This page is dedicated to PATRIOTIC ENDEAVOR with special appreciation to Mr. Joseph Ray, a noted Patriotic Journalist from our own community. This poem, authored by Mr. Ray in 1986, is indeed an inspiring tribute to the Flag of the United States of America.

                                                                   

                  ..FOR 250 million Americans - those who worship God in 331,065
                                 churches (great cathedrals to leaky pinewoods chapels) -
                                 and those who stay home.  For those who coldly ignore it in
                                 parades; and for those who do salute it.

                    ..FOR the God-fearing men whose stern rectitude moved them to                                  rank Freedom of Religion FIRST in the U.S. Constitution,
                                 followed by Speech, Press, and Assembly.

                    ..FOR Jeanette Rankin, only member of the House of
                                 Representatives to vote against entering WW2; and for all those who
                                 voted in favor.
                                
                    ..FOR fireman Fred Burgess, of the USS Laffey, wounded in the
                                 battle off Okinawa, April 1945; his last request the ship’s flag,
                                 farewell look homeward to family and country; and,
                                 clutching it to his breast, died.

                     ..FOR Mrs. Rosa Parks, who, with the courage of an
                                 infantryman, chose to retain her seat on the Montgomery bus in 1955.

                     ..FOR our astronauts, who carried it 221,000 miles to the moon;
                                 and for millions of Americans who can’t carry it thirty feet
                                 from closet to front porch on holidays.                        

                     ..FOR Christian and Jew; concerned citizen and eager immigrant;
                                  believer and non-believer--beneficiaries all in the great experiment
                                  of Self-Government.

                     ..AND IT FLIES proudest for our Medal of Honor holders
                                  (3,394 since 1863; 192 survive today); quintessential Americans who
                                   tarried not to ask what the country could do for them, but
                                   gladly placed themselves in harm’s way for the love of
                                   Comrade, Flag, and Country.

Poem "The Flag On The Front Porch, For Whom Does It Fly?"
 Copyright 1986, by Joseph E Ray* (1917-2001) WWII, 1941-1945, USA

A SPECIAL NOTE: As guest speaker at an Oneida Chapter DAR Meeting in 1996, Mr. Ray presented to members, copies of his poem with this gracious addendum......

                    "..AND IT ALSO FLIES for the dedicated ladies of the DAR!!
                                         Thank you for all that you do for America."

               Ribbon

Inspired by Mr. Ray’s Patriotic enthusiasm, Oneida Chapter has launched a campaign to motivate and reward exceptional displays of Patriotic Endeavor within our community. We call our project..."We Noticed!"

                        Arrow Click here to see what...."WE NOTICED!"

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                                                       Music Note You are listening to...
                                              "There's A Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere"

*Used with permission