When freedom, from her mountain height
                   Unfurled her standard to the air,
                   She tore the azure robe of night
                   And set the stars of glory there.
                   She mingled with its gorgeous dyes
                   The milky baldric of the skies,
                   Then from his mansion in the sun
                   She called her eagle-bearer down
                   And gave into his mighty hand
                   The symbol of her chosen land.

                   Thou, too, sail on, O Ship of State!
                   Sail on, O Union, strong and great!
                   Humanity with all its fears,
                   With all the hopes of future years,
                   Is hanging breathless on the fate!
                   We know what Master laid the keel,
                   What Workmen wrought thy ribs of steel,
                   Who made each mast, and sail, and rope,
                   What anvils rang, what hammers beat,
                   In what forge and what a heat
                   Were shaped the anchors of thy hope!
                   Fear not each sudden sound and shock,
                   'Tis of the wave and not the rock;
                   'Tis but the flapping of the sail,
                   And not a rent made by the gale!
                   In spite of rock and tempest's roar,
                   In spite of false lights on the shore,
                   Sail on, nor fear to breast the sea!
                   Our hearts, our hopes, are all with thee,
                   Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our tears,
                   Our faith triumphant o'er our fears,
                   Are all with thee, - are all with thee!

                   Our Nation's Flag is a stirring sight
                   As it flutters proudly in the breeze
                   Its colors of blue, red and white
                   Mean so much to you and me
                   Red stands for courage and hardiness
                   The white means innocence and purity
                   Blue for justice, perseverance and vigilance
                   In its promise to keep us free.

                   This banner stands for a bountiful land,
                   Its government, people, and ideals,
                   The stripes from the thirteen colonies stand,
                   Its symbolism is very real.
                   Each State now is represented 
                   By a star of white on blue
                   President Washington first presented
                   The American Flag to You.

                   Many brave men have fought and died
                   To protect it from dishonor and disgrace.
                   Wives have mourned and mothers have cried
                   So we could remain...the United States.
                   The sight of this Banner brings feeling of joy,
                   Of courage, pride and freedom to all.
                   A symbol of our nation in all it's glory,
                   On the moon Old Glory stands tall
               

                 Background information about the ODE TO THE FLAG 

                     
                   
                                      Hats off!
                            Along the street there comes
                            A blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums,
		            A flash of color beneath the sky:
			               Hats off!
		            The flag is passing by!
		   
		   
		            Blue and crimson and white it shines,
		            Over the steel-tipped, ordered lines.
			               Hats off!
		            The colors before us fly;
		            But more than the flag is passing by.
															
			             				
		            Sea-fights and land-fights, grim and great,
		            Fought to make and to save the State:
		            Weary marches and sinking ships;
		            Cheers of victory on dying lips;
					
							
		            Days of plenty and years of peace;
		            March of a strong land's swift increase;
		            Equal justice, right, and law,
		            Stately honor and reverend awe;
					
							
		            Sign of a nation, great and strong
		            Toward her people from foreign wrong:
		            Pride and glory and honor,--all
		            Live in the colours to stand or fall.
							
	                               Hats off!
		            Along the street ther comes
		            A blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums;
		            And loyal hearts are beating high:
		                       Hats off!
		            The Flag is passing by!               			

                           Off with your hat as the flag goes by!
                       And let the heart have it say;
                    You're man enough for a tear in your eye 
                       That you will never wipe away.

                    You're man enough for a thrill that goes
                       To your very finger-tips--
                    Ay! the lump just then in your throat that rose
                       Spoke more than your parted lips.

                    Lift up the boy on your shoulder high,
                       And show him the faded shred;
                    Those stripes would be red as the sunset sky
                       If death could have dyed them red.

                    Off with your hat as the flag goes by!
                       Uncover the youngster's head;
                    Teach him to hold it holy and high
                      For the sake of its sacred dead.

    I Am Old Glory:   For more than ten score years I have been the 
    banner of hope and freedom for generation after generation of Americans. 
    
    Born amid the first flames of America's fight for freedom, 
    I am the symbol of a country that has grown from a little group 
    of thirteen colonies to a united nation of fifty sovereign states. 
   
    Planted firmly on the high pinnacle of American Faith 
    my gently fluttering folds have proved an inspiration to untold millions. 
    
    Men have followed me into battle with unwavering courage.
    
    They have looked upon me as a symbol of national unity.
    
    They have prayed that they and their fellow citizens might continue to enjoy the life, 
    liberty and pursuit of happiness, which have been granted to every American 
    as the heritage of free men.
    
    So long as men love liberty more than life itself; 
    so long as they treasure the priceless privileges bought with the 
    blood of our forefathers; so long as the principles of truth, justice 
    and charity for all remain deeply rooted in human hearts, I shall 
    continue to be the enduring banner of the United States of America.