Old Glory Posted: Friday, November 9, 2012 5:00 pm
By ANNA LANDIS I am the American flag. Listen to me and I’ll tell you my story. My colors are red, white and blue. I have a field of 50 stars and 13 stripes. I am also known as “The Stars and Stripes” and “Old Glory.” I am honored to be in all public places. I go to schools where the children pledge allegiance to me. I attend all sporting events and stand proud and fly high as they sing my song “The Star Spangled Banner.” I am honored when I go by in a parade and my people salute me.
Yes, I’m the American Flag. I served under 40-some presidents. I was in peace and war. I was at the battle of Bunker Hill and Valley Forge where I saw the soldiers starve and freeze to death. I was with General Washington as he crossed the Delaware. I was in the Civil War where I saw father and son, brother and brother fight against each other to save the Union. I was there when they freed the slaves. I was at Gettysburg with President Lincoln, where in a few minutes he gave the most famous speech ever heard, “The Gettysburg Address.” I went along to the trenches in France in World War I, the beaches of Normandy in World War II, the day which lives in infamy at Pearl Harbor, the sands of Iwo Jima, where a few soldiers planted me in the sand to fly high with honor over them. I was in many wars and places with the people of my country. The farthest distance I have traveled is to the moon where I’m also flying high to honor my country.
I am the American flag. I stand for freedom, but freedom has it price. Freedom doesn’t prevail without tyranny. I was disgraced many a time. I was spit on, stepped on, shot at and burned. I saw racism and other violence in my country, but I have overcome, for I fly over America the greatest country there is. A land of freedom, liberty, opportunities, a place to dream and live your dreams, a land of bounteous blessings, a land of milk and honey. A land to worship your Lord and Master. If we would just open our eyes and hearts and believe in God and ourselves we could move mountains. What a great country I stand for. I’m proud of my patriots. May they be proud of me!
I am the American flag. I am at the boot camp where the morning reveille is played. I am the cover over the casket when one of my servicemen who have served their country reach their final resting place.
And I’ll fly high with honor while taps are played for those who have served their country and have paid the price. They gave their all so that I may fly free.
Yes, I am the American flag. May I long wave over the land of the free and the home of the brave.
God Bless my Country! God Bless America! Long may She live! Written in honor of those who have served and died for their country.
Published in The WCP 11.8.12 | 
