A symbol known to the world, waves throughout America. It is displayed proudly over public offices and our schools, and its semblance is even woven into our clothes and painted on many of our possessions. This symbol is of course the American Flag. But, it is not, nor was it ever intended to simply be some colorful decoration. It has meaning, it has purpose and it has substance.

How greatly I, and really all of us here, appreciate the opportunity afforded by our electrical cooperatives, to come back to Washington and grow in an understanding of what this great flag of ours really means, and the cost that was paid that we might have the privilege of waving it. But what is this flag?

In 1777 the Continental Congress resolved that our flag should manifest thirteen strips of alternating red and white representing the thirteen states, and that here should be a field of blue with thirteen stars. But it was not until 1782, that records reflect the significance and perhaps reason for the colors originally chosen.

In that year, the Congress of the Confederation continued the tradition of the red, white and blue colors, with the design of the Great Seal of the United States. On that seal is inscribed the resolution that, “Red is for hardiness and courage, white is for purity and innocence, and blue for vigilance and justice”; the flag was the people that comprised the nation and all that they stood for, united into a single symbol to the world.

These colors personified the dearest qualities and aspirations of the founding fathers, and are the very fabric upon which the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and this nation were woven. But from what source were these qualities and aspirations derived?

The Declaration of Independence declared that we are “endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable Rights”.

Patrick Henry said, “It cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

John Adams, signer of the Declaration of Independence and our second President said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

James Madison, generally considered the father and author of the Constitution, stated, “We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We’ve staked the future of all our political institutions upon our capacity…to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.”

When the Constitution was ratified, it was dated by its authors, the representatives of the 13 states, as of “the Seventeenth Day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred Eighty seven” and for nearly 150 years following, the Supreme Courts continuously affirmed that Christianity was the foundation of law, education and morality in America.

As late as 1892, in the Case of the Church of Holy Trinity v. The United States, the Supreme Court stated in its ruling: “This is a Christian Nation.” But with the 1920’s and 30s came a new wind, intending to blow our flag in a different direction. Chief Justice Charles Hughes declared, “ The Constitution is what the judge says it is”, and then in 1947, the Court introduced a “wall of separation” doctrine, words which exist nowhere in the Constitution or its Amendments.

What followed was a series of landmark decisions based not on history or legal precedent, but instead as Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote, upon “evolving standards”. What were once Constitutional absolutes, were rapidly being declared illegal, and our nation was beginning to change.

As America moved off the rock it was founded upon, and began to build upon the shifting sands of popular opinion, cracks soon appeared in societies walls. In the following decades, while the United States population less than doubled, the birth rate to unwed girls tripled, violent crime rose almost 1000%, sexually transmitted diseases rose 500%, SAT scores dropped 20%, and the number of single parent households rose 300%.

Where once school teachers’ greatest laments were over talking, students at times running in halls or students chewing gum, teachers now demand protection from assaults by students, and public schools have metal detectors and none are without armed security or police.

But let’s turn back to how each of us came to this room today. It was in 1957, that Lyndon Johnson, seeing that the true history and meaning of our flag was disappearing from the classroom, went to an organization that embodied the American Spirit. He went to an organization where each member is committed to the good and betterment of all. He went to our rural electrical cooperatives, and his pleading was this: “Send our students to Washington to learn about our flag.”

I believe that I can faithfully say that we are all so very thankful he did, and that they listened. For among other things, we have learned that unlike the flags of other nations, which fly only when their king, president or legislators are present, the American Flag flies at all times.

It does so because it represents the people who stand over their government and whose standing is never to be subdued. It does so because it represents the Constitution of the Untied States of America, which stands over our President, legislators and judiciary as a protection to the people from vague or evolving whims of powerful opportunists.

So our challenge is this. Who will carry this flag on their shoulders? May not one of us deny the call, and may not one fail to carry it proudly with honor, respect and integrity to its truth.

Thank you so very much for your attention. And to Coserv electric, my sponsor, know that you have changed a life forever.