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Show Valiant spirits reflected in stars' Every time I see our flag, I see the blood of our soldiers, airmen, sailors and Marines-blood spilled for freedom yet caught within its blazing field. I see their . valiant spirits reflected jn its many stars. On Memorial Day, I see in our flag what I can never forget-their sacrifice. . Yet, more than a symbol of their deaths, it stands for their fighting spirit. It is the spirit of men I served with. They are-men who didn't come home-a sergeant, a commanding comman-ding officer, a friend-men who I'll never forget. It's a fighting spirit so valiant, so unbreakable, it inspires poetry and song. Nowt I'm no poet--but inside, I too, feel the pride which inspires a poet to write a tribute to our fighting men--a poet like Francis - Scott Key. In 1814, Francis Scott Key wat- : ched as the hopelessly out-gunned and - out-numbered men of Fort , McHenry, Baltimore, were bombarded bom-barded by the British Fleet. The battle raged through the night. It wasn't until the morning sun broke through the mist that he knew our men had survived the vicious attack; at-tack; . ": There, caught in the gleam uf dawn's early light-as if to mock the , enemy-was the American flag still flying high and proud over the fort. Francis Scott Key was so inspired, he wrote a poem in tribute to the brave men of Fort McHenry. It's a poem in which he stated: "...And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave..." These words are as true today as they were when he wrote them. Thousands of young men and women wear the uniform of our Armed Forces. They too .are prepared to defend this country and . all that it stands for. And tragically, ' they too, have spilled their blood. A month ago, 47 sailors aboard the Battleship Iowa paid the ultimate price for our freedom. Do . not let their sacrifice be for nothing. Help our young to understand that the flag is not just an interesting exhibit ex-hibit in a museum. Help them to see that the power and beauty of our flag extends beyond an abstract idea. : Past or present, those we honor on Memorial Day ; purchased freedom. It's important that we mourn them, I know I will. But it's more important that we honor their service and the lessons they taught. Francis Scott Key understood this;r'to make his voice heard he wrote a poem. It speaks of the American flag and how it embodies . ; . the American spirit. He wrote a poem that is heard around, the world as America's Rational Anthem. On Memorial 1 Day, let's use that gift to both honor our fallen and to teach those for whom our defenders gave so much. ! Billy E.Kirby Disabled American Veterans |