EQUIPMENT: Flag of the United States, Spotlight on Flag, patriotic music playing in the background, tape recorder, or record player.
ARRANGEMENT: Flag in front and spotlighted, Room darkened. Cubmaster or other reads the following.
"I am the Flag of the United States of America. I was conceived in the dreams of liberty and in the hopes of freedom. I was designed by the hands of Betsy Ross and her sewing basket was my cradle.
Though I was never an orphan, I was adopted by the Continental Congress in 1777 and proclaimed the national emblem of a nation newly born on this continent, fighting valiantly for survival and destined to bring to all mankind a new concept of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
I have been to many places and have seen many things. I have witnessed every event of American history.
I was there when they fired the shot heard around the world. I was there in the late twilight at Fort McHenry and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the immortal words to "The Star-Spangled Banner", now our national anthem.
I saw Molly Pitcher take the cannon swab from the hands of her dead husband and help carry on the fight for freedom. I felt the biting cold at Valley Forge and gave warmth and comfort to General Washington and his tired and hungry Continental Army.
I was flown above the decks of Old Ironsides and from the masts of the Yankee and China clippers. I blazed the trail with Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett. I led the settlers coming West and crossed Death Valley in a covered wagon.
I was carried through the Halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli by the United States Marines.
Once I fell to the ground at Custer's Last Stand, and there were no livings hands to pick me up. I galloped up the slopes of San Juan Hill with Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders of the United States Cavalry. I stayed with the boys until it was over, over there, and on the battlefields of the Marne,
Chatsan-Thierry, St. Michael, and the Argonne Forest. I saw many youths and men of our nation fall and lie still in death. They had given their last full measure of devotion. The war was over for them forever and I kept my lonely vigil over their graves and stayed to watch the poppies grow amid the crosses, row on row, in Flanders Fields. I was raised by five brave men during the "hell" of Iwo Jima. I waved farewell to the four immortal Chaplains who went down with their ship and to honored glory.
I have not changed much in my 215 years. I still have my original 13 stripes, but as each state came into the union a new star was proudly added to the Constellation on my field of blue. I was started with 13 stars; now there are 50.
I am easy to find. I am everywhere. I draped the caskets of our nation's heroes borne to their last resting place, the caskets of presidents, generals, admirals, privates, and unknown soldiers. Wherever there is Justice, Equality, Faith, Hope, Charity, Truth, and brotherly love, there, too, am I.
May history never write my obituary, for I am the Stars and Stripes forever. I am Old Glory!"