BaBeZ COS GM's blog: "VETS poems"

The United States Flag Code stipulates that as the symbol of a living country, the flag is considered in itself a living thing and should be properly displayed and cared for. The code outlines the proper ways to display the American flag. Raise the flag briskly. Lower it ceremoniously. Never allow the flag to touch the ground or floor. Do not fly the flag in bad weather, unless it is an all-weather flag. The flag can only be flown at night if properly illuminated. Otherwise, it should only be flown from sunrise to sunset. The flag should always be allowed to fall free. The flag should never be used to carry, store, or deliver anything. Never fly the flag upside down except to signal an emergency. Ceremonial When hung over a sidewalk on a rope extending from a building, the stars are always away from the building. When the flag is hung over a street running east to west, the stars are always toward the north. When the flag is hung over a street running north to south, the stars are always toward the east. When a group of flags is being displayed, the U.S. flag should be at the center and at the highest point. The only exception is when the flag of another nation is being flown—national flags should be of the same size and fly at the same height. When covering a casket, the stars should be at the head and over the left shoulder. The flag should never touch the ground or be lowered into the grave. Inside When on a speaker's podium, the flag should be either above and behind the speaker, or to the speaker's right as he faces the audience. When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union (blue field) should be uppermost and to the flag's right, that is, the observer's left. In a window, or suspended above a corridor, the flag should hang with the union on the viewer's left. Government The flag should be flown daily at the main administration building of public institutions. Polling places should display a flag on election days. School buildings should display a flag when school is in session. Flags should fly at half-staff on the deaths of certain government officials. When the flag is displayed against a wall with another flag from crossed staffs, the U.S. flag should be on the right (facing the audience) and its staff should be on top of the other flag's. Parades When the flag is carried in procession with other flags, it should be either on the right of the line of flags, or in front of the center of the line. On floats, the flag should be displayed on a staff. The flag should not be draped over a car, train, or boat. When displayed with a car, the flag's staff should be attached to the right fender, or the chassis. The flag should be held upright and should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental, state, or organizational flags may be dipped. Decorative The flag should never be used as clothing, bedding, or drapery. Red, white, and blue bunting may be used as decoration instead, with the blue on top, white in the middle, and red below. The flag should never be part of a uniform, but a flag patch or lapel pin can be part of a police or other uniform. The flag should not be used to cover a statue or monument. The flag should not be used to cover a ceiling. Advertising banners should not be hung from the same staff as a flag. The flag should not appear on napkins, boxes, or other disposable items, nor should it be embroidered on cushions, handkerchiefs, or similar objects. Flag Maintenance The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free. Care should be taken not to let the flag get torn, dirty, or damaged. The flag should never have placed upon it, nor attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing. When to Fly the Flag The flag can be displayed on all days, but in particular it should be flown on: New Year's Day, January 1 Inauguration Day, January 20 Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday, third Monday in January Lincoln's Birthday, February 12 Washington's Birthday, third Monday in February Easter Sunday (variable) Mother's Day, second Sunday in May Armed Forces Day, third Saturday in May Memorial Day (half-staff until noon*), the last Monday in May Flag Day, June 14 Independence Day, July 4 Labor Day, first Monday in September Constitution Day, September 17 Columbus Day, second Monday in October Navy Day, October 27 Veterans Day, November 11 Thanksgiving Day, fourth Thursday in November Christmas Day, December 25 Other days as may be proclaimed by the President of the United States The birthdays of States (date of admission) State holidays -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *On Memorial Day, the flag should be hung at half-staff until noon, when it should be raised to the top of the staff. Pledge of Allegiance “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.” The pledge should be said while standing at attention and facing the flag with right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag and render the military salute. The same behavior applies during the raising or lowering of the flag, or when it passes on parade.

Armistice Day Becomes Veterans Day World War I officially ended on June 28, 1919, with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. The actual fighting between the Allies and Germany, however, had ended seven months earlier with the armistice, which went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. Armistice Day, as November 11 became known, officially became a holiday in the United States in 1926, and a national holiday 12 years later. On June 1, 1954, the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor all U.S. veterans. In 1968, new legislation changed the national commemoration of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. It soon became apparent, however, that November 11 was a date of historic significance to many Americans. Therefore, in 1978 Congress returned the observance to its traditional date. Tomb of the Unknowns Official, national ceremonies for Veterans Day center around the Tomb of the Unknowns. To honor these men, symbolic of all Americans who gave their lives in all wars, an Army honor guard, the 3d U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard), keeps day and night vigil. At 11 a.m. on November 11, a combined color guard representing all military services executes "Present Arms" at the tomb. The nation's tribute to its war dead is symbolized by the laying of a presidential wreath and the playing of "Taps." Unknown Soldier Identified On Memorial Day (which honors U.S. service people who died in action) in 1958, two more unidentified American war dead, one from World War II and the other from the Korean War, were buried next the unknown soldier of World War I. A law was passed in 1973 providing interment of an unknown American from the Vietnam War, but because of the improved technology to identify the dead, it was not until 1984 that an unidentified soldier was buried in the tomb. In 1998, however, the Vietnam soldier was identified through DNA tests as Michael Blassie, a 24-year-old Air Force pilot who was shot down in May of 1972 near the Cambodian border. His body was disinterred and reburied by his family in St. Louis, Missouri

Armistice Day Becomes Veterans Day World War I officially ended on June 28, 1919, with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. The actual fighting between the Allies and Germany, however, had ended seven months earlier with the armistice, which went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. Armistice Day, as November 11 became known, officially became a holiday in the United States in 1926, and a national holiday 12 years later. On June 1, 1954, the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor all U.S. veterans. In 1968, new legislation changed the national commemoration of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. It soon became apparent, however, that November 11 was a date of historic significance to many Americans. Therefore, in 1978 Congress returned the observance to its traditional date. Tomb of the Unknowns Official, national ceremonies for Veterans Day center around the Tomb of the Unknowns. To honor these men, symbolic of all Americans who gave their lives in all wars, an Army honor guard, the 3d U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard), keeps day and night vigil. At 11 a.m. on November 11, a combined color guard representing all military services executes "Present Arms" at the tomb. The nation's tribute to its war dead is symbolized by the laying of a presidential wreath and the playing of "Taps." Unknown Soldier Identified On Memorial Day (which honors U.S. service people who died in action) in 1958, two more unidentified American war dead, one from World War II and the other from the Korean War, were buried next the unknown soldier of World War I. A law was passed in 1973 providing interment of an unknown American from the Vietnam War, but because of the improved technology to identify the dead, it was not until 1984 that an unidentified soldier was buried in the tomb. In 1998, however, the Vietnam soldier was identified through DNA tests as Michael Blassie, a 24-year-old Air Force pilot who was shot down in May of 1972 near the Cambodian border. His body was disinterred and reburied by his family in St. Louis, Missouri

by Brittany Vigoreaux American soldiers sacrifice so much, All for the freedom of our country. Leaving their families and heading off to war, Not knowing what the future holds. Working day and night Determined to stay strong. Watching friends be killed every day Letters from home inspiring them to keep fighting So little is given to them Although there is little to do, For those who have died in war We can still remember Remember all the men who have died. Remember all the battles fought Remember all the tears families cried Remember it was freedom the soldiers brought To this very day soldiers are under-appreciated Veterans Day is the day For the dead, living, and fighting soldiers To be remembered

by Larissa Myschuk Sometimes the world seems like it's Upside-down Inside out Torn down the middle In need of arrangement Desperate for guidance Wanting direction Lacking leadership Losing patience Turning and flipping Backwards and sideways Speeding endlessly forward On a path of self-destruction And the only thing to stop it, The only thing to calm it, Is the lives of the men that Fight passionately Fall readily and Die willingly.

by Jamie Burns I am the flag I look down upon this land called America . I have been here since this great nation was formed, I have seen each battle fought I have seen the heroes die for me, for my country Thank you all those of you Who have kept me flying in the breeze Keeping this country united as one. Thank you those of you who have sacrificed your lives, Giving up all that I may still fly, Watching over the citizens of this nation. Thank you all those of you who have ever fought, I am ever grateful for you. You risked everything; you faced death each day, Faced fear, faced many terrible things. And because of you, my thank you's ring out, Filling the sky, echoing from the hills They find their way to the graveyards, And to all of you still living, You are a special kind of person. To anyone who has ever served this country, And to those serving today Thank you. As I watch life from atop my flagpole, As I think of all you've done, My feelings become too powerful for words And all I can say is thank you

by Brittany Skinner They were there, And they remember, The shock, the horror Of watching strangers die. A life ended By a fellow soldier's shaking hands. The unimaginable debt, Owed by a free world Can never be repaid, Still we try Giving up an hour, a day To thank you for the burden you now carry Laid there so we can live our lives. They fought, And killed Enemies with faces Identities unknown to the bullets Shattering the protective shield Laid there by those they loved. For one day a year we honor you For our lives, It can never compare Still we try Thanking you on this day For a million moments You lived so we could too

by Ashley Persyn There is a price we pay for freedom For it is not truly free But rather paid for by the contributions of veterans To buy our liberty As their blood drains from their body and runs like a river through the grass Over the years it's forgotten, war is placed in our past I don't think we all realize the importance veterans play as they voluntarily serve America each and every day We should honor the veterans for they act like a shield Protecting us from danger, keeping America healed. So if you would take a second to commemorate You will instantly see We owe veterans our gratitude For they are the reason we are free

by Amanda Whitney The bravest man I know. Is a man I've never met. He's a man who risks his life To save a friend, Not only to save a friend, But to save a nation. Risking his life For those he does not know. Stepping up Leaving loved ones behind, So that somewhere, Someone else won't have to. He is a man who follows orders Even though he knows he might die. The bravest man I know. Is the man who would rather die, So one more person could go home To see his family again. The man who stares death in the face, But never blinks. The bravest man I know. Is the man who risks his life So one day the world may be a better place for his children. Or any man who goes against his biggest fear. DEATH Just to save someone he loves. The bravest man I know. Is the man who fights So another man can have the taste of sweet freedom. Not fighting only for his own benefit, But for many others all over the world, Fighting to make this world a better place. That's the bravest man I know.

By Taylor Weinman Representing the red white and blue The colors of our flag stand out proud and true. The white stars on blue background with red and white stripes Remind me of these veterans, who all risked their lives. Just so the people of the U.S. could all live in peace and be free These are the heroes that represent you and me. They stood up strongly, untied as one, And kept up the fighting until they were done. And although some have fallen, and lost their lives in war, We pray for each one of them. And now that their souls live on forever more, Above in God's hands. They watch over our nation, And give us strength to triumph over others with strong anticipation. So every year, when this day comes by, Think of all the veterans that while fighting, had to die. And remember that they were people With fire and passion embedded inside. They die for this country, So remember and honor them with pride