NOW...LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE IT BRINGS YOU. AS OLD GLORY SPEAKS

I AM THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. I WAS CONCEIVED IN THE DREAMS OF LIBERTY AND IN THE HOPES OF FREEDOM. THOUGH I WAS NEVER AN ORPHAN. I WAS ADOPTED BY THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS IN 1777 AND PROCLAIMED THE NATIONAL EMBLEM OF A NATION NEWLY BORN ON THIS CONTINENT, FIGHTING VALIANTLY FOR SURVIVAL AND DESTINED TO BRING TO ALL MANKIND A NEW CONCEPT OF LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

I HAVE BEEN MANY PLACES AND WITNESSED MANY EVENTS IN OUR AMERICAN HISTORY. I WAS THERE WHEN THEY FIRED THE SHOT HEARD 'ROUND THE WORLD, AND WHEN GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON BECAME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, I WAS THERE IN THE LATE TWILIGHT AT FORT McHENRY AND INSPIRED FRANCIS SCOTT KEY TO WRITE "THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER".

I SAW MOLLY PITCHER TAKE THE CANNON SWAB FROM THE HANDS OF HER DEAD HUSBAND AND HELP CARRY ON THE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM: I FELT THE BITING COLD AT VALLEY FORGE AND GAVE COMFORT TO THE TIRED AND HUNGRY CONTINENTAL ARMY: I RODE WITH ETHAN ALLEN AND THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS AND SAW THE SIGNAL THAT STARTED THE MIDNIGHT RIDE OF PAUL REVERE.

I WAS FLOWN ABOVE THE DECKS OF OLD "IRONSIDE", AND THE MASTS OF THE "YANKEE" AND THE "CHINA CLIPPERS"; I BLAZED THE TRAIL WEST WITH DANIEL BOONE AND DAVEY CROCKET AND STOOD BESIDE THEM AT THE ALAMO.

I WAS CARRIED THROUGH THE HALLS OF MONTEZUMA AND THE SHORES OF TRIPOLI; I FELL TO THE GROUND AT CUSTER'S LAST STAND AND THERE WERE NO FRIENDLY HANDS LEFT TO PICK ME UP. I GALLOPED UP THE SLOPES OF SAN JUAN HILL WITH TEDDY ROOSEVELT AND THE ROUGH RIDERS: I STAYED WITH THE BOYS UNTIL IT WAS OVER, OVER THERE, AND WAS WITH THEM ON BATTLEFIELDS OF THE MARNE, CHATEAU-THIERRY, ST. MIHIEL AND THE ARGONNE FOREST. I SAW MANY OF THE YOUTHS AND MANHOOD OF OUR NATION FALL AND LIE STILL IN DEATH. THEY HAD-GIVEN THEIR LAST FULL MEASURE OF DEVOTION. THE WAR WAS OVER FOR THEM FOREVER, BUT I HAVE KEPT MY LONELY VIGIL OVER THEIR GRAVES AND HAVE STAYED TO WATCH THE POPPIES GROW AMID THE CROSSES, ROW ON ROW, IN FLANDERS FIELD.

I WAS RAISED BY FIVE BRAVE MEN DURING THE "HELL" OF Iwo-Jima. I WAVED FAREWELL TO THE FOUR IMMORTAL CHAPLAINS WHO WENT DOWN ON THEIR SHIP TO HONORED GLORY. I PROUDLY WAVED OVER OUR TROOPS FIGHTING TO KEEP THE PEACE IN KOREA AND THE JUNGLES OF SOUTHEAST ASIA. I HAVE BEEN CARRIED TO THE SOUTH POLE, THE NORTH POLE AND THE MOON.

THEIR PURITY IS REMEMBERED IN MY WHITE STRIPES;

THEIR BLOOD HAS GIVEN ME STRIPES OF RED;

THEIR SOULS ARE CRADLED IN MY STARS;

AND THEIR COURAGE EMBEDDED IN MY BLUE.

I AM MANY THINGS TO MANY PEOPLE, I AM AN INSEPARABLE LINK IN THE CHAIN THAT BINDS MEN TO GOD AND COUNTRY. I AM THE, "RED, WHITE AND BLUE", "THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER", "THE STARS AND STRIPES", BUT I AM MOST COMMONLY KNOWN BY A NICKNAME GIVEN ME BY A SEA CAPTAIN, WHO CALLED ME-"OLD GLORY".

AT THIS MOMENT, WHILE I FLY AT PEACE IN TURBULENT TIMES, MEN AND WOMEN FROM AROUND THE WORLD ARE STILL STRIVING TO REACH MY SHORES, TO TOUCH AND STAND BESIDE ME, A SYMBOL OF LIBERTY, A LIGHT OF HUMANITY; AN EMBLEM OF MAN'S FAITH:

A BEACON SHINING INTO THE DARKNESS;

AND HERE I WILL ALWAYS BE, FOR I AM THE STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER...

.......I AM OLD GLORY : :

( From speech by COL. HAROLD SHEAR, copyrighted by National Sojourners Inc.),

Back to Top of Page