<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Service Flag</h1><p class="byline"> WILLIAM HERSCHELL <br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/><span class="smallcaps">IN The Indianapolis News</span><br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/>Permission to reproduce in this hook</p><div class="stanza"><p class="line">DEAR little flag in the window there, </p><p class="line">Hung with a tear and a woman's prayer; </p><p class="line">Child of Old Glory, born with a star--</p><p class="line">Oh, what a wonderful flag you are!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Blue is your star in its field of white, </p><p class="line">Dipped in the red that was born of fight; </p><p class="line">Born of the blood that our forbears shed </p><p class="line">To raise your mother, the Flag, o'erhead.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">And now you've come, in this frenzied day, </p><p class="line">To speak from a window--to speak and say </p><p class="line">"I am the voice of a soldier-son </p><p class="line">Gone to be gone till the victory's won.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">"I am the flag of the Service, sir; </p><p class="line">The flag of his mother--I speak for her </p><p class="line">Who stands by my window and waits and fears, </p><p class="line">But hides from the others her unwept tears.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">"I am the flag of the wives who wait </p><p class="line">For the safe return of a martial mate, </p><p class="line">A mate gone forth where the war god thrives </p><p class="line">To save from sacrifice other men's wives.</p><p class="line">"I am the flag of the sweethearts true; </p><p class="line">The often unthought of--the sisters, too; </p><p class="line">I am the flag of a mother's son </p><p class="line">And won't come down till the victory's won</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Dear little flag in the window there. </p><p class="line">Hung with a tear and a woman's prayer; </p><p class="line">Child of Old Glory, born with a star--</p><p class="line">Oh, what wonderful flag you are! </p></div></body></html> · Great War