For Old Glory

My thoughts from participating in a flag retirement ceremony on Memorial Day.

I am Old Glory

I am the Red, White and Blue

I am the Star Spangled Banner

My colors do not falter

They do not run

 

I have been burned

I have been torn and tattered

I have been raised for victory

I have been lowered for honor

 

I have bled

and I have shed tears

I have bandaged the wounded

and graced the casket of the fallen

 

Today, raise my colors high

so all may see and remember

for those who answered the call,

and gave all they had to give,

so that I, may fly free

Reviews

[Lizanne]

A beautiful tribute to the wonderful stars and stripes of our flag. Red it bleeds, blue it is bruised, white it is a healer. We have made it bleed in war, bruised it with our personal social issues on our own soil and helped it to heal ours and other nations. First sewn to show our strenght, but now flys to give us the reinforcement of strenght that we need in these trouble times. May it long fly with the glory that our ancestors felt when they first raised it. You so aptly tell it's story of the trials we have put it through. It has felt our wrath, heard our laugter and watched as we shed tears of sorrow. It deinitely waves in the wind saying "I am here and will continue to serve as long as you as a nation allow me to do so. I represent the strenght and freedom of my people and will not fly over tyranny or enslavement of the ones I love and represent." We must protect the truths this piece that this piece of sacred cloth holds for us. You have given us a beautiul portrait of our beloved Flag.

[Charles D. Moorer]

This is right on point and a wonderful tribute to the American Flag and all it stands for. Bravo, clearly there is no doubt about your patriotism.

[Rick Puetter]

Dear JC,

Wow. Nicely patriotic. Brings tears to the eyes as we remember the brave fallen for our country. Truly inspirational. Extremely well done.

Best regards,

Rick

[G]

So few off you left. People that honor the flag. I did my time and I was at sea when tey attacked the USS Cole. I was in Kenya when they had a bounty on Marines. I was in the hospital when my unit went to Iraq. But the best thing was when the Marines got on the plane they received applause.I

[Wildfleour]

A lovely tribute to our flag and our country.

One quick note:

And I have shed tears ---- and I have shed tears

or
I have shed tears

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Love it... the great symbol of this country... the colors never fade or run despite the abuse it takes from foreign lands and our very own government... Bravo on this victorious write.

[Tim]

An excellent triute to our flag and for those who have died to keep us free. Three of my four kids are or have been in the military. All three have been to Iraq and one has been to Afgan. This poem really hit home.

[Otter]

This one brought tears to my eyes, it made me think of standing on the cargo deck of a C5 looking at seven flag covered caskets coming home from the war.
Should you have written "I have been lowered for honor?"

[Arthur Henn]

Well said, I could put my arms around you for such a great! poem! honoring the fallen.

Superb!

Art