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 GREAT INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING.

I STAND GUARD WITH THE GREATEST MILITARY 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 HELD A LITTLE HIGHER AND MY COLORS ARE A LITTLE TRUER.

I BOW TO NO ONE!

I AM RECOGNIZED ALL OVER THE WORLD.

I AM WORSHIPPED. I AM SALUTED, I AM RESPECTED,

I AM REVERED, I AM LOVED, I AM FEARED!

FOR MORE THAN 200 YEARS, I HAVE FOUGHT IN EVERY BATTLE OF EVERY WAR; GETTYSBURG, SHILOH, SAN JUAN HILL, THE TRENCHES OF FRANCE, THE ARGONE FOREST, ANZIO, ROME, THE BEACHES OF NORMANDY, THE JUNGLES OF THE PHILIPPINES, GUAM, OKINAWA, TARAWA, KOREA, VIETNAM, IN THE HEAT OF THE PERSIAN GULF, AFGHANISTAN, AND A SCORE OF OTHER PLACES.

LONG FORGOTTEN BY ALL, BUT THOSE WHO WERE THERE WERE WITH ME. I WAS THERE.

I LED MY SAILORS AND MARINES,

I FOLLOWED THEM, I WATCH OVER THEM, THEY LOVE ME.

I WAS ON A SMALL HILL ON IWO JIMA.

I WAS DIRTY, TORN, AND TIRED,

BUT MY SAILORS AND MARINES CHEERED ME!

I WAS PROUD!

I HAVE BEEN SOILED, BURNED, TORN, AND TRAMPLED ON THE STREETS OF COUNTRIES THAT I HAVE HELPED SET FREE.

IT DOES NOT HURT FOR I AM INVINCIBLE.

I HAVE BEEN SOILED, BURNED, TORN AND TRAMPLED ON THE STREETS OF MY OWN COUNTRY.

AND WHEN THOSE WHOM I HAVE SERVED WITH IN BATTLE DO IT, IT HURTS! BUT I SHALL OVERCOME FOR I AM STRONG!

I STAND WATCH OVER THE NEW FRONTIERS OF SPACE.

I HAVE BEEN THE SILENT WITNESS OF ALL OF AMERICA’S FINEST HOURS.

I HAVE FLOWN OVER THE TOP OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER.

AND AFTER SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, I HAVE FLOWN OVER ITS RUBBLE TO REMIND THE EVIL IN OUR WORLD THAT MY SPIRIT WILL NOT BE CRUSHED.

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL NOT BE BROKEN.

BUT MY FINEST HOUR COMES WHEN I AM TORN INTO STRIPS, TO BE USED AS BANDAGES FOR MY WOUNDED COMRADES ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE, OR WHEN I LIE IN THE TREMBLING ARMS OF A GRIEVING MOTHER – AT THE GRAVESIDE OF HER FALLEN SON OR DAUGHTER.

I AM PROUD!

MY NAME IS OLD GLORY. LONG MAY I WAVE DEAR GOD, LONG MAY I WAVE.

Liz n Sterling

Great Post MACS!!

Hog

Great Post MACS!!

Hog

It works!

I went to boot at NTC San Diego in Sep 81

I got to my ship in Mar 83, just in time for a Med Cruise

I served on the USS Virginia CGN-38 83-87

Who are riding?

USS Mckee AS-41

USS Ogden LPD-5

USS Mobile Bay CG-53

Only 2 of those ships are still in commission and one is being decommissioned next year...

I am currently on shore duty.

I was starting to feel old until I realized you were finished with your first tour, the year I joined... 1987.

Great post! Thanks for your years of service!

Charlie

I kicked myself in the A@@ a few times on my 39th birthday when I realized I could have been retiring. I know it’s not a fortune but at least it is a mortgage payment.

We caught a thief once on my ship. We took him to MAC, it was a bit obvious that he had fallen “UP” a few ladders; the Chief just shook his head and said he should have been more careful 🙂 Ahh the good old days.

Brother Bob