Of Thee We Sing

Joe R. Manning, Jr.
PO Box 8, Cushing, Oklahoma 74023

Americans have fought and died to protect the ideas of which we sing when we see the flag they have so covered with honor.

We are a nation, conceived in liberty, born out of faith in God, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal and thus entitled to freedom. It is with this freedom in mind that we pause at the beginning of almost every major meeting to pay tribute to this flag:

A freedom which has brought to its people a degree of prosperity and happiness never even approached under any other banner.
A country which derives its just powers from the consent of the governed.
A nation with a Constitution which is the greatest single document in the entire struggle of mankind for orderly self-government.
A land to which people are risking their very lives to come and live in freedom.

This immigration has been effectively set to music in the theme song of a popular movie shown across America a few years ago. Its lyrics included the following lines.

Everywhere around the world,
They're coming to America.
Every time that flag's unfurled,
They're coming to America.
Got a dream to take them;
They're coming to America.
Got a dream they've come to share;
They're coming to America—
They're coming to America.

When we think of our flag and all it represents, no greater example can be given for belief in, and sacrifice for, the principles on which this country is founded than the ultimate sacrifice paid in lives to uphold and defend America's principles of freedom.

Examples of those sacrifices for freedom are legendary in the history of this country. A few examples are:

1918—World War I
With Germany driving toward Paris, between 6,000 and 8,000 Americans gave their lives at Belleau Wood, and our line held. The Americans counterattacked at Chateau Thierry. Paris was saved, and thereafter the Germans were on the defensive.

1945—World War II
More than 5,000 men of the Third, Fourth, and Fifth U.S. Marine Divisions gave their lives to capture an eight-square-mile island called Iwo Jima to halt Japanese fighter planes which were taking off from the island, and we then used the airstrips to protect our bombers.

1950—Korea
With the Allies pushed against the sea, the U.S. 10th Corps made a lightning surprise amphibious landing at Inchon. The landings had to be timed to the minute because of the widely varying tides which could leave our landing craft and ships trapped in mud flats.

1968—Republic of South Vietnam
The spirit of our Armed Forces was called on again as, for 77 days, U.S. Marines defended their base at Khe Sanh, one of the longest battles of the war, and held on until the communists withdrew.

1980—Iran's Dasht-e-Kavir Desert
Again, on April 24, near the abandoned town of Poshht-l-Badam, eight American service men gave their lives in an attempt to rescue 53 fellow Americans being held hostage in Tehran.

Nor does the record end there, for in conflicts since, Americans have fought and died to protect the ideas of which we sing when we see the flag they have so covered with honor. As a nation, we have always heard that call, and, by the grace of God, we always will.

"My Country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee we sing."

Joe R. Manning, Jr.
is a Past Grand Sovereign of the Red Cross of Constantine; a Past Grand Master and Past Grand Secretary of the International Order of DeMolay; and a member of the S.G.I.G.'s Advisory Conference for the Valley of Guthrie, Oklahoma. He served as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma in 1985. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Oklahoma State University and a Juris Doctorate from the College of Law at the University of Oklahoma. Presently, he is Business Manager of the Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma.

	1918—World War I With Germany driving toward Paris, between 6,000 and 8,000 Americans gave their lives at Belleau Wood, and our line held. The Americans counterattacked at Chateau Thierry. Paris was saved, and thereafter the Germans were on the defensive.
	1945—World War II More than 5,000 men of the Third, Fourth, and Fifth U.S. Marine Divisions gave their lives to capture an eight-square-mile island called Iwo Jima to halt Japanese fighter planes which were taking off from the island, and we then used the airstrips to protect our bombers.
	1950—Korea With the Allies pushed against the sea, the U.S. 10th Corps made a lightning surprise amphibious landing at Inchon. The landings had to be timed to the minute because of the widely varying tides which could leave our landing craft and ships trapped in mud flats.
	1968—Republic of South Vietnam The spirit of our Armed Forces was called on again as, for 77 days, U.S. Marines defended their base at Khe Sanh, one of the longest battles of the war, and held on until the communists withdrew.
	1980—Iran's Dasht-e-Kavir Desert Again, on April 24, near the abandoned town of Poshht-l-Badam, eight American service men gave their lives in an attempt to rescue 53 fellow Americans being held hostage in Tehran.