Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 190, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 August 1917 — The Flag [ARTICLE]

The Flag

By EDWARD B. CLARK

The Flag is the commander-in-chief of America’s Army and Navy. When it passes the president of the United States must bare his head, for it is The Flag only which ranhs him in authority. The Service reveres The Flag. * The men are taught that it represents all that there is in duty, loyalty and patriotism. It is their first thought in battle as it is in peace. E.very day in the year is Flag Day in the Army and Navy. A soldier quicKly learns to love The Flag. It becomes to him the sign of all things worthy. The spirit of the Army is against everything that is not American. Patriotism is taught in the service as it is not taught elsewhere) and there is no preaching done. No man, no matter where he comes from, can go on day after day with the Stars and Stripes as the center of all things without getting devotion into his being. The Flag represents the ideals of a people. When standards are debased The Flag suffers. An inglorious nation cannot have a glorious flag.