HOME, SWEET HOME. Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam, Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home; A charm from the sky seems to hallow us there, Which, seek through the world, is ne'er met with elsewhere. Home, Home, sweet, sweet Home! There's no place like Home! there's no place like Home! An exile from home, splendor dazzles in vain; than all ! Home! Home! sweet, sweet Home! There's no place like Home! there's no place like Home ! How sweet 'tis to sit ’neath a fond father's smile, And the cares of a mother to soothe and beguile! Let others delight 'mid new pleasures to roam, But give me, oh, give me, the pleasures of home! Home ! Home! sweet, sweet Home! There's no place like Home! there's no place like Home ! To thee I'll return, overburdened with care ; No more from that cottage again will I roam; Home ! Home! sweet, sweet Home! There's no place like Home! there's no place like Home! -John Howard Payne. 1792–1852. AMERICA. My country! 'tis of thee, Of thee I sing ; Let freedom ring! My native country thee, Thy name I love; Like that above. Let music swell the breeze, Sweet freedom's song: Let all that breathe partake; The sound prolong. Our fathers' God! to Thee, To Thee we sing : Great God, our King ! -S. F. Smith. 1808–1895. OUR FLAG. Our flag is the symbol of our nation. Red for valor, white for purity, blue for justice, is what it says to us and for us. It should always be treated with reverence. Whenever it passes us we should pay it a proper tribute of respect. In the United States army the following ceremonies are prescribed in connection with the flag: “At every military post or station the flag will be hoisted at the sounding of the first note of the reveille, or of the first note of the march, if a march be played before the reveille. The flag will be lowered at the sounding of the last note of the retreat, and while the flag is being lowered the band will play " The Star Spangled Banner." “ The ceremony of Escort of the Colora' is so conducted as to render it one of the most impressive to the soldier, especially to the young recruit, of all the functions in which he is required to participate. Proper salutes will be observed by all persons in the military service, not under arms, during the raising and lowering of the national emblem. - On Memorial Day, May 30, at all army posts and stations, the national flag will be displayed at half staff from sunrise till midday, and immediately before noon the band, or field music, will play some appropriate air, and the national salute of twenty-one guns will be fired at 12 m. at all posts and stations provided with artillery. At the conclusion of this memorial tribute, at noon, the flag will be hoisted to the top of the staff, and will remain there until sunset. When hoisted to the top of the staff the flag will be saluted by playing one or more of the national airs. fitting testimonial of respect for the heroic dead and honor to their patriotic devotion will be appropriately rendered.” The Navy Department, under the heading, “Honors and Distinctions,” provides as follows: " The following ceremonies shall be observed at colors' on board ships in commission and at naval stations : The field music and the band, if there be one, shall be present. At morning colors' the band shall play "The Star Spangled Banner,' at In this way the beginning of which the ensign shall be started up and hoisted smartly to the peak or truck. All officers and men shall face the ensign and stand at attention, and sentries under arms shall come the position of present' while the national air is being played. At the end of the national air all officers and men shall salute, ending the ceremony. If there be no band available, the field music shall sound the colors' call in place of the national air. • The same ceremonies shall be observed at sunset .colors,' the ensign to be started from the peak or truck at the beginning of The Star Spangled Banner.' The ensign shall not be lowered hurriedly." The naval regulations also prescribe the following: 66 All officers and men shall stand at attention whenever The Star Spangled Banner' is being played, unless engaged in duty that will not permit them to do so. The same respect shall be observed toward the national air of any other country, when played in the presence of official representatives of such country.” One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, Oliver Wendell Holmes. |