Patriotism

The following is a flag retirement ceremony that I've written for the Owego-Utica Stakes Girls Camp for 2014.

2014 Flag Retirement

A person recently asked several friends which they would rather be known as, a patriot or a statesman.  People were puzzled by the question.  Many did not know the difference.  Sadly, some responded that they would not want to be either.

Two major organizations that survey attitudes of Americans recently reported disturbing findings.  A Gallup poll found that only 79% of Americans are satisfied with the amount of freedom they enjoy.  That is down from 87% who were satisfied with America’s freedoms just six years ago.  Of nations reporting a decline in satisfaction with their own country’s freedom, the United States was fifth from the bottom with only countries like Afghanistan and Syria having more dissatisfaction.  In a separate research done by the Pew Foundation, findings showed that only 28 percent of Americans today believe that the United States is world’s best nation.  That is down from 38 percent in 2011.

So, what does it mean to be a patriot and just exactly what is a statesman?  A patriot is a person who loves and zealously supports one’s own country, while a statesman is one who is wise or experienced in the business of government.  A true American patriot waves the flag and stands behind the assertion that “these colors don’t run”.  The real American statesman works tirelessly to see that our system of government works and that the interests of our people are represented and protected.  Neither is an undesirable label.  In fact, a person sould be honored to be both a patriot and a statesman.  Sadly, it appears we are in a short supply of both patriots and statesmen.

The presence of the United States of America is represented around the world by our flag – thirteen alternating red and white horizontal stripes representing the original thirteen states and fifty white stars representing each of the fifty states, on a dark blue field normally located in the upper leading corner of the flag.  It is the third oldest flag in the world and is emulated by other countries, including Malaysia, Bikini Atoll, Chili, and Liberia.  Even the Communist country of Cuba’s flag is patterned after the U.S. Flag.

Though the current design of the flag was designated by Congress in 1777, how it got to be this design is somewhat of a mystery.  At the beginning of the American Revolution our flag consisted of thirteen alternating red and white horizontal stripes, with a British Union Jack placed where the star field is located on the current flag.  Folklore and tradition state that George Washington commissioned Betsy Ross to sew the first Stars and Stripes based on a pencil drawing that he made of his family coat of arms.  But, the Betsy Ross story is only one of multiple flag origin stories.  What is known for sure is that after the Second Continental Congress approved of the design of our flag, word of its adoption reached Fort Stanwix during a battle with the British.  Soldiers cut up their shirts to make white stripes; red was taken from the red flannel petticoats of the soldiers’ wives to make the red stripes, and the blue star field came from an officer’s blue cloth coat. 

          Since the American Revolution, our flag has flown in each of the 67 wars it has been engaged in, including the Utah War, the Overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii, the 27 declared wars against Native American Tribes, and of course the American Civil War.  Our flag flies over our military bases, embassies and consulates around the world, over government buildings, schools, private businesses, parks, private homes, and even on the moon.  Our flag is the first symbol of our nation you encounter when crossing the borders from Canada and Mexico into the United States.  Our military personnel, police, and firefighters wear flag patches on their uniforms.

          But, simply wearing the American flag on a uniform or putting it on a flagpole at your home does not make you a patriot and certainly not a statesman.  Patriotism begins by fulfilling minimal citizenship responsibilities, including exercising your duty to vote, serving on juries, obeying our laws, and defending our nation against all threats, foreign and domestic when called upon to do so.  We begin becoming statesmen when we educate ourselves in our history, our heritage, and our government and then working together to preserve “our religion, and freedom, and our peace” (Alma 46: 12), and our duties and rights.

          We display patriotism by showing reverence to our flag, such as standing at attention and placing our hands over our hearts when the flag is being raised and lowered and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.  We display patriotism by not allowing that flag and what it represents to be sullied “in consequence of evils and designs which … exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days” (D&C 89:4).  And, lastly tonight, we display patriotism by properly retiring a flag of the United States that has stood as a witness of “liberty and justice for all”.

          Proper flag retirement etiquette calls for a ceremonial burning of the flag.  We will now unfold the flag and hold it as you stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.  We ask that you remain standing, hand over heart, until the flag is consumed by fire and you are invited to be seated.