WAY; Bur WHEN HE DOES, HE DEFILES ONLY CLOTH AND INK. FOR HE CANNOT DEFILE OR DESECRATE TI-IAT WHICH THE FLAG REPRES ENTS. THEREFORE, THE REAL FLAG OF OUR COUNTRY IS THAT WHICH IS IN THE HEARTS AND THE MINDS OF THE PEOPLE OVER WHOM THIS CH ERISHED SYMBOL WAVES. IT IS A SPIRITUAL BANNER--A BANNER OF FAITH, OF HOPE, OF PATRIOTISM, AND OF ASPIRATIONS FOR LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. LET ME PARAPHRASE THE WORDS OF A MASTER SERGEANT OF THE UNITED STATES MARINES: "I AM CALLED OLD GLORY. SINCE THE BEGINNING OF OUR NATION, I HAVE BEEN THE BANNER OF FREEDOM FOR GENERATION AFTER GENERATION OF AMERICANS. I AM THE SYMBOL OF A COUNTRY THAT HAS GROWN FROM A LITTLE GROUP OF THIRTEEN COLONIES TO A UNITED NATION OF FIFTY SOVER-EIGN STATES. "'PLANTED FIRMLY ON THE HIGH PINNACLE OF AMERICAN FAITH , MY GENTLY FLlJI"TERING FOLDS HAVE PROVED AN INSPIRATION TO UNTOLD MILLIONS. "'MEN HAVE FOLLOWED ME INTO BATTLE WITH UNWAVERING FAIT H. THEY HAVE LOOKED UPON ME AS A SYMBOL OF NATIONAL UNITY. THEY HAVE PRAYED THAT THEY AND THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS MIGHT CONTINUE TO ENJOY THE LIFE , LIBERTY, AND PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS WHICH HAVE BEEN GRANTED TO EVERY AMERICAN AS THE HERITAGE OF FREE PEOPLE . "'SO LONG AS AMER ICANS TREASURE THE PRICELESS PRIVILEGES BOUGHT WITH THE BLOOD OF OUR FOREFATHERS; SO LONG AS THE PRINC IPLES OF TRUTH, JUSTICE , AND CHARITY FOR ALL REMAIN DEEPLY ROOTED IN HUMAN HEARTS ; I SHALL CONTINUE TO BE THE ENDURING BANNER OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. "' TODAY LET US SEARCH OUR SOULS AND ASK- -- "'OOES THAT STAR -SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE O' ER THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE?"' THE ANSWER, I AM SURE , IS A RESOUNDING YES; AND LET NO ONE , NO ORGANIZATION, OR NO NATION MISREAD OUR MANY PROBLEMS IN THIS COUNTRY AS INDICATING OTHERWISE. WE ARE LIVING IN TROUBLED T IMES , BUT LET US REMEMBER THAT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A PERIOD IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES WHE N WE DID NOT LIVE IN TROUBLED TIMES. THE CHANCES ARE THAT , QUOTE, IT WILL GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER. BUT LET US KNOW AND REAFFIRM, BECAUSE IT IS TRUE, THAT THIS FLAG OF - 2 -ITS FIFTY STARS AND THIRTEEN STRIPES SYMBOLIZES THE GREATEST FORM OF GOVERNMENT WHICH CIVILIZATION HAS EVER DEVISED. MAY IT ALWAYS BE THE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE BEST THAT CAN BE CREATED I~ THE HEART AND IN THE MIND OF EACH OF US. OLD GLORY- --THE STARS AND STRIPES -- -RED. WHITE AND BLUE - -STAR-SPANGLED BANNER---FLAGOF OUR COUNTRY ---WE HAIL THEEl GOD GRANT THAT WE AS AMERICANS. INDIVIDUALLY AND AS A NATION. MAY BE DESERVING OF THE COUNTLESS BLESSINGS OVER WHICH YOU UNFURL. MAY WE . THROUGH THE SETTING OF EXAMPLE. PROTECT AND SUSTAIN YOU -- -NOW AND FOREVER. - 3 -

UA3/3 Flag Day Address

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UA3/3 Flag Day Address

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