|
|
|
Share Your Family Custom, Tradition or Ritual
|
Background
Old Glory I
AM THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. MY NAME IS OLD GLORY. I
FLY ATOP OF THE WORLD’S TALLEST BUILDINGS. I STAND WATCH IN AMERICA’S HALLS OF
JUSTICE. I
FLY MAJESTICALLY OVER GREAT INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING. I STAND GUARD WITH THE GREATEST MILITARY 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 WORSHIPED - I AM SALUTED - I AM RESPECTED. I
AM REVERED - I AM LOVED, AND I AM FEARED. I
HAVE FOUGHT EVERY BATTLE OF EVERY WAR FOR MORE THAN 200 YEARS: GETTYSBURG,
SHILOH, APPOMATTOX, SAN JUAN HILL, THE TRENCHES OF FRANCE, THE ARGONNE FOREST, ANZIO, ROME, THE BEACHES OF NORMANDY, THE DESERTS OF AFRICA, THE CANE FIELDS OF THE PHILIPPINES, THE RICE PADDIES AND JUNGLES OF GUAM, OKINAWA, JAPAN, KOREA, VIETNAM, GUADALCANAL, NEW BRITAIN, PELELIU, AND MANY MORE ISLANDS. AND A SCORE OF PLACES LONG FORGOTTEN BY ALL BUT THOSE WHO WERE WITH ME. I WAS THERE. I
LED SOLDIERS - I FOLLOWED THEM. I WATCHED OVER
THEM. THEY LOVED ME. I
WAS ON A SMALL HILL ON IWO JIMA. I WAS DIRTY, BATTLE-WORN AND TIRED, BUT MY
SOLDIERS CHEERED ME, AND I WAS PROUD. I
HAVE BEEN SOILED, 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, BURNED, TORN AND TRAMPLED ON THE STREETS OF MY OWN COUNTRY, AND WHEN
IT IS BY THOSE WITH WHOM I HAVE SERVED IN BATTLE, IT HURTS. BUT I SHALL OVERCOME – FOR I AM STRONG! I HAVE SLIPPED THE BONDS OF EARTH
AND STAND WATCH OVER THE UNCHARTED NEW FRONTIERS OF SPACE FROM MY VANTAGE POINT
ON THE MOON. I
HAVE BEEN A SILENT WITNESS TO ALL OF AMERICA’S FINEST HOURS. BUT MY FINEST
HOUR COMES WHEN I AM TORN INTO STRIPS TO BE USED FOR BANDAGES FOR MY WOUNDED
COMRADES ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE, WHEN I FLY AT HALF MAST TO HONOR MY
SOLDIERS, AND WHEN I LIE IN THE TREMBLING
ARMS OF A GRIEVING MOTHER AT THE GRAVESIDE OF HER FALLEN SON. I AM PROUD. MY NAME IS OLD GLORY. DEAR GOD, LONG MAY I WAVE. Howard
Schnauber WWII Vet |
Traditions: Freedom American Culture
|
|
This Web Site is the intellectual
property of American Family Traditions. Some of the information provided is
general knowledge and some is the original work of American Family Traditions.
Permission must be requested to use or reproduce any of its contents to ensure
fairness. Footnotes have been provided where appropriate to give credit to the
work of others and to ensure you get permission from those sources. |
This tribute to The Flag of The
United States makes a wonderful reading for patriotic ceremonies. It sums up in
one short poem the sacrifice of all who have gone before us to ensure the
security of this great Nation. When read as part of a Ceremony, play Lee
Greenwood's "Proud to be an American" as background music. You will truly
touch your audience.