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"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."

~ Thomas Paine ~ 
(1737-1809)
American political theorist, writer
The Crisis No. I. published December, 1776

From Deelight of Garden of Friendship

Just a piece of cloth “

Not long ago I took my wife to a fabric store and I was just hanging around while she shopped when I overheard a nice young couple talking to a sales clerk. 

They wanted something bright to cover a foot stool in the kid’s room and the clerk was showing them a bolt of cloth with multiple patterns of the stars and stripes.

I said, “ Excuse me young lady, you’re not going to put this on a foot stool are You? “ 

She responded, “ Why not? It’s just a piece of cloth.“ 

I said,

I’m glad you asked the question
Cause you’re too young to know
How many lives have been lost
So you could be free to come and go.

Now I don’t hold it against you
But I don’t think you realize
The blood and sweat and honor
That’s built into those stars and stripes.

Now I know I’m buttn’ in so please
Bear with me little girl
While I speak about the freedom
They represent throughout the world.

I too am fond of bright colors
And you can have the pattern for just a few cents
But there’s no way to place a value
On what it represents.

In battle on countless beaches
In the air and on the sea
These stars and stripes have waved
And helped to keep us free.

It took countless acts of courage
To make the idea behind them real
Yes, it’s more than “ Just a piece of cloth. “
So thanks for listening to the way I feel.

Copyright June 2001/by Johnny Grimes