By George R. McKinney
American Legion Post 70
Seabrook, New Hampshire
(November 11, 2001
Amended September 5, 2002)
[Courtesy of Hamptons American Legion Post 35]
From my position on a post above that star shaped fort,I saw the English sail into the Baltimore port.
When the fighting started, I flew with pride,
And even took a shell deep into my side.
By the dawns early light and the rockets red glare,
All could see that I was still there.
When the battles started in our nation so torn,
And another flag for our country was born.
I was carried aloft and held real high,
Only to watch the kinfolk die.
It idn't stop the blue and the gray,
Both flags were the same colors anyway.
The war in the pacific was another place,
For men to die, just to save face.
A band of Marines knew just what to do,
On Mount Surabachi, I flew there too.
As the stars were added to my field of blue,
Another chore I was given to do.
As heroes fall like all the rest,
I cover them, for they gave their best.
They gave their all in their love for me,
From the air and the land and the deep blue sea.
And when the towers fell, that September morn,
They found me alone, tattered and torn.
They flew my brother high from a makeshift pole,
Those three Firemen with heart and soul.
To the games I was carried with pride in the heart,
Though I was torn, but not torn apart.
I may have stumbled, I may have fell,
But Osama, you can go right straight to Hell,
I still fly proud and true, I still stand Red, White and Blue.
Now the laws have changed and it's a shame,
They allow people to play a game,
To use me in their own free will,
To burn me, wear me, and abuse me still.
To let me fly without a light,
Till I am torn and tattered, it just isn't right.
When I am old, and tattered and no longer can fly,
When to look upon me brings a tear to your eye.
Then treat me with the love that I gave you,
And take proper care of the Red, White and Blue.