Skip to main content

Spiritual Sundays ~ Independence Day




The Flag of the United States of America

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 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,
I bow to no one!
I am recognized all over the world.
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 Appomattoz. I was there at San Juan Hill, the trenches of France, in the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome and the beaches of Normandy. Guam, Okinawa, Korea and KheSan, Saigon, Vietnam know me. I’m presently in the mountains of Afganistan and the hot and dusty deserts of Iraq and wherever freedom is needed. I led my troops, I was dirty, battleworn 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 in the streets of my country. And when it’s done by those whom I’ve served in battle – it hurts.
But I shall overcome – for I am strong. I have slipped the bonds of earth and stood watch over the uncharted frontiers of space from my vantage point on 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.

Bob Thompson, Retired Military Veteran
Panama, City, Florida


Join Ginger and Charlotte at Spiritual Sundays for more inspirational writings submitted by wonderful inspiring writers. Happy Independence Day and praise God for our freedom!

Comments

  1. Debbie PetrasJuly 4, 2009 at 3:07 PM

    I've never seen this before but how perfect for this day. Happy Fourth of July to you Mary.

    ReplyDelete
  2. CharlotteJuly 4, 2009 at 3:24 PM

    This is wonderful. I don't see how anyone can live in America and not love and be proud of our flag. It represents so much that is good in this world.
    Happy 4th to you.
    Charlotte

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sandi@ Rose Chintz CottageJuly 4, 2009 at 3:29 PM

    A very touching tribute! Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful July 4th weekend with a lovely Spiritual Sunday.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

    ReplyDelete
  4. rcubesJuly 4, 2009 at 5:42 PM

    Happy 4th sister and your post is a great time for us to reflect on what America is all about - freedom. And it is for freedom that Christ died on the cross. Fireworks would be greatly displayed in different places tonight but may the Lord do a revival and create fireworks in each person's heart to seek Him and love Him. God bless sister and have a great weekend! Love you in Christ!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Kathleen July 4, 2009 at 5:51 PM

    What precious roots!

    Praying you and your family have a peaceful 4th.

    Kathleen

    ReplyDelete
  6. LorenJuly 4, 2009 at 7:46 PM

    What an awesome post! How humbling too when put in this light! Thankyou!

    I am praying for a peacefilled 4th and rest of your weekend with your family!

    Love you Mary!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. AlleluiabelleJuly 4, 2009 at 7:48 PM

    My Dear, Precious Friend,

    I have never seen this writing before, but it was absolutely beautiful. My husband and I layed low today and I have reflected much on what Independence Day really means. I hope your day was good one.

    Love, Peace, Blessings & Prayers,
    Alleluiabelle

    ReplyDelete
  8. KarenJuly 4, 2009 at 8:19 PM

    Thank you for sharing that. It was raining hard all day here and caused our busy day to become a much needed rest.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ziggy StardustJuly 4, 2009 at 10:11 PM

    God bless you I am following on Spiritual Sunday.

    Anne

    ReplyDelete
  10. SmilingSallyJuly 5, 2009 at 4:00 AM

    God bless America.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Musings of A MinisterJuly 5, 2009 at 8:44 AM

    Great. I love our flag too. What a great country we live in. I am grateful to God for it.

    ReplyDelete
  12. SueJuly 5, 2009 at 12:43 PM

    What a perfect peace of writing for this time, all so true. She has stood the test of time and I am so proud of her. Thank you for sharing.
    Blessings,
    Sue

    ReplyDelete
  13. AndreaJuly 5, 2009 at 7:32 PM

    Continuing to pray for you!!

    Stop by arise 2 write..you have been tagged!

    Love ya, andrea

    ReplyDelete
  14. christy roseJuly 6, 2009 at 9:30 AM

    This was perfect for this holiday! thanks for sharing it Mary!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Ginger~~Enchanting CottageJuly 6, 2009 at 8:16 PM

    Beautiful!!
    God Bless,
    Ginger

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Memorial Day Reflection

  Memorial Day is always noteworthy for me and my girls.  Next Thursday marks the third year of missing their father, my husband. So many thoughts  run through my mind.  The journey of loss takes on various emotions.  The strongest feeling, at first, was emptiness.  In a split second, I would forget he departed forever.  I imagined things I needed to talk to him about when he got back home.  My mind is realistic now.  He's not coming back.  There will be no more times of sitting on the porch swing together on the front deck staring at the moon and the stars.  He would tell me all he knew about the majestic night sky. I have so much I wish I could tell him, like the excitement of seeing our oldest grandchild make a decision to follow Jesus and get baptized on Mother's Day!  And our little Amy, 11 years old, I wish he could have seen her on stage receiving her induction to the National Honor Society. Our daughters have their own ...
24 comments
Read more

I'm Going as Abigail This Year

I vote for more purses, toothbrushes, cups, storybooks, and Halloween costumes that feature Abigail of the Old Testament.  She is a heroin worthy to emulate, in my opinion, even more than Cinderella. Once upon a time, there was a kind woman by the name of Abigail who lived with a surly man who liked to drink a lot and have parties.  One time, King David and his army were very hungry and entered the surly man’s homestead and asked if they could come to his barbecue.  The king had a right to ask because he and his men protected the homestead’s boundary lines.  The surly man said “No.  Get off my property.”  The King had a temper and became offended. Surly drunk + spiteful King = War In the meantime, Abigail heard about the situation and spent hours baking cinnamon rolls for the King and his army.  She dismounted from her horse and presented the King with her peace offering.  She bowed low and greeted the King and asked his forgi...
39 comments
Read more

The Architect

I don’t recall any other year feeling so intimate with our Lord regarding my one word as in 2015.  God’s GRACE laced my ordinary days and each night, before falling asleep I would recall grace, so apparent, in the events of the day! Memories also surfaced of grace in my past and I knew I had to write about them.  I felt compelled to share the grace that blanketed my personal life.  Thank you for reading my stories over this past year.  Your comments support and encourage me. I received my new word, “Creator,” and felt perplexed as every year wondering what my one word would unveil.   What does God want me to learn about His name, Creator?   I wonder if I should join my girlfriend, Peggy, more often when she leads nature hikes in the mountains of Sedona.  Does God want me to appreciate and to praise Him for the beauty of His creation all year? I think it’s more than that.  A Scripture verse springs up in my min...
34 comments
Read more