I am the flag of the United States
of America, my name is Old Glory..I fly atop the world's
tallest buildings..I stand watch in America's halls of
justice..I fly majestically over institutions of learning...I
stand guard with power in the world..Look up and see me..I
stand for peace, honor, truth and justice..I stand for
freedom...I am confident..I am arrogant..I am proud..When
I am flown with my fellow banners, my head is held a
little higher...my colors a little truer..I bow to noone!
I am recognized all over the world..I am worshipped..I am
saluted..I am loved..I am revered..I am respected and I
am feared..I have fought in every battle of every war for
more than 200 years..I was flown at Valley Forge,
Gettysburg, Shiloh and Appomattox..I was there at San
Juan Hill, the trenches of France, in the Argonne Forest,
Anzio, Rome and the beaches of Normandy, Guam and Okinawa..The
people of Korea, Vietnam and Kuwait know me as a banner
of freedom..I was there..I led my troops..I was dirty,
battleworn and tired, but my troops cheered me, and I was
proud..I have been burned, torn and trampled on the
streets of countries I have helped to set free...It does
not hurt for I am invincible..I have slipped the bonds of
Earth and stood watch over uncharted frontiers of space
from my vantage point on the moon..I have borne silent
witness to all of America's finest hours, but my finest
hours are yet to come when I am torn into strips and used
as bandages for my wounded comrades on the battlefield..when
I am flown half-mast to honor my countryman..when I lie
in the trembling arms of a grieving parent at the grave
of their fallen son or daughter, or in the arms of a
child or spouse who will have to go on without one who
gave their life in a national disaster, to save the life
of another as so many did at the Pentagon or the World
Trade Center Towers on 9/11/01... |
