Ted Poe: “in 1814, Francis Scott Key wrote of a star-spangled banner which America ``so proudly hailed . . .'' through a night of…”

“in 1814, Francis Scott Key wrote of a star-spangled banner which America ``so proudly hailed . . .'' through a night of bomb blasts and rocket-fire. The flag consisted of fifteen stripes, alternating red and white, and fifteen white stars on a field of blue; it united a brand new Nation under the principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In the 194 years since our national anthem was written, we've come a long way--Old Glory has acquired 35 more stars, and has become the most recognized flag in the world. But its power to unify a nation hasn't changed. Our flag has become synonymous with Freedom, Justice, Prosperity, and all the principles upon which our great Nation was founded. On this, the 58th National Flag Day that our nation has celebrated, let's fly our flags with reverence in honor of our men and women who have given their lives, and for those who continue to fight to defend our great Nation. For a country whose trust is in God, our flag is a precious reminder of how we've gotten here as well as a beacon for which we strive. And that's just the way it is.”