Honor to Old Glory and the U.S. Army
Today, we honor two of the ultimate symbols of our freedom, the American flag and the United States Army. Officially established on June 14, 1775, the Patriots of the Continental Army under the command of General George Washington gave our nation its life. Those warriors dedicated themselves completely to our nation, and that remarkable standard of service has been sustained over time by generations of American fighters. Two hundred forty-four years later, the spirit of Washington, Ulysses S. Grant, John J. Pershing, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and many other great Americans endures in the soldiers who currently form the greatest fighting force in the world.
The American soldier today. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
Established as the flag of the new United States on June 14, 1777, the Stars and Stripes have guided the soldiers of the U.S. Army and all who have served our nation across the battlefields of every major conflict in our nation’s history. From the trenches of Yorktown, Virginia during the Revolutionary War to a boulder-strewn hillside in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania during the American Civil War, Old Glory has always been there, bearing witness to the events that have shaped our nation and eternally watching over those who gave the last full measure of devotion. By honoring our flag, we preserve our connection to those valiant guardians of liberty.
The Twentieth Maine during the fight for Little Round Top at the Battle of Gettysburg by H. Charles McBarron. (Photo: U.S. Army)
On this day of profound significance, we must always remember why the American flag should never be taken for granted. Old Glory is a timeless monument and the greatest reminder of the countless sacrifices that have been made for America and the liberty-loving people of the world.
Old Glory watching over fallen American heroes at Arlington National Cemetery. (Photo: U.S. Army)