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4526244
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Grand Valley State College Flag Dedication, Grand Rapids, MI, January 15, 1970
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4526244
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document
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Grand Valley State College Flag Dedication, Grand Rapids, MI, January 15, 1970
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
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Flags
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4526244
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1970-01-31
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1970
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1970-01-01
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1970
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The original documents are located in Box D28, folder "Grand Valley State College Flag
Dedication, Grand Rapids, MI, January 15, 1970" of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press
Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. The Council donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
GRAND VALLEY STATE COLLEGE FLAG DEDICATION 1/15/70
TODAY WE DEDICATE THIS POLE AND THIS FLAG TO THE USE
OF GRAND VALLEY STATE COLIEGE. THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL
OCCASION. FOR
"THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES"
WHEREVER
IT MAY BE FLOWN "IS" IN THE WORDS OF ONE OF OUR
PRESIDENTS "UNIVERSALLY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE, LIBERTY, AND DEMOCRACY ENJOYED
BY THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES."
THAT IS WHAT THIS FLAG MEANS TO US. IT IS A GREAT
SYMBOL. IT EVOKESSE SENTIMENTS WHICH CAUSE A STIRRING
WITHIN THE HEART OF EVERY LOYAL CITIZEN.
2/
EVERY LOYAL AMERICAN CITIZEN HONORS HIS FLAG. BUT
IS IT THE FLAG ITSELF THAT WE HONOR? THIS PIECE OF
CLOTH, NOT QUITE AS LONG AS WIDE, SE VEN RED AND SIX
WHITE STETPES, AND A BLUE FIELD OF WHITE STARS
WE HONOR THE FIAG AS A SYMBOL
THE TANGIBLE EVIDENCE
OUR DETERMINATION
OF/TO UPHOLD THE TRADITIONS WHICH HAVE MADE AMERICA THE
FREE AND GLORIOUS LAND IT IS. THE SEMBOL OF OUR
DEDICATION TO INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM AND REPRESENTATIVE
GOVERNMENT.
Digitized from Box D28 of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
3/
OUR FLAG REPRESENTS US--THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA. IT IS A FLAG MANY AMERICANS HAVE
LOVED...AND DIED FOR. IT IS A FLAG THAT WILL ALWAYS
REPRESENT OUR GREAT HERITAGE AND OURPRA GREAT PROMISE.
AMERICANS HATE WAR
AND YET THEY SOMETIMES FIGHT...AND
DIE.
THE GREAT BRITISH PHILOSOPHER AND ECONOMIST JOHN STUART
MILL ONCE SAID:
"A MAN WHO HAS NOTHING WHICH HE IS MXKX WILLING TO FIGHT
FOR, NOTHING WHICH HE CARES KNOWX MORE ABOUT THAN HE DOES
4/
HIS OWN PERSONAL SAFETY, IS A MISERABLE CREATURE, WHO HAS
NO CHANCE OF BEING FREE UNLESS NEX MADE AND KEPT so BY
THE EXERTIONS XII OF MEN BETTER THAN HIMSELF."
I AM PROUD TO TAKE PART IN THIS CEREMONY TODAY BECAUSE
I BELIEVE THIS IS A TIME FOR PATRIOTISM. IT IS A TIME
TO STAND UP TO THE CHALLENGES AND COMPLEXITIES THAT
CONFRONT OUR NATION.
AND AS I GAZE UPON OUR COUNTRY'S FLAG XXXXXX HERE TODAY,
THIS IS WHAT IT SAYS TO ME: IT SAYS THAT AMERICA IS NOT
PERFECT BUT IT COMES CLOSER TO PERFECTION THAN ANY OTHER
5/
COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. IT SAYS THAT OUR IMPATIENCE WITH
OUR SHORTCOMINGS SHOULD BE KNEXXXX FUEL FOR OURPX PROGRESS,
NOT THE FIRE OF DESTRUCTION. IT SAYS THAT MANY IN AMERICA
DD NOT REALIZE HOWEX LUCKY THEY ARE TO HAVE BEEN XXXMX
BORN HERE. IT SAYS 'LOOK XROMEXXX AROUND YOU...LOOK
AROUND THE WORLD. YOU LIVE IN THE GREATEST COUNTRY MAN
HAS EVER PUT TOGETHER. BE PROUD OF IT.
AND IT SAYS THAT YOU HERE TODAY ARE AWAKE TO WHAT
AMERICA MEANS, TO THE OPPORTUNITIES AND XEXX BLESSINGS
OF ITS FREEDOM. I AM GRATEFUL THAT YOU PLACE UPON THESE
6/
BLESSINGS THE HIGHEST OF VALUES...AND THAT YOU WILL
ALWAYS SEEK TO PRESERVE THEM.
######
NOTES
GRAND RAPIDS
JAN. 15, 1970
Congress of the United States
Office of the Minority Leader
Herald R. 3nd
House of Representatives
M.C.
Mashington, B.C. 20515
-
OFFICIAL BUSINESS
GRAND VALLEY STATE COLLEGE
FLAG DEDICATION
FORD