OLD GLORY

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 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 HELD 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 - I AM FEARED!!!

FOR MORE THAN 200 YEARS, I HAVE FOUGHT EVERY BATTLE OF EVERY WAR;
GETTYSBURG, SHILOH, APPOMATTOX, SAN JUAN HILL, THE TRENCHES OF FRANCE,
THE ARGONNE FOREST, ANZIO, ROME, THE BEACHES OF NORMANDY, THE 
JUNGLES OF GUAM, OKINAWA, TARAWA, KOREA, VIETNAM, THE HEAT OF THE 
PERSIAN GULF, AND A SCORE OF OTHER PLACES..

LONG FORGOTTEN BY ALL, BUT THOSE WHO WERE THERE WITH ME. I WAS THERE!!!

I LED MY SAILORS AND MARINES.

I FOLLOWED THEM, I WATCHED OVER THEM, THEY LOVED ME.

I WAS ON A SMALL HILL ON IWO JIMA.

I WAS DIRTY, BATTLE TORN AND TIRED, BUT MY SAILORS AND MARINES CHEERED
ME!!!

I WAS PROUD!!!

I HAVE BEEN SOILED, BURNED, TORN AND TRAMPLED ON IN THE STREETS OF OTHER
COUNTRIES THAT I HAVE HELPED TO SET FREE. IT DOES NOT HURT, FOR I AM
INVINCIBLE.

I HAVE BEEN SOILED, BURNED, TORN AND TRAMPLED ON IN THE STREETS OF MY
OWN COUNTRY. AND WHEN IT IS DONE BY THOSE WHOM WITH I HAVE SERVED IN
BATTLE, IT HURTS!!! BUT I SHALL OVERCOME, FOR I AM STRONG!!!

I HAVE SLIPPED THE SURLY BONDS OF EARTH, AND FROM MY VANTAGE POINT ON
THE MOON, I STAND WATCH OVER THE NEW FRONTIERS OF SPACE.

I HAVE BEEN SILENT WITNESS TO ALL OF AMERICA'S FINEST HOURS. MY FINEST
HOUR COMES WHEN I AM TORN INTO STRIPS TO BE USED AS BANDAGES FOR MY
WOUNDED COMRADES ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE, WHEN I FLY HALF MAST TO HONOR
MY SAILORS AND MARINES, AND WHEN I LIE IN THE TREMBLING ARMS OF A
GRIEVING MOTHER AT THE GRAVE SITE OF HER FALLEN SON OR DAUGHTER.

I AM PROUD!!!

MY NAME IS OLD GLORY.  LONG MAY I WAVE, DEAR GOD, LONG MAY I WAVE!!!






i got this in an email - if anyone know the author's name,  
please email me and i will credit that person.