"I raised a flag today"

Earlier today, about 1,000 soldiers serving in the United States Army's 3rd Infantry Regiment (more commonly known as "The Old Guard") placed small American flags on more than 228,000 graves at Arlington National Cemetery.  It took them just over four hours, and they call it "Flags In" Day.  It's a special tradition that the 3rd Infantry Regiment has been doing every year on the Thursday before Memorial Day since 1948.  The 3rd Infantry Regiment has been in active service since 1784, making it the Army's oldest serving active duty regiment.  In addition to "Flags In" Day, the Old Guard also performs full honor arrivals for visiting dignitaries, wreath ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknowns, and full honor reviews in support of senior army leaders and retiring soldiers.

These flags standing watch over the graves of our fallen heroes of the United States military are truly a sight to behold.  It is a small tribute for the ultimate sacrifice - to die for love of country.







I am reminded of a poem called simply "The Flag" whose author is not known.

I raised a flag today
A flag with fifty stars
I raised a flag today
A flag with thirteen bars.

I raised a flag today
To honor those who died
I raised a flag today
And then I stood and cried.

I wept and cursed and prayed
And had to wonder "why?"
Angst and anger welled inside me
And then I saw it fly.

The flag snapped briskly in the wind
It unfurled in the sky
Its glory rose above my fears
Its freedom was not denied.

The symbol of our country
The banner of our pride
The flag of these United States
Flew boldly at my side.

I raised a flag today
But the flag, it lifted me.
I raised a flag today
For all the world to see.

I raised a flag today
And upon seeing it, I knew:
Above the ashen gray would rise
The red, the white, and the blue.

Wherever you are and whatever you are doing this coming Monday, I hope you pause to remember and honor all those who have died to keep our country safe and free.  As it was once said, almost 160 years at the dedication ceremony for another military cemetery, It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."