Posted on 05/30/2005 12:56:46 AM PDT by Cee-gar Man US Marine
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 THE 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-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 WORSHIPED-I AM SALUTED-I AM RESPECTED, I AM REVERED-I AM LOVED, AND I AM FEARED!
I HAVE FOUGHT IN EVERY BATTLE IN EVERY WAR, FOR MORE THAN 200 YEARS: GETTYSBURG, SHILOH, APPOMATAX, SAN JUAN HILL, THE TRENCHES OF FRANCE, THE ARGONNE FORREST, ANZIO, ROME, THE BEACHES OF NORMANDY, THE JUNGLES OF GUAM, OKINAWA, TARAWA, KOREA, VIETNAM, IN THE HEAT OF THE PERSIAN GULF, AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ, AND SCORES OF PLACES, LONG FORGOTTEN BY ALL, BUT THOSE WHO WHERE THERE WITH ME,...I WAS THERE.
I LED MY SAILORS AND MARINES-I FOLLOWED THEM,-I WATCH OVER THEM,-THEY LOVE ME.
I WAS ON A SMALL HILL ON IWO JIMA, I WAS DIRTY BATTLE WORN AND TIRED,...BUT MY SAILORS AND MARINES CHEERED ME, AND I WAS PROUD!
I HAVE BEEN SOILED, BURNED, TORN AND TRAMPLED OF 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 DONE BY THOSE WHOM I HAVE SERVED IN BATTLE WITH,...IT HURTS. BUT I SHALL OVERCOME...FOR I AM STRONG!
I WILL NEVER COWER BEFORE ANY MASTER NOR BEND TO ANY THREAT.
I HAVE SLIPPED THE SURLY BONDS OF EARTH AND FROM MY VANTAGE POINT ON THE MOON, I STAND WATCH OVER THE UNCHARTED NEW FRONTIERS OF SPACE.
I HAVE BEEN A SILENT WITTNESS TO ALL OF AMERICA'S FINEST HOURS.
I HAVE FLOWN OVER THE TOP OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER AND PENTAGON, AND AFTER SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, I HAVE FLOWN OVER ITS RUBBLE TO REMIND THE EVIL IN OUR WORLD THAT MY SPIRIT WILL NOT BE CRUSHED.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL NOT BE BROKEN.
BUT 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-SIDE OF HER FALLEN SON OR DAUGHTER,...I AM PROUD...MY NAME IS "OLD GLORY",...LONG MAY I WAVE.
If you get a chance, EWTN has a repeat of "The World Over" showing in a few minutes (9am Central, 7am Pacific) and tonight (10pm Central, 8pm Pacific) ofan interview with Hal Moore, talking about his faith, and Ia Drang.
At the very end, there is a clip of a gathering at The Wall. Ronnie, I think I saw you in there?
Today we remember. God Bless those who have served us, and shed their blood for us.
We will never forget.
We have a Memorial Day Observance in about an hour. Most of us are on our way to that.
Was at my nephew's graduation yesterday in northern Wisconsin. Had a nice talk with my brother-in-law's, brother-in-law. (Got that?...) Served in Iraq awhile ago. We had a nice visit. Good man.
Unfortuately we don't get EWTN. Sounds fascinating!
BTW... I stumbled across the song, The Wall on a John McDermott CD Titled, Rememberance. A CD dedicated to Memorial Day. It can be purchased from the Angel label.
I'll search out that CD.
You might be able to catch the EWTN interview online later?
God Bless
I will try.
And... I wish there was more I could do for my country.
bttt
I just found Rememberance on Amazon.com.
Type in John McDermott, and Remeberance and you should find it. (Also a clip of the song!)
Let me know if you find it...
redrock
p.s....caps are just fine...
what did he say?
.
Thanks much.
Whatching it now.
Channel 422 = Direct TV
GARRY OWEN, Sir
.
THANKS!
was that you in the beginning of that clip? :)
Gotta get it!
Thanks!
Reaching for kleenex.
Thank you Cee-Gar Man. Thank you for this post and for serving this country!
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It's the soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It's the soldier, not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It's the soldier, not the lawyer,
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It's the soldier who salutes the flag, Serves under the flag, And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who gives the protester the right to burn the flag.
That was very shallow of you William Creel, very shallow indeed.
Not only should it be in caps, it should be in bold as well.
God bless all of our military past, present and future.
From the daughter of a WW11 and Korean vet. May my Dad rest in Peace. He served his country well.
Pat
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