Today's post is for my friend, Ashley, a seven-year-old patriot from Colorado. She and her Mom, Julie, study about America together.
One of Ashley's favorite patriotic songs is "You're a Grand Old Flag." She performed it with her class at school and she even knows dance moves to go along with the music!
Ashley, I thought you might want to learn a little more about "You're a Grand Old Flag."
It was written by a man named George Cohan. Although his birth certificate says he was born on July 3rd,1878, George and his family always said he was born on the 4th of July. I'm not sure when he was born, but I think he really loved America!
George loved music too and he started performing with his family when he was just a baby. He knew how to sing and dance by the time he could walk and talk!
George wrote "You're a Grand Old Flag" when he was 28 years old. He had met a veteran from the Civil War who had fought at Gettysburg. The elderly man gently held a carefully folded ragged old flag. The man must have noticed George looking at his tattered flag because he said to him, “She’s a grand old rag.”
As George thought about what the man said and the respect he showed for the flag, the words and music for a song came to him. He called the song “You’re a Grand Old Rag,” but some people thought that didn’t show quite enough respect for something as special as the flag of the United States of America.
George was happy to change the words, and “You’re a Grand Old Flag” is still a well-known and well-loved song today, more than one hundred years later! I remember singing it in school when I was about your age, but we didn’t have fun dance moves to go with it back then.
One of Ashley's favorite patriotic songs is "You're a Grand Old Flag." She performed it with her class at school and she even knows dance moves to go along with the music!
Ashley, I thought you might want to learn a little more about "You're a Grand Old Flag."
It was written by a man named George Cohan. Although his birth certificate says he was born on July 3rd,1878, George and his family always said he was born on the 4th of July. I'm not sure when he was born, but I think he really loved America!
George loved music too and he started performing with his family when he was just a baby. He knew how to sing and dance by the time he could walk and talk!
George wrote "You're a Grand Old Flag" when he was 28 years old. He had met a veteran from the Civil War who had fought at Gettysburg. The elderly man gently held a carefully folded ragged old flag. The man must have noticed George looking at his tattered flag because he said to him, “She’s a grand old rag.”
As George thought about what the man said and the respect he showed for the flag, the words and music for a song came to him. He called the song “You’re a Grand Old Rag,” but some people thought that didn’t show quite enough respect for something as special as the flag of the United States of America.
George was happy to change the words, and “You’re a Grand Old Flag” is still a well-known and well-loved song today, more than one hundred years later! I remember singing it in school when I was about your age, but we didn’t have fun dance moves to go with it back then.
You know, I think we can learn some lessons from George:
- Even though he was a pretty famous guy, he showed respect and took time to be kind to an elderly veteran. Just think, we wouldn’t have such a great song if he hadn’t been nice.
- George listened carefully and thought about what other people had to say.
- He used his talents to help others.
- He liked to create new things and he could adapt to make them better.
- He loved America!
I’m so glad that you love America too, Ashley! Thanks for coming to visit!
For any who would like to sing, here are the words and music!
You're a Grand Old Flag
by George M. Cohan
You're a grand old flag,
You're a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave.
You're the emblem of
The land I love.
The home of the free and the brave.
Ev'ry heart beats true
'neath the Red, White and Blue,
Where there's never a boast or brag.
But should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.
You're a grand old flag,
You're a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave.
You're the emblem of
The land I love.
The home of the free and the brave.
Ev'ry heart beats true
'neath the Red, White and Blue,
Where there's never a boast or brag.
But should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.
