Old Glory
Ceci and I will be flying our American flag proudly this week, as usual, augmented by several USA pleated fan flags hanging on our fence, with a 250 Year Celebration fan flag hanging on the gate. No one will question our patriotism.
Many on the Left no longer love our nation. Referring to this lack of patriotism, Speaker Mike Johnson said a few days back, “Sadly, many of these Democrat candidates and their voters just don’t have the same zeal and affection for America. They don’t appreciate the freedom that we have in this country. They’re not even going to celebrate on July 4. There’s a new NBC poll that came out. Did you see that only 29% of Democrat voters that they polled said they’re proud to be an American? What happened to the Democrat Party?”(1)
A leading New York Democratic congressional candidate, Darializa Avila Chevalier, once spoke of her dishonor for the flag, posting, “I forgot to get napkins so I just wiped my hand on the American flag behind me.”(2)
Yea, you know, the flag they drape over the caskets of deceased American soldiers, then carefully fold and present to their next-of-kin. That flag.
Seven states said they would not be participating in the Great American State Fair: Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon, Washington. They feel it is too political. Obviously, not everyone in those states would feel this way, but those in charge do. Their hatred of Trump is greater thank their love of America.
Today, for those of you who still revere this emblem of freedom and liberty, I thought I would share how our flag received the nickname, Old Glory. It began with Captain William Driver, a 19th-century American sea captain.
Driver went to sea when he was just 13 years old, and in 1824, at 21 years of age, became a master mariner. Shortly thereafter, he took command of his own ship, the Charles Doggett. To celebrate, his mother and a circle of local women sewed him a massive, 17-by-10-foot American flag.
Driver was very moved by the gift, and as it unfurled in the ocean breeze, he named the flag, Old Glory. The flag became his constant companion, flying from his mast for years, traveling around the world with him. Driver viewed it as a symbol of freedom, unity, and his homeland.
In 1837, Driver retired from his sailing career and moved his family to Nashville, Tennessee, bringing his beloved, weathered flag with him. He was known for stringing a rope from his attic window to a tree across the street to proudly fly Old Glory on every civic holiday.
However, trouble came when the Civil War broke out in 1861, and Tennessee seceded from the Union. Though Driver was a staunch Unionist, he found himself surrounded by Confederates. He refused to back down, in spite of the risks, and continued displaying Old Glory! His defiant display of the flag quickly made him a target, and local Confederate soldiers came to his house demanding he hand it over. Driver, then nearly 60 years old, stood on his porch and allegedly told them they would have to walk over his dead body to take it.
Knowing the Confederates would return with a search warrant, Driver realized he had to hide his prized possession. He took Old Glory to a neighboring family of Union sympathizers. Together, they folded the massive flag, placed it between layers of fabric, and sewed it inside a heavy quilt. For several months, Confederate soldiers repeatedly searched Driver’s home, turning it upside down looking for the famous flag, never suspecting that the old blanket sitting on his bed held Old Glory.
In February of 1862, Nashville became the first Confederate capital to fall to Union forces. When the 6th Ohio Regiment marched into the city and raised a small Union flag over the state capitol, Driver knew it was time. He walked up to the Union commanders carrying the old calico quilt over his arm. After confirming he was speaking to Union officers, he pulled out his pocket knife and began ripping open the seams of the quilt. To the absolute amazement of the soldiers, he pulled out the giant, 24-star “Old Glory.”
Despite his age, Captain Driver personally climbed to the roof of the Tennessee State Capitol, took down the small flag, and hoisted his huge flag over the city. The soldiers broke into cheers, and the 6th Ohio Regiment even adopted “Old Glory” as their official motto.
Captain Driver took his flag down shortly - it was too worn and tattered at this point to survive long in the strong winds - and preserved it for the rest of his life. In 1922, his descendants presented the original Old Glory to the Smithsonian Institution, where it is still preserved today at the National Museum of American History. There, it stands as a testimony to one man’s fierce and defiant patriotism.(3)
Fly “Old Glory” this week, and proudly demonstrate your patriotism. Salute it, say the pledge, and pray for God’s blessing on our nation.
Pray with me:
Father, we thank You for Your great love for the entire world. Red, yellow, black and white - You love us all. This week, as we celebrate our homeland, we are mindful that You love all people equally the same. And we pray for all people throughout the world today, that they would experience Your blessing and a powerful outpouring of Your Spirit.
Your Word tells us, however, that there is significance to where we were born and placed by You. Acts 17:26 says You chose our time in which to live and the place of our habitation. We accept the responsibility that comes with this. We pray for America, as others now pray for their nation, asking for healing and the recovery of purpose and strength.
And we here in America do not take for granted the incredible prosperity we partake of and the freedoms we enjoy. We are humbled by the abundance we experience. May we ever be mindful of the price others have paid to win this freedom - the blood, sweat and tears. May we also ever remember and be grateful for the favor that came from You, because of our allegiance to You. We have enjoyed Your providential care and blessing. We thank You, and pledge, by the power and leading of the Holy Spirit, to turn our nation back to You. Amen.
Our decree:
We decree that America is one nation under God, and that she will remain under His authority and care.