As the soot and dirt and ash rained down,
We became one color.

As we carried each other down the stairs of the
burning building,
We became one class.

As we lit candles of waiting and hope,
We became one generation.

As the firefighters and police officers fought their way into the inferno,
We became one gender.

As we fell to our knees in prayer for strength,
We became one faith.

As we whispered or shouted words of encouragement,
We spoke one language.

As we gave our blood in lines a mile long,
We became one body.

As we mourned together the great loss,
We became one family.

As we cried tears of grief and loss,
We became one soul.

As we retell with pride of the sacrifice of heros,
We become one people.

We are

• One color
• One class
• One generation
• One gender
• One faith
• One language
• One body
• One family
• One soul
• One people

We are United.

We are America.

~~ Author Unknown ~~

I Am The Flag of the United States
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 worshiped - 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,
in the trenches of France,
in the Argonne Forest,
Anzio, Rome and the
beaches of Normandy.

Guam, Okinawa, Korea and KheSan,
Saigon, Vietnam 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

And 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 soldiers,
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!

~~ Author Unknown ~~

Vietnam Reflections

Free Living Will