Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 141, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 June 1917 — THE NAME OF OLD GLORY [ARTICLE]

THE NAME OF OLD GLORY

BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

OLD GLORY ! say, who. By the ships andthe crew, And the long, blended ranks of the gray and the blue,Who gave you, Old Glory,the name that you bear With such pride everywhere . . As you cast yourself free to the rapturous air And leap out full” length, as we’re wanting you to ? Who gave you that name, with the ring of the same. And fne honor and fame so becoming to you? Your stripes stroked in ripples of white and of red, With your stars at their glittering best overhead By day or by night Their delightfullest light Laughing down from their little square heaven or blue’— Who gave you the name of Old_Glory ?-say, who— Who gave you the name of Old Glory ? 7Ze old banner lifted, and faltering then in vagae lispsand whispers fell silent again. n Old Glory,—speak out! —we are asking about How you happened to"favor”a name, so to say. That sounds so familiar and careless and gay As we cheer it and shout in our wild breezy wav— We—the crowd, every man of us, calling you that We— Tom, Dick,and Harry-each swinging his hat And hurrahing‘"Old GlorylTike you were our Kin, When-ZorcZ/-we al know we’re as common as sin! And yet it just seems like you humor us all And waft us your thanks, as we hail you and tali Into I ine, with you over us, waving us on Where our glorified, sanctified betters have goneAnd this is the reason we’re wanting to know—(And were wanting it so/ . Where our own fathers went we are willing to go. J Who gave you the name of Old Who gave you the name of Old Glory r The old flag unfurled with a billowy thrill For an instant, then wistfully sighed and was still. m Old Glory : the story we’re wanting to hear Is what the plain facts of your christening wereFor your name —just to hear it, . .... Repeat it, and cneer it, ’s a tang to the spirit As salt as a tear;- .... ~ . And seeing you fly, and the boys marching by, There’s a shout in the throat and a blur in the eye And an aching to live for you always —or die, If, dying, we still keep you waving on high. And so, by our love For you, floating above, r And the scars of all wars and the sorrows thereof, Who gave you the name of Old Are we thrilled at the name of Old Glory? Then the old banner leaped, like a sail in the blast, And fluttered an audible answer at last.— And it spake, with a shake of the voice, and it said:/\By the driven snow-white and the living blood-red Of my bars, and their-heaven of stars overheadBy the symbol conjoined of them all, skyward cast. As I float from the steeple, or flap at the mast, Or droop o’er the sod where the grasses nod, Mv name is as old as the 8 10r y otJjRPj . .So I came by the name of Old Glory. COPYRIGHT 1900 BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY •_.U—

THIS inspiring poem was read bv Mr. Riley on February 23, 1903, when the state of Indiana presented a sword to Admiral Taylor, who commanded the battleship Indiana m the engagement off Santiago. Before reading the stanzas, the poet paid an introductory tribute to the flag as follows: " Q+ aTa •‘lt may seem a’late day in which to attempt a tribute to our glorious old flag, the Stars and Stripes;’but that it is an <jver newer glory in our eyes and an ever ( [ ea^ r J a P tu + r^..^ r hearts. The coming generations of its patriot followers, high and low, can but lift to it contii : u ous voices of applause and benediction. Master orators may eulogize it t ill no thril of speech seems left with which to fitly glorify it, of poets may sing its till their son seems one with the music of the ripples of the breezes in its silken fo ! ds ’~b at, no voice of forum, harp or clarion may well hold mute the one all-universal voice that breaks, ’with and Tears at everv newer sight -ofour nation's hallow,.-<i emblem—the old brave heroes and defenders, since ‘the shot heard round the world,’ it has been a panoply, a shelter and a shield, and vet how proudly have the embattled hosts gone down .that they might lift it to securer heights. Its wavering shade has fallen on the weary .marcher softly as the shadow of the maple at his father’s door. He has heard its like light in the lull of noondav battle; and,.worn with agony, above the surgeons tent, that all is well. Yea and in death "the sacred banner has enfolded him, even as a mother s fond caress, bo, but the Lord’s own victory in which he shares: the land he loved restored, inviolate, to kmsrnen, comrades and oncoming patriot thousands yet to lie—the broad old land of freedom.firm underfoot once more—the old. flag overhead! And what inspiring symbol must this banner be to its brave defenders who go down to sea in ships. Oj.e of these—a hapless prisoner for a while—say* this of the Old flag: j '“‘There is an odd thing about that flag when you meet it on the high seas and thowind is liamciv that of all flags I know, it-fe the most aliveywhemthewvmd"blows, the eLer and keen.’with the stars seeming to dance with the joy of excitement. So that there « -one better to go into battle, or come down the street when the fifes are pijfing ahead. “And with righteous pride it is recorded that upon the sea-borne on the throbbing bosom of the gale and baptized with the salt sea spray—this beloved flag of ours was first christened bv the name of Old*Glory. ’. / , ■ - • '■ » ■