A Republic If You Can Keep It…

 

In honor of Flag Day, this June 14th 2014, I give you Chapter Thirty Two from America on the Cusp of God’s Grace published a few years ago and still active on Amazon.com … Lest We The People forget what a mighty nation we serve…

Chapter Thirty Two: Respect For The Flag Of Devotion

God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure if we have removed their only firm basis: a conviction in the minds of men that these liberties are the gift of God? ~ Thomas Jefferson  

A Republic if you can keep it

I Am The Flag And Yours To Honor

 

Red, white, and blue. Old Glory. The Stars and Stripes. The banner and symbol of freedom to people around the world. By whatever name or moniker people refer to me, I feel truly honored. The Continental Congress brought me forth on June 14th 1777 in Philadelphia when they were bedazzled by my stars, my stripes, and my combination of colors. Did you notice by the way, that I was conceived and adopted on the fourteenth day of the six month in the year 1777? It may well seem trivial to you, but to me 6-14-1777 is divinely special.

Since Seven is God’s number of perfection my birthdate contains a combination of five sevens, one six (the number for Man), and the number one (Unity. One God. One Nation. One Flag). When added together, this combination produces 42, or God’s perfection times six. As 6+7+7+1+7+7+7 = 42. God’s Perfection for Man’s purpose. Miraculous!

I have evolved mightily over the years as my innate Godly message has reverberated around the world. My circular thirteen stars in the blue canton representing the original thirteen colonies, has since blossomed to fifty, in eleven neat orderly rows of six of five; and five of four (or if you prefer, nine horizontal rows of five of six; or four of five). My thirteen stripes, seven red, six white, still represent the thirteen. Seven times six still results in forty-two. God’s perfection times six. God’s Perfection for Man’s Purpose. Miraculous!

My red stripes also represent the sacrifice of millions of American young men in the defense of freedom, and also the self-same devotion of American mothers and daughters in bringing forth these courageous men. My white stripes represent liberty and equality for all. Every one of my stripes reminds us all of the quality of reasoning together, and of what Christ did for all mankind, as prophesied by Isaiah …

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool (Isaiah 1: 18) … But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53: 4,5)

My blue is the royalty of heaven, and also represents faith and loyalty. Liberty, justice and humanity are embedded principles woven within my fabric, as are freedom of speech; freedom of religion; freedom of assembly; freedom of the press; not forgetting the sanctity of the home. I represent American freedom, and that indomitable spirit of destiny brought to these shores by those who refused to believe in disaster or defeat, and who laid the early foundation for the fledgling nation as they traversed the mighty Atlantic Ocean, and set foot upon the New World.

I am an ever-present reminder of the Constitutional Laws of the United States, the Bill of Rights, and of Government of the people, by the people, for the people. Through me, God stands as protection over our schools, within whose halls and classrooms good citizenship and patriotism are nurtured and developed. I stand by in every classroom, overseeing each class. I fly atop a flagpole in every schoolyard, around which students pray to God.

yhst-45748600749679_2264_53070033Each and every day, millions of boys and girls place their hands across their hearts, and stand facing me to pledge allegiance to me and to the Republic for which I stand, One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. I am part of the law of the United States, as in Public Law 829 known as The Flag Code, which outlines in detail how I should be treated and displayed for all occasions and situations. I am honored annually on the date of my birth; Flag Day is June 14th each year.

Dear citizens, never forget that I am the sacred, divine emblem of our country. When you see me flying in a God-given breeze, remember that I represent you. I am your reminder that millions went before, to endow you and every other citizen of this great nation, with a birthright and a heritage of liberty, purchased at a great price of sacrifice and sorrow.

I am your visible title deed of freedom, which is yours to cherish, uphold, protect and defend for posterity; both yours, and those of your fellow-citizens.

Guard well this sacred trust, for God Himself is in the details. Eternal vigilance, as watchmen on the wall, secures your freedom. And never, ever, forget that freedom is never free. It always comes with a price.

Testimony has no substance without a test.

Faith without belief, is like sight without sound.

A nation without vision is like a ship without a rudder.

And a society without God in authority, is doomed to failure.

God grant that I may spend eternity in the land of the free and the home of the brave, where I will be held up in high esteem when its citizens forever proclaim …

 

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the

United States of America

and to the Republic for which it stands,

one nation under God, indivisible,

with liberty and justice for all.

 

Folding The Flag In Honor

Flag fold...

 

Now I would like to explain to you why it is important to treat me with reverence, particularly as it applies to daytime treatment, nighttime treatment, putting me away for the night, or on other ceremonial occasions:

As viewing me in the illustration above, bring the bottom striped half up over the blue field.

Fold it in half again.

Then bring the right lower striped corner to the upper edge forming a triangle.

Fold the upper point in to form another triangle and continue until the entire length of the flag is folded.

Once you get near to the end (nothing but the blue field showing) tuck the last bit into the other folds to secure it.

When I am completely folded, the stars are uppermost, reminding the nation of our eternal pledge In God We Trust.

After I am completely folded and tucked in, I take on the appearance of a cocked hat, reminding everyone of the soldiers who served under General George Washington; the sailors and marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones, who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for us the rights, privileges, and freedoms we enjoy today.

Dear citizens, I implore you once again. Do not take your rights, or me, your flag, for granted.

I became the banner of this great nation through toil, trial, tribulation, and much human sorrow.

I’ve been blasted apart, scorched, torched, slashed, sprayed with graffiti, been urinated and defecated upon, had gasoline poured upon me to be set ablaze, been wrapped around corpses that were held up to ridicule, and strung from devilish structures, had the President of my country draped in me and hung in effigy, had dirges and paganistic chants delivered to extricate me from society.

Yet through it all, I survive and wave proudly as ever.

You, the next generation, honor me, and prevail!

 

Designation Of The Folding

The flag folding ceremony is a mirror-image of the same Godly principles upon which our great nation was originally founded. The part of the flag denoting honor, is the blue canton containing the stars representing the States which our veterans served in uniform. The canton field of blue dresses from left to right (as in the illustration on this page, or if vertical the canton would be upper-left) and is inverted only when draped as a pall, on the casket of a veteran who has served our country honorably in uniform.

In the Armed Forces of the United States at the ceremony of retreat, the flag is lowered, folded in the above-described manner, and kept under watch throughout the night as a tribute to our nation’s honored dead. The next morning it is brought out and, at the ceremony of reveille, run aloft as a symbol of our belief in the resurrection of the body.

Now to the symbolism of the flag-fold itself.

First fold of our flag represents life.

I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (John 14: 6)

Second fold, our belief in the eternal life.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3: 16)

Third honors and remembers those giving their lives defending our country to attain peace around the world.

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. (John 14: 27)

Fourth represents our weaker nature. As Americans trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace, as well as in times of conflict, for His Divine guidance.

But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because He has dealt bountifully with me. (Psalm 13: 5-6)

The Fifth fold is a tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur: Our country, in dealing with other countries,may she always be right, but it is still our country, right or wrong.

The LORD is their strength, and He is a saving defense to His anointed. Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; be their shepherd also, and carry them forever. (Psalm 28: 8-9)

Sixth represents where our hearts lie, for here is where we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart. (Luke 6: 45)

The seventh fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces, for through them we protect our country and our flag against all enemies, whether we find them within, or without, the boundaries of our Republic. Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand all things. (Proverbs 28: 5)

The eighth fold is a tribute to the One who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23: 4)

Ninth is a tribute to motherhood, for it has been through their faith, love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great have been molded.

She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness; her children rise up and bless her; (Proverbs 31: 26-28)

Tenth fold is a tribute to father, for he too has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country.

When I was a son to my father, tender and the only son in the sight of my mother, then he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments and live!” (Prov. 4: 3-4)

The eleventh fold represents the seal of the house of David, and thereby glorifies the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for His blessing upon our nation and the coming of Jesus Christ.

Then he said, Listen now O house of David! Is it too slight a thing for you to try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of my God as well? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7: 13-14)

And finally, the twelfth fold recognizes the twelve tribes of Israel; the twelve apostles, the twelve gates of the new Jerusalem and the eternal message of salvation given freely to all of mankind through God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. (Joel 2: 28-29)

Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth,

Sing praises to the Lord, Selah

To Him who rides upon the highest heavens,

which are from ancient times;

Behold, He speaks forth with His voice,

a mighty voice.

Ascribe strength to God;

His majesty is over Israel

And His strength is in the skies.

O God, You are awesome from

Your sanctuary.

The God of Israel Himself gives

strength and power to the people.

Blessed be God!

(Psalm 68: 32-35)

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the

United States of America

and to the Republic for which it stands,

one nation under God, indivisible,

with liberty and justice for all.

 

A Republic if you can keep it