Good morning. In less than an hour, consumers from here will join others from around the world. And you will be launching the largest gorging in the history of mankind. "Mankind." That word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can't be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests. Perhaps it's fate that today is the Twenty-fourth of February, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom to eat free pancakes... Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution... but from hunger. We are fighting for our right to eat. To exist. And should we win the day, the Twenty-fourth of February will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day the world declared in one voice: "We will not go quietly into the night!" We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on maple syrup! We're going to survive! Today we celebrate our Free Pancake Day!
If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
But if it be a sin to covet pancakes,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from IHOP.
God's peace! I would not lose so great a stack
As one man more methinks would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, IHOP, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for maple put into his purse;
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is call'd the Feast of Pancakes.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Pancakes.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Free Pancake Day.'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Free Pancake Day.'
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Aunt Jemima-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Free Pancake Day shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his syrup with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen at Denny's now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Free Pancake Day.