~ Old Glory - Remember Me? ~

"Remember Me?"

Hello. Remember me? Some people call me Old Glory, others call me the Star-Spangled Banner, but whatever you call me, I am your flag, the flag of the United States of America.

Something has been bothering me, so I thought I might talk it over with you because it is about you and me. I remember some time ago, people would line up on both sides of the street to watch the parade, and naturally I was leading every one, proudly waving in the breeze.

When your Daddy saw me coming, he immediately removed his hat and placed it against his left shoulder so that his hand was directly over his heart, remember? And you, I remember, were standing there, straight as a soldier. You didn't have a hat, but you were giving the right salute. Remember your little sister? Not to be outdone, she was saluting the same as you with her right hand over her heart, remember?

What happened? I'm still the same old flag. Oh, I've added a few more stars since you were a boy, and a lot more blood has been shed since those parades of long ago. But now, somehow, I don't feel as proud as I used to feel. When I come down your street, you just stand there with your hands in your pockets. You may give me a small glance, and then you look away. I see children running around you shouting; they don't seem to know who I am. I saw one man take his hat off, then he looked around, and when he didn't see anyone else take off their hat, he quickly put his on again.

Is it a sin to be patriotic today? Have you forgotten what I stand for and where I have been? Anzio, Guadalcanal, Korea and Vietnam. Take a look at the memorial honor rolls and see the names of those patriotic Americans who gave their lives to keep this republic free. When you salute me, you are actually saluting them.

Well, it won't be long until I'll be coming down your street again. So when you see me, please stand straight and place your hand over your heart, and I'll know that you remembered. I'll salute you by waving back.

(I am not sure as to the name of the author for this writing, but I did hear once that it was written by David C. Graham. I do not have any other information on him.)

The only person standing is the man in the wheelchair.

"That Ragged Old Flag"

I walked through a County Court House square
On a park bench an old man was sitting there
I said, "Your old Court House is kinda run down"
He said, "No, it will do for our little town"
I said, "Your old flag Pole is leaning a little bit
And that's a ragged old Flag you've got hanging on it."

He said, 'Have a seat," and I sat down
"Is the first time that you've been to our little town?"
"Well," he said, "I don't like to brag
But we're kinda proud of that ragged old Flag

You see, we got a little hole in the Flag there
When Washington took it across the Delaware
And it got powder burns, the night Francis Scott Key
Sat watching it, writing "Oh Say Can You See"

And it got a bad rip at New Orleans
With Packingham and Jackson tugging at its seams
And, it almost fell at the Alamo beside the Texas Flag
But she waved on through.

She got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville
And she got cut again at Shilo Hill
There was Robert E. Lee, Beauregard and Bragg
The South wind blew hard on that Old Ragged Flag.

On Flanders Field in World War One
She got a big hole from a Bertha Gun
She turned blood red in World War Two
And she hung limp and low a time or two.

She was in Korea and Vietnam
She went from our ships upon the briny foam
Now they've about quit waving her back here at home.

In our good land she's been abused
She's been burned, dishonored, denied, and refused
And the Government for which she stands
Is scandalized through out the land.

She's getting threadbare and she's wearing thin
But, she's in good shape for the shape she's in
Because she's been through the fire before
I believe she can take a whole lot more.

So we raise her up every morning
And we take her down every night
We don't let her touch the ground
And we fold her up right.

On second thought, I do like to brag
Because I'm mighty proud of that ragged old flag.

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States
of America and to the Republic for which it stands,
one nation under God, indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all.

July 4th, Independence Day, is the day, as Americans, we celebrate our independence as a free and sovereign nation. It is the day when we recognize that we are one nation, under God. As a nation we may all have our own personal differences in politics and politicians, laws and the judicial and social system, our religious preferences, and our own morals and values, which is as it should be in a free democracy. But, as a nation, we all have one common bond, and that is freedom and justice for all.

We have shown that, as a nation, we all come together during tragedies, such as school shootings, bombings, hurricanes and tornados, international crisis's, and other such tragedies. On this 4th of July, let's all come together as one nation in the celebration of our independence.

As a part of this July 4th celebration, we will all, in one way or another, whether it be through a parade, a firework display, or just hearing the "Star-Spangled Banner" being played over the radio or television, be reminded of the flag of the United States of America and all that it symbolizes. As a nation, let us all honor our flag on this July 4th, the "old-fashioned way", and see how it salutes us by waving back.

"Patriotic Index"


"My American Flag"		"Pledge Of Allegiance"

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have a cup of coffee, and see a list of my other web pages.
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Thanks!
~ StinaLisa ~

"That Ragged Old Flag"
Johnny Cash
Lyrics by Johnny Cash

The music playing is a condensed version of "That Ragged Old Flag", and is for entertainment, educational and evaluation purposes only. Titles have full copyright by their respective artists and record companies. Please show your support for the artists who gave us this great music by purchasing their CDs.

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Thank you.

July 1999