Retreat

After we left school yesterday we sat down on a bench right outside of the double doors so I could look over some papers that Ab's teacher had given me. While we were sitting there people were streaming out of the building and then it turned 5 o'clock--hopefully everyone knows what that means! The loud speakers went off and Retreat started to play. Immediately the girls and I jumped up and turned towards where the flag is. I was thinking about Chris and I glanced around and noticed every single person outside of those double doors had stopped and was standing there quietly. There were probably about 75-100 people and not one child was complaining, screaming or talking. There were no babies crying. There was nothing but respect.

This flag, which we honor and under which we serve, is the emblem of our unity,
our power, our thought and purpose as a nation. It has no other character than
that which we give it from generation to generation. The choices are ours. It
floats in majestic silence above the hosts that execute those choices, whether
in peace or in war. And yet, though silent, it speaks to us — speaks to us of
the past, or the men and women who went before us, and of the records they wrote
upon it.

President Woodrow Wilson