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That Ragged Old Flag

katrina

Well-known member
I walked through a county courthouse square
On a park bench, an old man was sittin' there.
I said, "Your old court house is kinda run down,
He said, "Naw, it'll do for our little town".
I said, "Your old flag pole is leaned a little bit,
And that’s a ragged old flag you got hangin' on it".
He said, "Have a seat", and I sat down,
"Is this the first time you've been to our little town"
I said, "I think it is"
He said "I don’t like to brag, but we’re kinda proud of
That Ragged Old Flag

"You see, we got a little hole in that flag there,
When Washington took it across the Delaware.
and It got powder burned the night Francis Scott Key sat watching it,
writing "Say Can You See"
It got a rip in New Orleans, with Packingham & Jackson
tugging at its seams.
and It almost fell at the Alamo
beside the Texas flag,
But she waved on though.
She got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville,
And she got cut again at Shiloh Hill.
There was Robert E. Lee and Beauregard and Bragg,
And the south wind blew hard on
That Ragged Old Flag

"On Flanders Field in World War I,
She got a big hole from a Bertha Gun,
She turned blood red in World War II
She hung limp, and low, a time or two,
She was in Korea, Vietnam, She went where she was sent
by her Uncle Sam.
She waved from our ships upon the briny foam
and now they've about quit wavin' back here at home
in her own good land here She’s been abused,
She's been burned, dishonored, denied an' refused,
And the government for which she stands
Has been scandalized throughout out the land.
And she’s getting thread bare, and she’s wearin' thin,
But she’s in good shape, for the shape she’s in.
Cause she’s been through the fire before
and i believe she can take a whole lot more.

"So we raise her up every morning
And we bring her down slow every night,
We don’t let her touch the ground,
And we fold her up right.
On second thought
I *do* like to brag
Cause I’m mighty proud of
That Ragged Old Flag"
 

Faster horses

Well-known member
Thanks Katrina. I could hear Johnny Cash saying that as I read through
it. He did a mighty fine job with that piece. It is humbling to read or
to hear those words.
 

jigs

Well-known member
they had that one on the radio a few times today....gives me goose bumps.

God Bless America, and God bless George Bush!
 

Steve

Well-known member
I read thru the post today, Took awhile....I went to a funeral yeasterday...buried a great man, .....was deeply inspired by him.....his journey through life had many battles, and he stood by his faith, and convictions to the end.....Never knew him to sin,.....wouldn't ever speak bad about another,...and maybe someday I can be half as humble as he was...by his own request, little was said about him during his funeral, but much was said about Christ, and the Christian Journey...we sang hymns that he had picked, and some that his family thought would embody his journey, through life.....then his casket was put on a trailer, and pulled to the graveside by his John Deere tractor....didn't want a hearse....wouldn't be caught dead in one....on his Casket his Grandson put an emblem from his PeterBuilt........Yesterday I saw a humble man pass....and will never forget his journey through life.....

.but as today quietly fades,

I would like to thank "every" one who serves or has ever served for thier sacrifice..
 

sw

Well-known member
Thanks Katrina, that is one of my favorites, I can still hear Johnny reciting that, brings a tear, words alone cannot describe my thanks to all veterans, but I try. I wrote this a year ago, sent it to one of my dearest friends for Veterans day, he being a Vietnam vet, did not really think that it would have the impact that it did. He called me in tears. He put it in their hometown paper and I got emails from people I don't know thanking me. I didn't do squat but put some words together. I know I posted this last year but here it is again, for the newbies of course.

DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY
Was on a sunny, Sunday afternoon, our first time walking through that gate,
To our son a new beginning, but this time the US Marines, were to be his date.
Gave him a goodbye, and a long and hard embrace
I knew there would be tears, if I dared, to look him in the face.


Hugged his little sister, then gave his momma a squeeze too,
Said “I’ll try to stay in touch, I’ll try to write to you.
Cause where I’m going there is no phone, no such thing as email,
There’s even fewer conveniences, than in a small town jail.”
Told his cousin, who was wearing, grandpa’s marine jacket for the event,
“See you around man”, and off with his Sergeant he went.

My respect for him grew immensely, filled me up with a lot of pride,
Had to choke down some of those feelings, us men are trained to hide.
Have never seen my son so committed, to anything he’s done,
Guess that kind of commitment is why, the Marines have usually won.

I have walked among those like him, buried at Arlington,
Watched the changing of the guard at the tomb, of someone’s unknown son.
I’ve stood at the statue of Iwo Jima in awe at those men and their guts,
Turned around and had to listen to a bunch of liberals, and antiwar wingnuts.
Who do they think gave them the right, to express their leftwing thought?
It’s with kids like mine whose commitment, this freedom has been bought.



Anyone who thinks they can do and say whatever they want to say,
Better thank themselves a soldier, each and every single day.
There’s a big Semper Fi pasted on the window, of our front door,
All of those antiwar opinions, to me are just a bore.

This was not just any given Sunday, we were also celebrating my birth.
Guess it was God’s way of telling me, of my contributions to this earth.
My son is being sent to protect you all, his duty to you has been sworn.
I never would of dreamed it, 22 years ago when he was born.

Like most all the good things in life, sometimes you have to wait,
For the time being though, my son has a lot, sitting on his plate.
To all of you that have been there, and those who want to be,
You have my respect, and a big thank you, coming straight from me.
I salute you all, for doing what is right,
I have the privilege of being free, because of those who chose to fight.
Semper Fidelis
 

Red Robin

Well-known member
sw said:
kids like mine
Powerful words SW. We recognized our veterans today at church. I have a favorite veteran there. It's Brother Henry. He's a gentle , mild , Godly man. He was in the Battle for Baaton and the Baaton death march I think. I privately shook his hand this morning and said thanks for serving Henry. It means a lot to me and my family. He kindly said , "your welcome". He was someone's son at the time. He was also someone's husband. There's no doubt that there was a lot of anxiety for him by family members and friends at the time. Now it seems like we really count it as nothing. I don't. sw tell your marine again how much we appreciate his sacrifice . Know also that I appreciate yours and his mothers. Thank you.
 

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