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Salutations to the American Flag
By David Henri, New Hartford
Atop the flagpole flaps the flag of ours,
with a corner blue, spangled with star-white stars,
and stripes of red and white streaming in the fluid air,
patriotic colors soaring with patriotic flair.
Each of thirteen horizontal bands of red and white,
flying for the first of the United States to unite,
stitched adjacently, the colonies that stood to fight,
freedom formed from their collaborated might.
Each stellar-shaped icon standing for a statehood,
fifty sewn together for the broader good,
half a hundred starlit votes in a congress blue,
constituting a country united, a republic true.
Many parts cut from sturdy cloth, stitched individually,
with strong thread tailored together indivisibly,
one nation, one people, one banner on flagpole tall,
displayed for liberty and for justice, guaranteed for all.
Red, and white and blue, drawing glances of the eye,
flagging notice to stop and see the great flag fly,
wind induced movement attracting observation,
swelling hearts with pride and love of nation.
Stars and stripes, flowing with the breeze,
unfurled in glory, the flag does wave with ease,
patriotic symbol flying oh so high,
joyous and waving in the free sky blue sky.
So salutations to the American flag do we give,
giving meaning to who we are, and to where we live,
hand on heart, tears of pride withholding,
freedom and justice, along with flags, forever unfolding.
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