Flag of the Free

"Flag of the free,

fairest to see! Borne

thro' the strife and the

thunder of war; Banner

so bright with starry light,

float ever proudly from

mountain to shore."

~ Unknown Author ~

Printable set of patriotic gift tags

or bookmarks, and printable sheet

of 10 tags, 2 x 4" each, below.

Printable sheet of tags featuring lyrics to

"America the Beautiful," and 8.5 x 11" sheet

music I've scanned and partially restored,

from my personal collection of ephemera.

Here are the free graphics
& sources used in my artwork:

*clkr.com Free Clipart*
United States flag
 
*imagesbykim*
Flag of the Free sheet music
 
*The Vintage Moth*
America the Beautiful sheet music 

*Lilac & Lavender*
Fabric texture


Thanks for stopping by!
Have a safe & fun holiday weekend!

"Mending the Old Flag."

In the silent gloom of a garret room,
With cobwebs round it creeping,
From day to day the old Flag lay-
A veteran worn and sleeping.
Dingily old, each wrinkled fold
By the dust of years was shaded;
Wounds of the storm were upon its form;
The crimson stripes were faded.

'Twas a mournful sight in the day-twilight,
This thing of humble seeming,
That once so proud o'er the cheering crowd
Had carried its colors gleaming:
Stained with mould were the braids of gold,
That had flashed at the sun-ray's kissing;
Of faded hue was its field of blue,
And some of the stars were missing.

Three Northern maids and three from glades
Where dreams the South-land weather,
With glances kind and their arms entwined,
Came up the stair together:
They gazed awhile, with a thoughtful smile,
At the crouching form before them;
With clinging holds they grasped its folds.
And out of the darkness bore them.

They healed its scars, they found its stars,
And brought them all together
(Three Northern maids and three from glades
Where smiles the South-land weather);
They mended away through the summer day,
Made glad by an inspiration
To fling it high at the smiling sky,
On the birthday of our nation.

In the brilliant glare of the summer air,
With a brisk breeze round it creeping,
Newly bright through the glistening light,
The flag went grandly sweeping:
Gleaming and bold were its braids of gold,
And flashed in the sun-ray's kissing;
Red, white, and blue were of deepest hue,
And none of the stars were missing.

~ written by Will Carleton, published in 1873

 "Coming together is a beginning.

Keeping together is progress.

Working together is success."

~ Henry Ford ~