flags

“There are many flags of many lands there are flags of every hue, but there is no flag however grand as our own red white and blue.

So hurrah for our flag our country’s flag its stripes and its bright stars too

for there is no flag however grand as out own red white and blue.” (Many Flags of Many Lands, by Mary H. Howliston)

Every June 14th on the front lawn of Linden Elementary School Miss Cyphers, the music teacher for the school held a program honoring Flag Day. Each year the 8th grade graduating class would have the honor of creating a bridge of flags. The 8th grade students would line up in two straight lines facing each other holding our flags at an angle above our heads and the entire student body from Kindergarten to the 7th graders would pass under this arch.

As each and every student walked under the arch the 8th graders only, would sing the lyrics to the song ‘Many Flags of Many Lands. We rehearsed this song once Memorial Day was behind us and Miss Cyphers made sure we not only sung the song correctly but did so in at least three part harmony.

Once the entire school passed under the arch, the ‘big shot’ 8th graders would hand out a flag to every student at Linden and we would lead them in singing ‘God Bless America’.

Our Principal Miss Patterson, would stand at the podium with a huge pin of the USA on her right chest above red, white and dyed blue roses and have us all pledge allegiance to the flag. And then she would explain to us how lucky we ALL were to live in a land of democratic principles.

I was an eighth grader during the spring of June 14, 1963 and I thought I was so cool to be a part of this demonstration in support of my country, but more so, the flag that flowed so freely.

Linden School was a public school. We not only had academics taught but enjoyed Art, Library, Print Shop, Home Economics, Gym, Health classes also. Every six weeks we would ride a chartered bus and go to a concert at  Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Music Hall. For the kids considered really smart, of which I was never one, we even had French classes.

We had Miss Ida Mae and her puppet Happy come to the school to teach all of us the proper methods to brush our teeth. If we had no cavities we received a sticker and if we had cavities we got a toothbrush. (Go figure) On the third floor of the building we had very spooky all steel sound proof box built permitting all students to have their hearing tested. During the early years of Jonah Salk testing the polio vaccine, the kids at Linden would be subjected to polio shots, a very scary day in our life but we were told what we do today would save the children of the future. And a few teachers would say maybe even your children. (We laughed and giggled as if that would really happen.)

Flag Day was the final holiday we formally celebrated at Linden School. Miss Cyphers made sure we learned the appropriate songs for the Fourth of July and reminded us that IF we were really good citizens of the best nation in the world we would actually sing the songs she taught us with our families as we watch the fireworks fly in the air.

There can be debate about how wonderful of a nation the US was during the years I attended elementary school, and there can be discussion about the politics of this great nation during the decades of the 50’s and 60’s. 

But education, hiring teachers, providing  full variety of curriculum was a priority. If there was a debate on budget both parties realized the value of education for all and didn’t include cuts to teach our youth. It wasn’t a right or left, Republican or Democrat thing to include or exclude education. It was the correct thing to do to educate the kids. You know an ‘American kind of thing’!

Mr. Romney soliciting the vote of the inane, insane, ignorant or idiot has chided President Obama for using government money to hire more teachers, firefighters and police. Mr. Romney considers large classrooms perfect environments for learning. Mr. Romney feels not every one should have the opportunity to attend an institution of higher learning (more people for him to provide he and his family service so he can get his jolly’s and fire them I suppose). Mr Romney  believes in a very defined caste system, err I mean class system and in his world for America there is rich and not you. Mr. Romney is selective of anyone achieving that so called ‘American thing like equal opportunity education.

Miss Cyphers taught her classes that patriotism is enhanced from singing about it, BUT she said the true form of being a patriot is believing in those with which you share this nation. She would actually get a bit teary eyed placing her hands on her lap as she sat on a bench near the piano, and tell her class. Your voices must be loud to be an American but your action must be louder.

I think about my days at Linden School and am grateful for teachers like Miss Cyphers. I think about her words and actions and hope I too say and do the words and deeds to be a patriot.

BUT,I do not want to be an American in the land Mitt Romney envisions. His words fail me and his actions scare me. He seems loyal to no one but his own selfish, greedy ambitions. 

While we are still free to raise our flag, Happy Flag Day.