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Mamakating Historical Society
“Keepers of the Past” |
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A special Flag Retirement Ceremony was celebrated at the Mamakating
Historical Society with the Daughters of the American Revolution on
Sunday, October 2, 2005. The Boy Scouts participated with their Color Guard, readings, and taps. During the Flag Folding Ceremony, we learned that each fold represents the same principals on which our country was originally founded. The new folded flag was presented to DJ, the grandson of Charlie and Helene Goetschius, and DJ in turn, presented it to John Masten, President of the Historical Society as a gift. We enjoyed the flag retirement ritual which helped to educate us on the meaning of each part of the flag. Refreshments were enjoyed by all afterwards inside the beautiful museum. Special thanks to the following for all of their hard work and dedication, and for giving up their Sunday afternoon to participate in the ceremony: Helene & Charlie Goetschius The Mamakating Historical Society Hudson Valley Daughters of the American Revolution – Beaverkill Chapter (Nancy Madison & Carol Norris Navasing Long Rifle Re-enactors – Tony & Louise Domingo Berdam’s Sharpshooter Company B – Byran Kimmel Boy Scout Troops 92 (Wurtsboro), 82 (Goshen) and 68 (Cuddebackville) The readers and participants who helped make this day so special! Following is a poem written by Johnny Cash that was read at the ceremony: I walked through a county courthouse square, On a park bench an old man was sitting there. I said, “ Your old courthouse is kinda run down.” He said, “Naw, it’ll do for our little town.” I said, “Your flagpole has leaned a little bit, And that’s a Ragged Old Flag you got hanging on it. He said, “Have a seat,” and I sat down. “Is this the first time you’ve been to our little town?” I said, “I think it is.” He said, “I don’t like to brag, But we’re kinda proud of that Ragged Old Flag.” “You see, we got a little hole in that flag there When Washington took it across the Delaware. And it got powder-burned the night Francis Scott Key Sat watching it writing _ On Say Can You See_. And it got a bad rip in New Orleans With Packingham and Jackson tuggin’ at its seams.” “And it almost fell at the Alamo Besides the Texas flag, but she waved on through. She got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville And she got cut again at Shiloh Hill There was Robert E. Lee, Beauregard, and Bragg, And the south wind blew hard on that Ragged Old Flag.” “On Flanders Field in World War I She got a big hole from a Bertha gun. She turned blood red in World War II She hung limp and low by the time it was through. She was in Korea and Vietnam. She went where she was sent by her Uncle Sam.” “She waved from our ships upon the briny foam, And now they’ve about quit waving her back here at home. In her own good land she’s been abused – She’s been burned, dishonored, denied and refused.” “And the government for which she stands Is scandalized throughout the land, And she’s getting threadbare and wearing thin, But she’s in good shape for the shape she’s in. ‘Cause she’s been through the fire before And I believe she can take a whole lot more.” “So we raise her up every morning, Take her down every night. We don’t let her touch the ground And we fold her u upright. On second thought, I DO like to brag, ‘Cause I’m mighty proud of the Ragged Old Flag.” |
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