| I
Am The Flag
By Courtney Rumala, 9th grade
May 20, 2004
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 institutions of learning.
I stand guard with 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 loved—I am revered.
I am respected—and I am feared.
I have
fought in every battle of every war
For more than 200 years.
I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg,
Shiloh and Appomattox.
I was there at San Juan Hill,
The trenches of France,
In the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome,
The beaches of Normandy, Guam,
Okinawa, Korea and Vietnam.—
I was there. I led my troops,
And my soldiers cheered me:
I was proud.
I have
been burned, torn and trampled
On the streets of countries I have helped set free.—
It does not hurt, for I am invincible.
I have
been soiled upon, burned, torn.
And trampled on the streets of my country.
And when
it’s by those whom I served in battle—it hurts.
But I shall overcome—for I am strong,
I have
slipped the bonds of Earth.
And stood watch over the uncharted frontiers of space.
From the vantage point of the moon.
I have borne silent witness to all of America’s finest hours,
But my finest hours are yet to come.
When
I am torn into strips and used as bandages
For my wounded comrades on the battlefield,
When I am flown at half-mast to honor my soldier
Or when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving parent at the
grave of a fallen son or daughter,
I am proud.
MY NAME
IS OLD “GLORY”
LONG MAY I WAVE.
DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN,
LONG MAY I WAVE.
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