Among the horrible sights we have witnessed in Afghanistan has been the burning of the American Flag as The Taliban celebrated what it considers to be a victory over the USA. But our flag is more than just a symbol, and it has a long & glorious history. It was the flag , during the war of 1812, that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star-Spangled Banner, as our massive flag flew triumphantly atop Baltimore's Fort McHenry after U.S. soldiers withstood a 25-hour bombardment by British warships.

This poem, as you know, eventually became our national anthem. We cherish & honor our flag. For example, The U.S. flag raised by three New York City firemen over Ground Zero became a poignant reminder of America's unwavering spirit after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and contributed to a season of flag-waving in communities & neighborhoods all across the nation. And who can forget the flag raised by American soldiers during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. This flag, which inspired the nation in the midst of global conflict, endures as a symbol of national resolve. Now, let's just imagine again that the flag is actually speaking to us today, in this manner:

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 the world ; I stand for peace, honor, truth, and justice; I am recognized all over the world; I was flown at Gettysburg, Valley Forge, and Shiloh; I was there at San Juan Hill, in the trenches of France, in Rome, and on the beaches of Normandy, Guam, and Okinawa; I have been burned, torn, and trampled on the streets of countries I helped set free, and that doesn't hurt very much.

But when I am burned, torn, and trampled on the streets of my OWN country, and by those I served in battle, THAT does hurt; 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 and I will be there for those finest hours 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 our soldiers, or when I lie in the trembling arms of grieving parents at the grave of their fallen son or daughter, I am honored...For my name is Old Glory and I fly proudly over the greatest country on the face of the earth, The United States of America. God bless America!

Now to close on a humorous note: Two young men were exiting a restaurant when they discovered, to their dismay, that they had locked their keys in their car. One says to the other, "What do we do? Do we get a coat hanger and pick the lock?" His friend replied, "No, people will think we're trying to break in." "Well, do we get a knife and cut the rubber and pop the lock?" His friend said, "No, people will think we're too stupid to use the coat hanger," to which the other man said, "Well, we better do something quick, because it's starting to rain and the Sunroof is open!"