September 11,2001
September 11,2001 |
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 at me 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 a little higher, my colors a little truer. I bow to no one! 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 then 200 years. I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Shiloh and Appamatox. I was there at San Juan Hill, the trenches of France, in the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome and the beaches of Normandy, Guam, China/Burma/India, Okinawa, Korea and KheSan, Saigon, Vietnam, and now me, my own battle. I was there. I led my troops, I was dirty, battleworn and tired, but my soldiers cheered me and I was proud. I have been burned, torn and trampled on the streets of countries I have helped set free. It does not hurt, for I am invincible. I have been ! soiled upon, burned, torn and trampled on the streets of my own country. And when it's by those whom I've served in battle - it hurts. But I shall overcome - for I am strong. I have slipped the bonds of Earth and stood watch over the 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 at half-mast to honor my soldier, or when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving parent at the grave of their fallen son or daughter, I am proud. MY NAME IS OLD GLORY, LONG MAY I WAVE. DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN LONG MAY I WAVE! |
"That Ragged Old Flag" Written by Johnny Cash I walked through a county courthouse square On a park bench, an old man was sittin there. I said, "Your court house is kinda run down, He said, "No, it will do for our little town". I said "your old flag pole kinda leaned a little bit, And that's a ragged old flag you got hanging on it". He said "have a seat", so I sat down, He said, "is this your first visit to our little town" I said, "I think it is" He said "I don't like to brag, but we're kinda proud of "That Ragged Old Flag" "You see, we got a little hole in that flag there, When Washington took it across the Delaware. It got powder burned the night Francis Scott Key Sat watching it, writing "Oh Say Can You See" It got a rip in New Orleans, with Packingham & Jackson tugging at its seams. It almost fell at the Alamo beside the Texas flag, But she waved on tho. It got cut with a sword in Chancellorsville, Got cut again at Shiloh Hill. There was Robert E. Lee and Beauregard and Bragg, And the south wind blew hard on "That Ragged Old Flag" On Flanders Field in World War I, She took a bad hit from a Bertha Gun, She turned blood red in World War II She hung limp and low by the time that one was through, She was in Korea, Vietnam, She went where she was sent by her Uncle Sam. The Native Americans, The Black, Yellow and White All shed red blood for the Stars and Stripes. And here in her own good land, She's been abused, burned, dishonored, denied and refused, And the very government for which she stands Has been scandalized throughout out the land. And she's getting thread bare, and she's wearing kinda thin, But she's in pretty good shape, for the shape she's in. Cause she's been through the fire before And she can take a whole lot more. So we raise her up every morning And we bring her down slow every night, We don't let her touch the ground, And we fold her up just right. On second thought, I do like to brag Cause I'm mighty proud of "That Ragged Old Flag" |
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