Flag Day, June 14, 2026

I posted this photo on Facebook this morning. This is a daily ritual at Diablo Day Camp, a volunteer-run Girl Scout Camp in the Girl Scouts of Northern California Council. Each day, one unit put up the flag with the help of an Elf, and at the end of the day, another unit took town the flag. In the morning, the Pledge of Allegiance was said and then a patriotic song was sang. Most often, it was "You're a Grand Old Flag." At the flag down, the song often was Taps.

Funny, before being a volunteer adult and later a camp director, I had never heard this song, but when I just searched online for the words, the first return was from a scouts page. Who knew?

Here are the lyrics, appropriate for June 14, Flag Day.

You're a Grand Old Flag

by George M. Cohan

You're a grand old flag,
You're a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave.
You're the emblem of
The land I love.
The home of the free and the brave.
Ev'ry heart beats true
'neath the Red, White and Blue,
Where there's never a boast or brag.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.

Copyright © 2011-2026 by Lisa S. Gorrell, My Trails into the Past. All Rights Reserved.