Poems (Kennedy)/The Service Flag
THE SERVICE FLAG
BORDER of red for a courage high— Courage that's staunch and true,With a field of white for purity, Where the name-stars glimmer blue—Blue for the man who lives and serves, Where echo the fierce war cries,But gold for the one who gives his life And dies as a hero dies.
In windows of shops whence the men went out, The signal is flung to fateIn windows of homes whence the sons went forth, And the mothers who gave them wait—Sired of the nation's Stars and Stripes, It tells how a man may fightAnd give his blood and his life, perchance, For the things that are true and right.
Border of red for a courage high— Courage that's staunch and true,With a field of white for purity— Where the name-stars glimmer blue—God grant that our men come home again Out of war's furious hold;God grant that the blue stars on the flag Change not to the stars of gold!