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 ABOVE 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 WORSHIPPED
- I AM SALUTED
- I AM RESPECTED
- I AM REVERED
- I AM LOVED,
AND I AM FEARED!
*
I HAVE FOUGHT
IN EVERY BATTLE OF EVERY WAR
FOR MORE THAN 200 YEARS:
GETTYSBURG,
SHILO,
APPOMATTOX,
SAN JUAN HILL,
THE TRENCHES OF FRANCE,
THE ARGONNE FOREST,
ANZIO,
ROME,
THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC,
THE BEACHES OF NORMANDY,
PEARL HARBOR,
MIDWAY,
GUAM,
OKINAWA,
JAPAN,
KOREA,
VIET NAM,
PANAMA,
IN THE PERSIAN GULF,
SOMALIA,
BOSNIA,
AND A SCORE OF PLACES LONG FORGOTTEN,
BY ALL THOSE WHO WERE THERE WITH ME...
I WAS THERE!
*
WHENEVER MY TROOPS WENT IN HARMS WAY,
I WAS THERE WITH THEM.
I'VE BEEN WITH GROUND TROOPS,
ON SHIPS, SUBMARINES, AIRCRAFT, AND TANKS.
I LED MY SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN AND MARINES.
I FOLLOWED THEM,
AND WATCHED OVER THEM.
THEY LOVED ME.
*
I WAS ON A SMALL HILL IN IWO JIMA,
I WAS DIRTY, BATTLE-WORN AND TIRED.
BUT MY SOLDIERS CHEERED ME!
I STILL STAND WATCH
OVER THE ARIZONA MEMORIAL IN MEMORY
OF THE MANY SAILORS WHO DIED THERE.
AND I AM PROUD!
*
I HAVE BEEN SOILED, BURNED, TORN AND TRAMPLED
ON THE STREETS OF COUNTRIES THAT 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 FROM MY VANTAGE POINT ON THE MOON,
I STAND WATCH OVER
THE UNCHARTED NEW FRONTIERS OF SPACE.
I HAVE BEEN THE SILENT WITNESS
TO ALL OF AMERICA'S FINEST HOURS.
*
BUT MY FINEST HOUR COMES
WHEN I AM TORN IN STRIPS TO BE USED
AS BANDAGES FOR MY WOUNDED COMRADES
ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE
AND WHEN I FLY AT HALF MAST
TO HONOR MY SOLDIERS, MY SAILORS, MY AIRMEN, MY MARINES.
*
AND WHEN I LIE IN THE TREMBLING ARMS
OF A GRIEVING MOTHER,
AT THE GRAVESIDE OF HER FALLEN SON OR DAUGHTER --
I AM PROUD.
*
MY NAME IS OLD GLORY
LONG MAY I WAVE, DEAR GOD, LONG MAY I WAVE
Author unknown