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Patriotic Openings
1. Scout 1 (lighting red candle): "The red of my flag
is the lifeblood of brave men ready to die or worthily live for this, our
country."
Scout 2 (lighting white candle): "The white of
my flag is for purity; cleanliness of purpose, thought, word, and deed."
Scout 3 (lighting blue candle): "The blue of my flag is
for truth and justice, like the eternal blue of the star-filled heavens."
Scout 4 (all four salute): "My flag-the flag of
America, home of liberty, land of opportunity, where people of all races
and creeds live in peace and friendship together."
2. There are many varieties of patriotic ceremonies. In addition to saluting
the flag and pledging allegiance, a troop can sing a verse of any of several
patriotic songs. Or a reader can read from the writings of authors and
poets who have helped us to understand what it means to love one's country.
A single patriotic ceremony, no matter how good, is bound to lose some
of its meaning after endless repetition. If a ceremony of any kind has
lost its meaning to those involved, it is not worth doing.
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