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There is the national flag. He must be cold indeed who can look upon its folds, rippling in the breeze, without pride of country. If he be in a foreign land, the flag is companionship and country itself, with all its endearments. Its highest beauty is in what it symbolizes. It is because it represents all, that all gaze at it with delight and reverence.
It is a piece of bunting lifted in the air; but it speaks sublimely, and every part has a voice. Its stripes of alternate red and white proclaim the original union of thirteen states to maintain the Declaration of Independence. Its stars of white on a field of blue proclaim that union of states constituting our national constellation, which receives a new star with every new state. The two together signify union past and present.
The very colors have a language which was officially recognized by our fathers. White is for purity, red for valor, blue for justice; and all together, bunting, stripes, stars, and colors, blazing in the sky, make the flag of our country to be cherished by all our hearts, to be upheld by all our hands.
( Charles Sumner )
Charles Sumner (1811-1874), an American statesman and orator, was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He became United States senator in 1851. “The Flag of Our Country” is taken from an address delivered in 1867 at Cooper Institute in New York.
rippling : moving in the wind
proclaim : to say something strongly
cherished : valued very highly
Answer the following questions.
1) What facts about America can you learn by reading this?
2) How many stripes does the flag have
3) How many stars are on the flag
4) What is meant by “union past and present”?
5) What injustice did soldiers and sailors fight against