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 -- VIETNAM -- PANAMA
IN THE PERSIAN GULF -- SOMALIA --
AND A SCORE OF PLACES LONG FORGOTTEN,
BY ALL THOSE WHO WERE THERE WITH ME...
I WAS THERE!

WHENEVER MY TROOPS WENT IN HARM’S 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.
OR IN THE ARMS OF A CHILD OR SPOUSE WHO WILL HAVE
TO GO ON WITHOUT ONE WHO GAVE THEIR LIFE IN A
NATIONAL DISASTER TO SAVE THE LIFE OF ANOTHER,
AS SO MANY DID ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001.
I AM PROUD.

MY NAME IS "OLD GLORY"
LONG MAY I WAVE, DEAR GOD…

LONG MAY I WAVE