NEVER FORGET
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 then 200 years.
I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Shiloh and Appamatox.
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.
I was there. I led my troops,
I was dirty, battleworn 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.
And when it’s 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
THAT I MAY FLY PROUDLY FOR
ANOTHER TWO HUNDRED YEARS.
Author Unknown
SEAT OF MY SOUL 
September 12, 2010 at 7:26 am
What a sweet gesture from Amanda of Australia. I’ve looked at many September 11 posts, and this is the first to make me weep. Thank you for this touching post.
September 13, 2010 at 12:42 pm
Thanks Carol, so late in my reply but know that I always will come back ….thanks so much!! Have a happy week xx
September 12, 2010 at 7:52 am
Thank you for sharing this. It meant a lot to this American.
September 13, 2010 at 12:43 pm
Thank you Christine, it means much to know you comment and visit here. I really appreciate it xxx
September 12, 2010 at 8:05 am
This is a master piece,
I was walking in the student union on the day of 911 in 2001,
I see planes crashing into the twin towels,
Thought that it was a movie on the tv screen…..
it was a horror,
your kindness and brilliance outshine yourself.
September 13, 2010 at 12:43 pm
Thanks Jingle, I dont think any of us will ever forget that day!!! Much love xx
September 12, 2010 at 8:05 am
love your poem.
America loves you.
smiles!
September 13, 2010 at 12:43 pm
And I love America and YOU!!! xxxx
September 12, 2010 at 8:21 am
Very lovely! Wonderfully thoughtful tribute.
September 13, 2010 at 12:44 pm
Thanks Sherry, I appreciate you visiting. Hugs xx
September 12, 2010 at 8:24 am
This is such a powerful picece buttercup!
September 13, 2010 at 12:44 pm
Thanks my friend…hugs x
September 12, 2010 at 8:28 am
A wonderfully touching post.
September 13, 2010 at 12:44 pm
Thanks Neva, so appreciate you here…always …Hugs x
September 12, 2010 at 9:25 am
Let us also pray for divine wisdom as our leaders consider the necessary actions for national security, wisdom of the grace of God that as we act, we NOT BECOME THE EVIL WE DEPLORE.”
Rev. Nathan Baxter, Dean of Washington National Cathedral
September 13, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Agreed Cin…so very true!!
September 12, 2010 at 9:29 am
A wonderful post on this day of rememberance Buttercup…thanks.
September 13, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Thanks Charles.x
September 12, 2010 at 12:46 pm
This piece says it all! Thanks for posting it, Amanda. xxx
September 13, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Thanks Adee xx
September 12, 2010 at 12:48 pm
Rich tribute. – bill
September 13, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Thanks Bill ~ Hugs x
September 12, 2010 at 1:05 pm
A beautiful tribute from you to our country, Amanda…thank you for this :)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I’m tagging you with the Happy Award!
http://heartspell.wordpress.com/2010/09/11/call-waiting/
Heartspell
September 13, 2010 at 1:35 pm
Thanks so much my friend….I really appreciate it coming from you. Hope you have a wonderful week ahead and loved reading more about you oxoxoxox Hugssssssssssss xx
September 12, 2010 at 1:18 pm
Hi again. I just wanted to leave a link to my reflection on 9/11, if you would like to check it out and are able. It is on my other blog:
http://revbillcook.wordpress.com/2010/09/09/work-for-peace/
=bill
September 13, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Thanks Bill, I sure will come by and read. Thanks so much for this link. xx
September 12, 2010 at 5:00 pm
Thanks for posting this Amanda – the words are so powerful and such an amazing tribute to America. Thinking of you at this time of reflection.
Chloe xx
September 13, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Thanks Chloe and I say the same about yours. You are always such an inspiration to me. Much love xx
September 12, 2010 at 5:01 pm
wonderfully written
adorableeeee
September 13, 2010 at 2:06 pm
🙂 Now that is adorableeeeeeee of you to say 🙂 xx
September 12, 2010 at 5:18 pm
Powerful, and beautiful!
September 13, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Thanks DP..Mwah xxx and Hugs xx
September 12, 2010 at 5:34 pm
beautiful piece for remembrance. Rest in Piece for all the lost souls. Thanks for the post 🙂
September 13, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Ditto my friend xx
September 12, 2010 at 5:34 pm
beautiful piece for remembrance. Rest in Peace for all the lost souls. Thanks for the post 🙂
September 12, 2010 at 6:43 pm
just adorable. beautiful feelings for one’s nation.
September 13, 2010 at 2:07 pm
Ditto Trisha xxx
September 12, 2010 at 7:50 pm
I have goose bumps all over, Amanda. Thank you so much for sharing this, and bringing poignantly to mind that fateful day. Dave watched the towers falling live on TV. We couldn’t believe it was actually happening.
September 13, 2010 at 2:08 pm
A day we will never forget oxoxoxo
September 13, 2010 at 2:09 am
Wow… read the one on America I posted… not even meaning to, it went up on September 11th… cosmic…
Nice to see your blog, as always
Warmest Salad
Luke
(ps… come post some on the group if you want some proper constructive crit 😉
September 13, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Thanks Luke, I will come and read…I so want to do just that but time is so much of a problem, these days I wake up at 4am already just to get everything done 🙂 Thanks for always thinking of me though:) Much love xx
September 13, 2010 at 9:14 am
Interesting poem this Amanda
Suja
September 13, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Thanks Suja, happy to see you here:) Much love xx
September 13, 2010 at 12:17 pm
Beautiful and interesting piece…Highly rated here.
Have a superb week, Cheers!
September 13, 2010 at 2:22 pm
Thanks Em…ditto to you as well 🙂
September 13, 2010 at 1:16 pm
You make the world so much smaller, so much more neighborly, so much more caring when you share the grief as well as the celebrations. Thanks Amanda. Lovely tribute and a good reminder for us yanks to read about what our flag stands for
September 13, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Tears.
Thank you, Amanda, dear friend.
My home town, you know. I worked on Water Street in Manhattan when my son was little. I watched those towers go up.
I was in California by then, getting ready early to go teach a class. The news was on. I thought it was a movie. Then I understood. I called my son and said “Turn on the news, Son. We’re under attack … ” We were fortunate. We didn’t loose family, but we still lost. The whole world lost. We still reel from it.
And, worse … in some places people don’t know anything but attack … that’s their whole life experience. It just makes one ache to the very marrow. All the children … and I believe we are complicit in these tragedies in so many ways. That’s another story …
Oh, my. Very kind of you to do this. I couldn’t post on it today. Just couldn’t.
Love –
Jamie
September 13, 2010 at 3:39 pm
I sat watching all the 911 documentaries on DSTV this weekend and every single one of them made me cry. I still can not comprehend that people could even try and justify such barbarism.
And then I realised that for a brief moment the world had a small inkling of what happens every day in the war torn countries accross the world where children are growing up with violence in their lives. A whole generation lost.
Beautiful post!!!
September 13, 2010 at 5:04 pm
Absolutely! And the thought itself is so disturbing..isn’t it! (sigh)
September 14, 2010 at 6:52 am
Thanks Lyndatjie…your comment has so much truth and I absolutely agree!! Thanks for being here my friend ~ Hugs xx
September 13, 2010 at 5:03 pm
Very thoughtful of you to put this up, Mandy…
I was in Bangalore (India) when this happened.. 😦 at my workplace, late night… suddenly there was buzzing around, and the news spread like wildfire.. What I saw on TV, I still cannot forget!! 😦
And now being in NYC, watching the Ground Zero site, and the 2 lasers go up on 9/11 was a reminder – of the horror, of the lost, of the missed, of the COURAGE, of the solidarity!
This was a beautiful tribute, sweetie! The first time I had set foot in NYC in 2005 as a tourist, I knew that I were to love any city other than my hometown (Mumbai), it is New York!! And now, here I am!! This 9/11 was very memorable for me.. in a sad sorta way..
September 14, 2010 at 7:01 am
I also will never ever forget what happenned that day, it is forever printed in my mind!! I am sure living there makes it so much more real! Thanks babes, happy you enjoyed it 🙂 Mwah xx