Flag Ceremony

I am the flag of the FFA… I represent the fulfillment of your impossible dreams. I represent over one half million FFA members all over this great nation. I stand for the young men and women of America who are willing to meet the challenges of the future. Young people who are developing themselves to be more responsible citizens and better leaders. I am the blue and gold of the FFA. My blue background represents the solid foundation which you have in this great nation and in this great organization. My streak of gold stands for the golden opportunities that are offered to you and the responsibility that goes with each. The opportunity and responsibility that helps you develop yourself, as long as young men and women strive for agriculture, leadership, cooperation and citizenship, I shall continue to represent the greatest agricultural youth organization in the world. But I will always be what you make me, nothing more, fellow FFA members, you are the makers of the flags which represent you, may you always glory in their making. THANK YOU 

I  am the  flag  of  the  great  Lone  Star  State  of  Texas. When Texans  look upon me,  names such  as  Austin,  Houston,  Travis, Fannin,  Bowie,  and Crockett  flash  through  their  memories. They  think  of  the  landmarks  of  Texas  Liberty,  Goliad,  San Jacinto, and  the  Alamo.  I  represent  grazing  cattle,  fruit  laden orchards,  green  fields  of  grain,  and  brightly  painted  barns. It  was  me  that  Colonel  Fannin  was  speaking  of  when  he  said,  “give  us  a  flag  for  which  we  can  fight  and  hoist  up in  defiance  of  Santa  Anna.”  My  vertical  line  of  blue  stands for  loyalty,  in  all  Texans  hearts.  My  horizontal  strip  of  red represents  the  blood   that  has  been  shed  by  Texans everywhere  in  the  name  of  freedom,  and  liberty.  A  star  has always  been  my  symbol  of  domination  and  sovereignty  and  it is  only  fitting  that  I  should  bear  a  star  as  the  symbol  of  the   Lone  Star  State  of  Texas.  I represent many things to many people.  I  can  be  all  that  you  make  me, but  nothing  more.  As long  as  men  cherish  liberty  and  freedom,  I  shall  continue  to fly  proudly  over  the  Free  State  of  Texas.   

I am the flag of the United States of America. The symbol of yourselves, your dream of what people may become. I live a challenging life, a life of moods and passion, of heartbreaks and tired muscles. Sometimes I droop, for then purpose is gone from me and cynically, I play the coward. But always I am all that you hope me to be and have the courage to try, for I am the song of fear, struggle, panic, and enabling hope. I am the days work of the weakest man and the largest dream of the most daring. I am the Farmer, the Lawyer, Doctor, Cook, Counselor, and Clerk. I am the battle of yesterday and the mistake of tomorrow. I am the mystery of men who do, without knowing why. I am the clutch of an idea, the reasoned purpose of resolution. I am what you make me, ~ Nothing more. I wave before your eyes as a bright gleam of color, a symbol of yourselves, the pictured suggestion of that big thing which makes this nation great. My stars and stripes are your dreams of labor. They are bright with color, brilliant with courage and firm with faith because you have made them so out of your hearts. And as long as men cherish liberty more than life itself, I shall continue to be the enduring banner of the United States of America.