Hello...Remember Me?

"Some people call me Old Glory, others call me the Star Spangled Banner. But whatever they call me, I am YOUR Flag, the Flag of the United States of America. I remember when people would line up on both sides of the street to watch a parade, and naturally, I was leading it, proudly waving in the breeze. When your Daddy saw me coming, he immediately removed his hat and placed it over his heart, up against his left shoulder...remember? And you, I remember you. Standing there straight as a soldier. You didn't have a hat, but you were giving the right salute...and remember your little sister? Not to be outdone, she was saluting the same as you with her right hand over her heart...remember? What happened? I'm still the same old Flag. Oh, I have a few more Stars since you were a boy. A lot more blood has been shed since those parades of long ago. But now, I don't feel as proud as I used to..when I come down your street, you just stand there with your hands in your pockets. I may get a small glance and then you look away. Then I see the little children running around and shouting...they don't seem to know who I am...I saw one man take his hat off, then look around, and when he didn't see anybody with their's off, he quickly put his back on...is it a sin to be patriotic anymore? Have you forgotten what I stand for and where I've been? Anzio, Guadalcanal, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq, Afghanistan? Take a look at the Memorial Honor Rolls of those who never came back in order to keep this Republic FREE! When you salute me, you are actually saluting them. Well, it won't be long before I'll be coming down your street again, so when you see me, stand straight, place your right hand over your heart, and I'll salute you, by waving back..and forth..and I'll know that YOU REMEMBERED!"