A Song for Flag Day

One of my favorite poems that my children will be memorizing this Fourth of July. Written by Wilbur D. Nesbit in 1904:

Your flag and my flag, And how it flies today

In your land and my land and half a world away!

Rose-red and blood-red the stripes for ever gleam;

Snow-white and soul-shite – The good forefather’s dream;

Sky-blue and true blue, with stars that gleam aright – The gloried guidon of the day; a shelter through the night.

Your flag and my flag! And oh, how much it holds -

Your land and my land- secure within its folds!

Your heart and my heart beat quicker at the sight;

Sun-kissed and wind-tossed- red and blue and white.

The one flag- the great flag- the flag for me and you- Glorified all else beside- the red and white and blue!

Your flag and my flag! To every star and stripe

The drums beat as hearts beat and fifers shrilly pipe!

Your flag and my flag- A blessing in the sky;

Your hope and my hope- It never his a lie!

Home land and far land and half the world around, Old Glory hears our glad salute and ripples to the sound!