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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, and
Guam. I was held high at Okinawa; Korea and Khe-San, Saigon,
and all 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 own country. And when it's by
those whom I've served in battle - it hurts.
But I shall overcome - for I am
strong.
In 1969 I slipped the bonds of Earth and
stood watch over the uncharted frontiers of space from my
vantage point on the face of 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
PLEASE FORWARD MY MESSAGE TO ALL WHO
STILL LOVE AND RESPECT ME, THAT I MAY FLY PROUDLY FOR ANOTHER
TWO HUNDRED YEARS...
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From a Canadian newspaper:
Widespread but only partial news coverage was given
recently to a remarkable editorial broadcast from
Toronto by Gordon Sinclair, a Canadian television
commentator. What follows is the full text of his
trenchant remarks as printed
in the
Congressional Record: |
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 America: The Good Neighbor
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"This Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the
Americans as the most generous and possibly the least
appreciated people on all the earth.
Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and
Italy were lifted out of the debris of war by the
Americans who poured in billions of dollars and
forgave other billions in debts. None of these
countries is today paying even the interest on its
remaining debts to the United States.
When France was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it
was the Americans who propped it up, and their reward
was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris.
I was there. I saw it.
When earthquakes hit distant cities, it is the United
States that hurries in to help. This spring, 59
American communities were flattened by tornadoes.
Nobody helped.
The Marshall Plan and the Truman Policy pumped
billions of dollars into discouraged countries. Now
newspapers in those countries are writing about the
decadent, warmongering Americans.
I'd like to see just one of those countries that is
gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar
build its own airplane. Does any other country in the
world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the
Lockheed Tri-Star, or the Douglas DC10? If so, why
don't they fly them? Why do all the International
lines except Russia fly American Planes?
Why does no other land on earth even consider putting
a man or woman on the moon? You talk about Japanese
technocracy, and you get radios. You talk about German
technocracy, and you get automobiles. You talk about
American technocracy, and you find men on the moon -
not once, but several times and safely home again.
You talk about scandals, and the Americans put theirs
right in the store window for everybody to look at.
Even their draft-dodgers are not pursued and hounded.
They are here on our streets, and most of them, unless
they are breaking Canadian laws, are getting American
dollars from ma and pa at home to spend here.
When the railways of France, Germany and India were
breaking down through age, it was the Americans who
rebuilt them. When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the
New York Central went broke, nobody loaned them an
old caboose. Both are still broke.
I can name you 5000 times when the Americans raced to
the help of other people in trouble. Can you name me
even one time when someone else raced to the Americans
in trouble? I don't think there was outside help even
during the San Francisco earthquake.
Our neighbors have faced it alone, and I'm one
Canadian who is damned tired of hearing them get
kicked around. They will come out of this thing with
their flag high. And when they do, they are entitled
to thumb their nose at the lands that are gloating
over their present troubles.
I hope Canada is not one of those." |
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WELCOME AT
RAINBOW BRIDGE
by Alexander Theodore, Bouvier, Fourth Year
Resident |
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On the morning of September 11, 2001,
there was an unprecedented amount of activity at the Rainbow
Bridge. Decisions had to be made.
They had
to be made quickly. And, they were.
An issue, not often addressed here, is
the fact that many residents
really have no loved one for whom to wait. Think of the pups
who lived
and died in hideous puppy mills. No one on earth loved or
protected
them. What about the many who spent unhappy lives tied in
backyards?
And, the ones who were abused. Who are they to wait for?
We don't talk about that much up here.
We share our loved ones
as they
arrive, happy to do so.
But we all know there is nothing like
having
your very own person
who thinks you are the most special pup
in the
Heavens.
Last Tuesday morning a request rang out for pups not waiting
for
specific persons to volunteer for special assignment.
An
eager, curious
crowd surged excitedly forward,
each pup wondering what the
assignment
would be.
They were told by a solemn voice that unexpectedly, all at
once, over
4,000 loving people had left Earth long before they were
ready. All the
pups, as all pups do, felt the humans' pain deep in their own
hearts.
Without hearing more, there was a clamoring among them -
"May
I have one
to comfort?" "I'll take two, I have a big heart."
"I have been
saving
kisses forever."
One after another they came forward begging for assignment.
One
cozy-looking fluffy pup hesitantly asked, "Are there any
children
coming? I would be very comforting for a child 'cause I'm soft
and
squishy and I always wanted to be hugged."
A group of Dalmatians came forward
asking to meet the Firemen
and be their friends. The larger working
breeds offered to greet the
Police Officers and make them feel at
home.
Little dogs volunteered to do what they do best,
cuddle and
kiss.
Dogs who on Earth had never had a kind word or a pat on the
head,
stepped forward and said, "I will love any human who needs
love."
Then all the dogs, wherever on Earth they originally came
from, rushed
to the Rainbow Bridge and stood waiting, overflowing with love
to share,
each tail wagging an American Flag.
Rainbow Bridge |
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WHERE WAS GOD? |
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"I know you're
mad at Me right now. That's alright. People have been
mad at Me before and will be again. Being mad is part of
being human. My Son got mad, too. It's alright to be mad
sometimes at injustice, for example, or the lack of
charity."
"You probably think I am
unjust and uncharitable when an airplane goes down like
that. All those people lost. The children gone. It
doesn't seem right; it can't be loving. You ask, 'Where
was God?'
Why did He allow that to
happen?"
"I allow it to happen because I allow
you freedom. I could have left you on a string and made
you dance all day without getting tired. I could have
moved your mouth for you and made you sing all night
without growing hoarse. I could have pulled a wire that
would have let you soar skyward and never fall."
"I could have, but I didn't because I love you so
much. I want you to be free to decide when to dance and
sing. Free to determine when you will come to Me in
faith and hope. Because you are free, some of you choose
not to dance or sing. Some of you select hatred over
love, revenge over forgiveness, bombs over a helping
hand. As you choose, I watch. I do not disappear. I
listen to both the songs and the bombs. AND I REMEMBER."
"Where was God?" you wonder...I was
there. I whispered in the ear of a little girl, 'Don't
be afraid, I am with you.' I held the hand of a business
woman as tightly as she clutched mine. I cradled a pilot
against my shoulders as if he were a baby again."
"Amid the paralyzing fear, I was
there, as I was there with my Son in the garden. Amid
the unbearable pain, I was there, as I was with Him as
He was whipped. Amid the terrible realization that life
was ending too soon, I was there, with Him as He hung
on the cross and asked, like you,
"My God, why have you forsaken Me?"
"I had not forsaken Him. I did not
forsake them. I was there as they fell, and as they rose
to eternal joy. I listened to their anger, answered
their questions and showed them why they had been
created. Not to end that way, but to live with Me
forever."
"In an instant, they came into existence. As you did.
In an instant, they left this world. As you will. But
beyond that last instant, I kept my promise...
A little
girl dances, a business woman sings,
and a pilot keeps
his wings forever."
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RAOK Members Pages Dedicated to
9/11
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I Cried |
BeachComber |
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I cried,
I wept, I felt the terror, I felt the anger, the hate. But
that anger, that hate, that is not us, our values, our
beliefs. Our nation provides our freedom, liberty and
pride.And our faith the peace, hope and love, and it is
these that will guide us. |
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An Open Letter To Terrorists
written by Jim Willis |
Mary
Alice ' Moonflower ' |
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What is
there to say - such a tragic day and a day we must never
forget ! For us far from in it miles ... know that are
hearts are there with you always ! |
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Remember 09/11/01 |
FunnyLady |
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As I was
driving my car into work Wednesday (09/12/01), I kept
thinking about all of the people who went to work on
Tuesday morning (09/11/01) not knowing what was about to
happen. How many times have you hurried to work or school
or the store, not ever thinking that you may not make it
back home. I have never written anything like this in my
life, God gave me the words, please sign my guest book at
the bottom of the page and let me know what you think.
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In Loving Memory |
Spiritsong |
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My whole
website began really as my way of trying to heal from the
excrutiating pain of that day. Most of us in New York
can't talk about it, not for very long, without tearing
up. Then usually we'll look into each other's eyes, touch
a hand or give a hug and say, "I know". You didn't need to
be here to know what I'm talking about. You know, too.
These pages are my attempt to put into words that which I
will probably, for the most part, never be able to fully
convey in words. In them I talk about a friend who painted
the towers then finding it to painful to look at, painted
over them with a pretty floral still life. Still she was
unable to look at the painting because she knew the pain
that was just under the surface. That pretty much
describes where I am a year later. |
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No Man Is An Island Entire Of Itself |
~
Elisabeth ~
from ConNosotros |
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It didn't
matter where you were on this planet.... the events that
happened on the 11th September 2001.... still brought home
the terrible destruction, devastation, horror, and
sorrow... that man continually and misguidedly inflicts
upon his fellow men... but from out of all this
despair.... the human soul still managed to shine and far
out strip this wrong...... giving us hope yet that all is
not lost. |
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A Day In September |
Graham
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It was
mid afternoon when I first heard, as I am in England. I
took some mail to the postroom, where a tv was; for some
reason , they were all looking at whatever was on.
Casually looking, I saw all the smoke and rubble, not
believing what I was seeing. It took a while to think this
was actually happening. I hurriedly told the others I
worked with, who just didn't believe it. I telephoned my
father to tell him to look at the tv. Within minutes at my
office, all the tv's around there were tuned to the news,
as the events unfolded. When I went on the internet that
night, I looked at the messages of a group I was in. There
were hundreds. Just before, they were the usual happy
ones, then they all turned grim, with people pleading to
know if they had heard from their families, others saying
they lived nearby and saw it all. The messages were very
moving and upsetting. |
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A Day of Mourning |
Bholdr
~Jan Huddle |
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I was at
my computer, and CNN was on in the background in the other
room. I heard screaming and ran in, just seconds before
the second plane hit. I was stunned and watched in
disbelief as the day unfolded one horror after another. I
live outside Washington DC, near the pentagon, and passed
it everyday for over 30 years before I retired. It was a
horrible nightmare - and still is. I felt compelled to go
my computer, and A Day of Mourning seemed to create
itself. We Will Not Forget, and our Flag is still there. |
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Where Was God? (A beautiful poem) |
KeLisa
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I will
never forget the day, where I was and what I was doing.
This has made are country more united and I am proud to be
a part of it! |
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Message to the World |
Lisa
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I
remember wanting to help all of those hurt by this tragedy
in some way and feeling helpless to do so. All I could do
is give blood, write some poems, and set up a special
tribute on my site. I do believe that the one positive
thing to come out of that horrible day is the fact that
the people of this country as well as around the world
showed a unity that has not been seen in too long. It was
truly inspiring to see the dedicated people in New York
City and Washington working beyond exhaustion to do
everything in their power to help the victims of this
crime; to see people lined up for blocks to give blood; to
see the many poems and sites dedicated to those who have
suffered due to these attacks; to see people from other
countries crying for our losses here and showing their
support through moments of silence; to see the renewal of
patriotism and the flying of flags in every corner of the
United States; and to see donations of every kind pouring
into New York City. I believe we need to focus on these
positive things to help us heal and move forward. |
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Sept 11, 2001 |
Kaye
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There
really are no words to express the great loss that came on
that day. Not just to the families, friends and co-workers
but the realization of the price of Freedom and the need
to always be aware and alert. My heart, thoughts and
prayers are with those that lost so much and with our
country and all that it stands for. |
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United We Stand |
Lainey
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A day
that will be remembered forever and united us against
terrorism. No one from the small terrorist attacks to the
large ones should have to live with the pain and the World
should not have to live with the fear of these hate filled
people. |
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Tribute To The Working Dogs of New York: In Memory of the
Murdered Git Ander |
Mary Alice :
Canadian Voice for
Animals UK Rep. |
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Not
forgetting how hard these special animals friends worked
to save lives also ... and not forgetting the needless
murder of a wonderful Working Dog, Git Ander ! This page
is dedicated to his memory. |
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This Is Your Face, America |
Jacqueline |
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Watching
the rescue workers tirelessly work touched me deeply. No
sacrifice seemed to great. Watching their faces... seeing
their selfless devotion to their country and fellow man
was inspirational. |
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This Is Your Face, America |
Jacqueline |
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Watching
the rescue workers tirelessly work touched me deeply. No
sacrifice seemed to great. Watching their faces... seeing
their selfless devotion to their country and fellow man
was inspirational. |
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Lady Liberty Wept |
Jacqueline |
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Seeing
the magnificent Statue of Liberty still standing alone in
the NY harbor, overlooking all that was taking place on
her shore, made me feel as helpless as she must have felt. |
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Never Forget |
Jacqueline |
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As 2001
came to a close, it was different than any other New Year.
We were leaving behind a year that we really could never
leave behind. For we could never forget. |
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Never Forget |
Jacqueline |
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As 2001
came to a close, it was different than any other New Year.
We were leaving behind a year that we really could never
leave behind. For we could never forget. |
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Light a candle in
remembrance of 9/11 |
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Credits:
