> "THAT RAGGED OLD FLAG" > (Author Unknown) > > I walked through a county courthouse square. > On a park bench an old man was sitting there. > I said, "Your old Court House is kinda run down." > He said, "No, it will do for our little town." > I said, "Your old flag Pole is leaning a little bit. > And that's a ragged old Flag you've got hanging on it." > He said, "Have a seat," and I sat down > "Is the first time that you've been to our little town?" > "Well," 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 the Flag there, > When Washington took it across the Delaware. > And it got powder burns, the night Francis Scott Key, > Sat watching it, writing 'Oh, Say, Can You See.' > And it got a bad rip at New Orleans, > When Packingham and Jackson took it to the scene > And, it almost fell at the Alamo beside the Texas Flag > But she waved on through > She got cut with a sword at Chancerville, > And she got cut again at Shilo Hill > There was Robert E. Lee, Bouregard and Bragg > The South wind blew hard on that Old Ragged Flag > On Flanders Field in World War One > She got a big hole from a Bertha Gun > She turned BLOOD RED World War Two, > And she hung limp and low a time or two > She was in Korea and Vietnam > She went from our ships upon the briny foam > Now they've about quit waving her back here at home > In our good land she's been abused, > She's been burned, dishonored, denied, and refused > And the Government for which she stands > Is scandalized through out the land > She's getting threadbare and she's wearing thin, > But, she's in good shape for the shape she's in > Because she's been through the fire before, > I believe she can take a whole lot more > So we raise her up every morning, and we > Take her down every night, > We don't let her touch the ground, > and we fold her up right, > On second thought, I DO LIKE TO BRAG, > BECAUSE I'M MIGHTY PROUD OF THAT RAGGED OLD FLAG. > > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > The foundations of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable > principals of private morality. > ~~ George Washington in his inaugural speech. >