Old Glory Waves At Me
by Cheryl Huston


I learned the pledge of allegiance
when I was only three.
I said the words as best I could
And Old Glory waved at me.

When I was 5 I learned
The words to “O say can you see?”
I didn’t know what the words all meant
But Old Glory waved at me.

In school we didn’t say the pledge
Someone thought those things were bad,
I looked up at Old Glory,
But that flag just looked so sad.

And then a few years later,
I saw people burning up our flag
I couldn’t help but wonder
Why those colors made them mad.

I grew up and wore a uniform
Proudly in Old Glory’s name,
But many people called me bad,
And tried to make me feel ashamed.

I know what every star is for,
And the stripes of white and red,
I know that  for her honor
There are thousands who are dead.

Each time I hear the music play
Or hear, ‘O say can you see?’
I stand and hail her proudly
While Old Glory waves at me.


The inspiration for this poem came from a little 5 year old girl.  I was hanging a red, white and blue
banner at Wal - Mart where I work.  She and her little sister came over to talk to me.  She pointed to
the banner and said, “I can sing that, I learned how when I was 3”.  I asked her to sing it for me.  She
began to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.  She knew every single word, and pronounced them as best
she could.  The phrase that stuck in my mind and inspired the writing was “one Dation under God”.
So, remember we are all one Dation under God, with liberty and justice for all.