For the last several weeks Caroline has walked around the house singing bits and pieces of God Bless the USA by the bearded Lee Greenwood. Then sometime last week I noticed she was humming a few bars of the Air Force theme, Wild Blue Yonder. It all began to make sense when she was sent home with a note explaining that her school was having a special program in honor of Veterans’ Day.
And here I’d thought she was just some kind of musical prodigy with a penchant for patriotic tunes.
So yesterday morning Mimi and Gigi met me at the elementary school. I don’t know what they were expecting, but just seeing that gym full of elementary-aged kids and eager parents elbowing each other out of the way with cameras brought me back to the days of my own star-making role as Narrator #1 in Bammel Elementary’s production of Bambi. Which is to say that my expectations were not very high.
Then the program started and it was the best Veterans’ Day tribute I’ve ever experienced and I say that without a trace of sarcasm and that’s something that rarely happens.
I generally stay away from controversial topics like politics and whether or not I believe the best boots are the ones that zip up the side or pull on, but I don’t think it would take a political science wunderkind (how long have I been waiting to use that word?) to figure out which side of the political spectrum I lean towards. I mean I’m a Texan, my husband owns mass quantities of weaponry, and WE WATCH NASCAR.
As I watched those kids sing their little patriotic hearts out yesterday, I felt a sense of pride and hope for our country that I haven’t felt in a while. I’m not happy about the direction things are going and, honestly, I feel like we’re paying for our apathy.
Later in the day, P called me. He’d just attended a weekly lunchtime Bible study for high school students and was blown away by the guest speaker. It was an 83-year-old woman nicknamed Grandma Hansi. She was orphaned as a child and brainwashed as a Nazi Youth Leader when Hitler’s troops marched in to Czechoslovakia. At the end of the war she found herself in a Communist Labor Camp. The things she suffered are unimaginable to us but the short story is she ultimately became a Christian and came to America in 1955. She talked about the extreme culture shock she felt upon her arrival because she couldn’t even fathom the freedom that Americans take for granted. As she says on her website, “I would rather die than ever be unfree again. I pray that we as the American people will never take freedom for granted or we might lose it. If Freedom is lost, there will be no more refuge left for those who try to find a better way of life as I did when I came to America. The lights will go out around the world when freedom dies!”
I don’t know about you but I don’t want to spend anymore time taking that freedom for granted. Our veterans have fought long and hard for hundreds of years for us to enjoy the liberty we experience as American citizens and I think the best way to repay them is to not let anyone or anything take that away from us.
At the end of Caroline’s school program, two children began to fold up the American flag like they do at military funerals. As they made each fold they told what each fold represented. It was one of the most moving things I’ve ever heard and I’d never heard it before so I thought I’d share it with y’all.
The first fold of our flag is a symbol of life.
The second fold is a symbol of our belief in the eternal life.
The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veteran departing our ranks who gave a portion of life for the defense of our country to attain a peace throughout the world.
The fourth fold represents our weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in times of war for His divine guidance.
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 sixth fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that 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 seventh fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country and our flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.
The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered in to the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and to honor mother, for whom it flies on mother’s day.
The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood; 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.
The tenth fold is a tribute to father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since they were first born.
The eleventh fold, in the eyes of a Hebrew citizen, represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon, and glorifies, in their eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
The twelfth fold, in the eyes of a Christian citizen, represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in their eyes, God the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost.
When the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, “In God we Trust.”
I realize this is not my usual kind of post and some of you may not agree with me. And that’s alright.
Because it’s still a free country.
Also, please don’t miss Patricia’s video of the El Salvadoran Singing Bunny. It’s gold.
**Edited to add that Caroline attends public school which is what makes it even more amazing.**
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Thank you so much for this post! I tear up everytime I’m at a retirement ceremony and they fold the flag! It’s totally awesome! Have a wonderful week!~Angie
BEAUTIFUL post!!! The part about folding up the flag really got me. I want to copy and paste it and print it out to look at over and over again. thanks for this!
I read the book Hansi when I was in high school. Amazing! Very lovely post today.
Thank you for sharing what each fold of the flag represented. I had no idea. Caroline must attend a Christian school. I can’t imagine our public school being allowed to share such a message (AND THAT IS A SHAME!)
Loved this today…I wrote a Veterans Day post yesterday and read quite a few around on different blogs. I won’t get all political in the comments here but I too feel depressed some days about the direction we are moving as a country. I think for the most part we have no idea how truly free we are. I’m so glad to hear about schools out there honoring the day.
Wonderful post. I am linking to this post because it was the only story I have read about Veteran’s Day school participation…and that bothers me. I agree with Joyce…we have no idea how truly free we are.
I couldn’t agree with you more than I do. I too, worry and pray for the direction our country is heading. Thank you for a wonderful post.
Amen, Melanie.
Could NOT agree with you more.
And I repeat, AMEN.
NLynch
My first graders participated in a Veteran’s Day assembly yesterday, too. We ask the children to bring Veterans from their family or neighborhood to share the program with us. Each year we have these elderly men in their uniforms who still fairly hum with pride over their country. We cannot wait a year to remember all these brave men and women have sacrificed for our country.
Great post.
thank you,thank you, thank you Melanie for sharing your “serious” side with us today. This was a truly wonderful post. I want to read this book by Hansi. It sounds like somehting this whole nation needs to be exposed to.
Great post.
And we have a lot of guns, too.:o)
Thanks for the post and the explanation of flag folding – it was beautiful. The explanation makes it hard for someone to have any validity to the argument that we are not a nation founded on Christ.
Have a good day!
As the daughter of a retired Air Force dad, the wife of a retired Air Force husband, daughter-in-law to a retired US Navy seaman, sister-in-law to a retired US Army soldier I come out of lurkdom to say thank you for your heartfelt patriotism. I’m proud to be an American and proud to hear others share that sentiment!
As someone said above. I am just glad they were allowed to do this in school. It must be a private school.
Beautiful post.
Want to feel depressed about where we are going as a country? Google the Blair Holt Bill or HR 45. As a God fearing Alabama woman, who is married to a gun-toting NRA member we couldn’t be more appalled!
I LOVE the post and I want to print the flag folds out also!!!
Melanie, I think this might be my most favorite post of yours – and I’ve read them all! What a beautiful ceremony you describe – and I had never heard what each fold of the flag means, and I thank you for sharing that!
I’m a military wife, and I appreciate your patriotism. I’m hoping there’s more people like you out there than we realize, and we will soon change the direction of our country!
Again thank you!
Great post! Love your honesty and that you are not afraid in blogland to be you!
Keep it up!
And, on a serious
note, my 4 1/2 year old (AND husbnd) love Caroline’s pink gun. Did you order it somewhere or did your husband have it painted? My little girl wants one in purple! 
Thanks for sharing the meaning of the folds of the flag. Powerful.
Caroline is in a PUBLIC school. It’s a shame we have come so far as a country that our conclusion is, because something patriotic was done, she is in private school. God help us…literally.
P
Thanks so much for the info regarding the folding of the American Flag. I am not sure they would be able to mention the word God in my daughter’s school. Have a blessed day.
How amazing that so many of the folds reference God. This is so powerful. It should be reviewed by the President and Congress.
At the beginning of this post you need to add a tissue disclaimer.
This post really got me!
I loved reading about the folds and what they represent.
I’m so proud to have a daughter and son-in-law in the Army National Guard.
Praise the Lord that this can still be stated in a public school! Texas rocks!!
Last year for Veterns Day my Brownie Troop lead a little program for our entire elementary school. The principal asked us to have a flag ceremony, sing a few songs and then fold the flag. For a group of 3rd graders this was big stuff. The principal said she had a little something to say at the end and then she read the same poem about the folds of the flag that you wrote. It made my heart sing and my tears flow.
Thanks for the reminder.
We attend public school too!
As a daughter and wife of gun toting, NRA carrying, Ducks unlimited members. I am in awe and in praise that Caroline’s school is still “allowing” God to be referenced.
I got a lump in my throat reading it out of happiness. And I got a lump in my throat writing this out of sadness. Sadness that we are all so amazed that a public school is allowing God in.
I had never heard of the folds representing all those things. I would have been a huge big ol’ mess of tears throughout the entire thing.
Before I was a mom I was a teacher in an elementary school in a town that has a very high Somali population and some that had escaped Kosovo and Rowanda and were here as refugees. The entire fourth and fifth grade sang “Proud To Be An American” and let me tell you to see all the different colors of children and different religious garb singing that song made me a puddle, just a puddle. I wanted to go up and squeeze every one of them!
I read “Hansi, The Girl Who Loved The Swastika” when I was younger. She is amazing and I’m jealous that your husband got to meet her.
That’s so awesome. I’m blown away and yet so grateful that she and the other children were able to experience that. BTW I’m a born Alabamian and live in TN and the proud sister of a United States Marine
Oh and look on Amazon for the children’s story about Nubs: a Mutt, a Marine, and a Miracle.
Thank you.
I’m embarassed to admit that I was a military wife for 5 years and my husband was even on the color guard and I had know idea what the folds in the flag represented. I’m going to copy it and save it.
This post was fabulous! Thank you! I think more people probably agree with it than you think. The thing is nowadays is that it’s not politically correct to say so. May more people get the courage to speak out like you have today! Our country is depending on it!
I had no idea about the folds of the flag, so thank you for sharing that! My husband was in the Navy, and my grandmother’s brother (whom I obviously never knew) was shot and killed when he returned home from Korea. I am of the opinion that, regardless of our political views, we should always support our troops, for they are just doing the job they are assigned to do.
Wow! I never knew what the folds of the flag represented. That’s not only beautiful, but amazing. Thank you for educating us. Two men from the Army folded the flag at my grandfather’s funeral and then presented it to my grandmother. I wish I had known this then, because I think I would have read it everyone present.
Thanks again.
FringeGirl
Beautiful post! I love that this happened during a public school program. I work as an elementary school counselor in Alabama, and I am positive this would never be allowed at my school – how heartbreaking that it wouldn’t be. Thank you for sharing that!
http://www.snopes.com/military/flagfold.asp
At my daughter’s school Veteran’s program, they all dressed so that when they stood together they looked like a flag on the stage (it was so sweet), and they had all the parents and grandparents who were or did serve come dressed in uniform. They had each branch stand while they sang, and I have got to admit that I CRIED through the whole thing. The kids would burst into smiles and clap as each branch stood up, and it was so emotional. I felt such pride and connectedness to the group, and it was just beautiful.
So I get where you are coming from! We have a bright future in God’s hands, and I sense that our children will carry out a legacy of love that we may have not expected out of them.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts about the program. I had no idea what the folds represented. Thank God and all of the men and women who have served our country for our continued freedom! May we never take it for granted!!
I was totally going to ask if Caroline attends a public school. Wow. That is amazing and so touching. I’ve got tears in my eyes. Thank you for sharing with us.
Amen
There IS still hope for America – and it’s because of our great God and the people who still love Him and serve Him. Thank you for your wise words. (I’m not a Texan or NASCAR fan – but can totally relate on the whole arsenal thing —
Very nice!
I like hearing that.
One of my daughter’s (a high school junior) traveled around to 2 elementary schools yesterday. She is in a Swing Choir that performs shows throughout the year.
She said the same thing about the Veteran’s Day programs she was a part of.
They were the best ever!
I really love hearing that. Things seem to be so out of control in our country right now. We must pray for our leaders and do our part to make our country better.
I have never heard that folding thing. How cool is that? AND how cool is it that a public school did that for their program? It gives me hope for the next generation!
Amen, sister!
Could NOT agree with you more.
Thank you so much for sharing this, it does show that there is still hope for this country. With 2 little kids it scares me to think of what their lives will be like in 20 or 30 years.
God Bless!
Thank you for doing this post. I enjoy your normal, fun stuff and your sarcasm, but this was a great post. I stand on the same side of the aisle.
I loved this! I was aware that each precise fold of the flag represented something, but had no idea HOW detailed it was (I shouldn’t be surprised, but I was!).
Thank you for sharing!
Amen.
Thank you!! Great post, thanks for sharing.
Wow! I have goose bumps from reading this post. I MOST DEFINITELY AGREE with you. The whole time I was reading I was wondering if Caroline attended a Christian school. What a blessing to know there are still public schools who don’t compromise. God Bless the USA!!!
Veteran’s Day is such a great day! My son’s birthday is November 11th, so he never gets mail on his birthday. Last year, he asked why, and we got to explain to him what a Veteran was. There is such joy in explaining why we have freedom.
Totally awesome that they did a ceremony like that at a public school. My husband and I were just talking last night – while watching the news – that it is such a shame that a neighboring school district (I am in the Ft. Worth area) is preparing for a Christmas program, but not allowing the children to say the word “Christmas”. In the song, “I’ll be home for Christmas”, they changed the word to “Winter”. I don’t understand why they feel like they should cater to the “minority”. (I am Hispanic, so I don’t mean it in that sense.)
Freedom of speech has taken on a whole new meaning. It’s really freedom for whoever is in charge. SO pathetic!