Once again we approach that time of year when we, the faithful sons and daughters of America, honor our country, a day when we cast forth for all to see our patriotism and love of our country.
As Sir Francis Scott Key wrote, “Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light what so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, o’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.”
Again, we will celebrate through song, parties and fireworks. And again, there are those who try to prevent this patriotic celebration. They cry that fireworks hurt their dogs’ ears or that they can’t sleep or they whine about someone getting hurt. (True freedom is not risk free.) They snivel and whimper and try to block the patriotic spirit. They do not fly our country’s flag and they try to diminish the efforts and heroism of soldiers and sailors by preventing any observance of the “rocket’s red glare” or “the bombs bursting in air.”
Do not let those with such anti-American feelings get their way.
William T. Stokes
Vancouver
