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Letters to the Editor

June 30, 1999

HOME Prince William County – Greater Manassas Chamber of Commerce  NEWS SPORTS BUSINESS WATCH

All should show honor to our flag: To the Editor: Honor To Our Flag When we express love for the Flag of our country, we are honoring those who fought in defense of the God-given rights upon which American democracy and our great Republic were founded-the freedoms which we enjoy and our Flag represents. We rededicate ourselves to the principles set forth in the Declaration of Independence, in the United States Constitution and in the Bill of Rights. The Flag of our nation symbolizes those principles-the freedom to live, speak, worship and to progress according to our own wills and abilities. This occasion has special significance for members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, because our members have carried the Stars and Stripes into battle in many foreign lands, on hostile seas and against enemy air forces around the globe. We who belong to the Veterans of Foreign Wars have seen many men sacrifice their lives in defense of our Flag. We have draped the coffins of those comrades with the Stars and Stripes as a token of our respect. Above their resting places we keep the Stars and Stripes waving proudly as a continuing tribute to their courage and sacrifice. The red in our nation’s emblem is made brilliant by the heroism of our fighting men; the white becomes more stainlessly pure because of the high motives which impelled them; and the blue in the starry field is made more beautiful by the services which our war veterans performed to keep intact, for all of us, the American way of life. Our way of life has not been gained cheaply. A million or more Americans have sacrificed their lives since the birth of this nation. Thousands of others suffer disabilities today-because they had the courage to fight for freedom. These are the thoughts we should keep in mind as we pledge allegiance to the Flag-and as we sing our national anthem-The Star Spangled Banner. Finally we say-thank God we are Americans. Thank God we are the fortunate people who may think and speak and worship freely, without fear, under the Stars and Stripes. That is why we rededicate ourselves to the high ideals this Flag represents. Through our everlasting devotion and courage, we shall always keep it flying as the proud and beautiful symbol of freedom, dignity and opportunity in a less than perfect world. Comdr. J.F. “Jim” Werner V.F.W. Dept. Virginia 1993-94 Harrisonburg

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