 I Am Still The Same Old
Flag 
Hello, remember me?
Some people call me Old Glory,
others call
me Stars and Stripes;
I have been referred
to as the Star Spangled Banner.
But whatever
they call me,
I am your Flag, or as I
proudly state
....the Flag of the United
States of America.
There is
something that has been bothering me,
so I
thought I might talk it over with you....
because it's about you and me.
I
remember some time ago, I think it
was Fourth Of July Day,
people
were lined up on both sides of the street to
watch the parade.
The town's
high school band was behind me,
and
naturally, I was leading the parade.
When
your Daddy saw me coming along, waving in the
breeze,
he immediately removed his hat and
placed it against his left shoulder
so that
his right hand was directly over his heart.
Remember?
And you, Yes, I remember you.
Standing there straight as a soldier.
You didn't
have a hat, but you were giving the correct
salute.
They taught you in school to place
your right hand over your heart.
Remember
little sister? Not to be outdone,
she was
saluting the same as you.
Oh, I was very
proud as I came down your street.
There were
some soldiers home on leave
and they were
standing at attention giving their military
salute.
Also, some V.F.W. veterans with
their caps at jaunty angles were saluting
smartly. Ladies as well as men, paid me the
reverence I deserve.
Now, I may sound a
little conceited.
Well, I am. I
have a right to be,
because I represent the
finest country in the world....
the United
States of America.
More than one aggressive
nation has tried to haul me down,
but they
all felt the fury of this freedom loving
country.
Remember...many of you had to go
overseas to defend me.
What has
happened? I'm still the same old Flag.
Oh,
I've had a couple more stars added since you
were a boy.
A lot more blood has been shed
since that Fourth Of July Day parade
long ago. Dad is gone now, The home town has a
new look.
The last time
I came down your street,
I saw that some of
the old landmarks were gone,
but in their
place, shinning majestically in the sun,
were a number of new buildings and homes.
Yes sir, the old home town has changed.
But
now....I don't feel as proud as I used to.
When I came down your street, you just stand
there
with your hands in your pockets and
give me a small glance,
then look or turn
away.
When I think
of all the places I've been...
Ansio,
Guadalcanal, Battle of the Bulge, Korea, and
Vietnam
I wonder what's happened? I'm still
the same old Flag.
But now I see
children running around and shouting as I pass
by.
They don't seem to know who I am.
I
saw an old man take his hat off, and then look
around.
He didn't see anybody else with
theirs off,
so he quickly put his back on.
Is it a sin to be an American anymore?
Have
you forgotten what I stand for?
Have you
forgotten all the battlefields where men fought
and died to keep this nation, your nation,
free?
When you salute me, you are actually
saluting them.
Take a look at
the Memorial Honor Rolls sometime.
Look at
the names of those who never came back,
and
are resting 'neath white crosses on a far away
shore.
Some of them
were friends or relatives of yours,
maybe
even went to school with you.
That's who
you're saluting....when you revere me.
Well,
it won't be long until I come down your street
again.
So when you
see me, stand straight,
place your hand over
your heart,
and you'll see me waving back.
My salute to you, I'll show you that I too,
remember!
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