I Am The Flag of America

[Ron61]

I Am the Flag of America

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 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 Appomattox.
I was there at San Juan Hill, the trenches of France,
in the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome and the beaches of Normandy.
Guam, Okinawa, Korea and KheSan, Saigon, Vietnam know me.
I'm presently in the mountains of Afganistan and the hot and dusty
deserts of Iraq and wherever freedom is needed.
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 in the streets of
my country.
And when it's done 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 the Flag of America

[63mercury]

VERY VERY TRUE thanks, Carl

[427 S/O]

I was the only one on my street to have the American flag displayed honoring memorial day....sad.....

[BO DUTCH]

After all these years, Ol Glory still has the starch to keep her Proud.

[BMK]

Ron

Interesting read. Reminds me a song I think it was Johnny Cash - 'Old Glory" if memory serves me...

[Ron61]

Bernie,

Correct. And I also liked the Ballad Of Ira Hays. To bad most of the kids today don't even know what the stripes on the flag stand for.

Ron

[BMK]

Ron 61

Ron,

Yes true. Although the kids here are receiving a lot more exposure to the Gallipoli and WW II campaigns through the support of the Return Servicemens Assoc. who are placing teaching kits into schools.

[BMK]

Ron 61

Ron

Sorry missed the point on Ira Hayes.

Yes I have seen the photo of the four or five soldiers raising the flag. Never thought much about it until I heard the Ballad of Ira Hayes.

Something like "poor old Ira Hayes drowned in the water on the side of the road"...:confused: "..drunked Ira Hayes".. it goes on".. "American Indian who volunteered...."

Interesting bit of history that I did not know about, until I picked up the Johnny Cash album from my parents. This was after watching the Johnny Cash story "Walk the Line"



It was a very good DVD.

[wtm442]

Originally Posted by 427 S/O

I was the only one on my street to have the American flag displayed honoring memorial day....sad.....

I live on a dead end street with about 14 houses. I've had two flags on my property displayed continuously for the past 20 years!

Starting last year, a neighbor attached flag holders to all of the telephone poles on the street at about a 10 foot level. He just installed the flags (about 10), and will take them down about mid July. It really makes the street look good.

... and last Halloween, he had ghosts or witches flying on each pole.

Here is a nice shot of a local cemetery that is right next to the police station. Every holiday (Veterans, Memorial Day, 4th July, etc) they put at least 500 to 1000 flags on the grounds.

[Ron61]

Bernie,

Johnny Cash was always one of my favorite entertainers and he was born not to far from where I was. There is a movie about Ira Hays and it is pretty interesting. They used him for his popularity and then dumped him just as they do anyone else when they have gotten all they can out of them. And he was not used to all the Washington type partying and didn't like being in big crowds.

Warren,

Nice picture. They do that at the cemetery here where my family is all buried and keep it mowed and looking nice.

Ron

[BMK]

Ron61

Ron,

Thanks I may keep an eye out and see if it's available.

I'll dig out the CD and have a listen again to the ballad or Ira Hayes - Johhny Cash.

[BMK]

wtm442

In recent times we have seen a few flags going up in our area.

The local Politician will present a flag to any sporting club if they ask - free of cost.

Most of our Governemnt buildings carry/fly flags.

Guess it will only take a like minded person to place a few flags up in a street or court and we may also see a line of them.