I AM THE FLAG OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

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 at me 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
and the beaches of Normandy.
Guam, Okinawa, Korea and KheSan, Saigon, Vietnam all know me.
I was there.
I led my troops.
I was dirty, battle worn and tired,
but my soldiers cheered me
and 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.
When it is by those whom I've 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 my vantage point on 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 their fallen son or daughter,
I am proud.

MY NAME IS OLD GLORY
LONG MAY I WAVE
DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN
LONG MAY I WAVE.

The Star-Spangled Banner 
  
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Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, 
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? 
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight' 
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming. 
And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, 
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. 
Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave 
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? 
  

On the shore dimly seen, thro' the mists of the deep, 
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, 
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, 
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? 
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, 
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream; 
'Tis the star-spangled banner: oh, long may it wave 
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. 
  

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore 
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion 
A home and a country should leave us no more? 
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footstep's pollution. 
No refuge could save the hireling and slave 
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave, 
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave 
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. 
  

Oh, thus be it ever when free men shall stand, 
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation; 
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land 
Praise the Power that has made and preserved us as a nation. 
Then conquer we must, when our cause is just, 
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"; 
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave 
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. 
  

Written by Francis Scott Key on September 14th,1814. 
  

For some History of the Flag
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