Beautifying The Flag

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To us the Flag has little meant.
  Each glorious stripe of red
  Was woven there to represent
  The blood of heroes dead.
  On some dim, distant battle line
  By other men were gained
  The glories that have made it fine,
  And idle we've remained.
  But now the Flag shall finer grow
  And ages yet to be
  Shall find the courage that we show
  To-day for liberty.

  Of other men the Flag has told;
  It flies for others' deeds;
  Its pride is born of heroes bold
  Who served its by-gone needs.
  But now our blood shall mingle there
  With blood of patriots dead,
  And through the years each stripe shall wear
  A deeper, truer red.
  The splendor of the flag shall gleam
  In every radiant star,
  And finer shall the banner seem
  Because of what we are.

  To-day new glory for the Flag
  We give our best to build;
  Of us shall future ages brag,
  By us their blood be thrilled;
  And as to us the flag has meant
  The greatness of the past,
  The Stars and Stripes shall represent
  Our courage to the last.
  The children in the years to be
  Our trials shall discuss,
  And cheer the emblem of the free,
  In part, because of us.

© Edgar Albert Guest