Over the years, he has accepted offers to recite
the “Ragged Old Flag” at various local functions
throughout the year, as his schedule permits.
“The ‘Ragged Old Flag’ poem not only honors
those brave men and women who fought for our
country, or who are currently serving in the military
it also serves as a poignant reminder of the
great service and sacrifice it takes to keep our
nation free and safe for all,” says Townson.
Celebrated on June 14, Flag Day is an annual observance
of the Second Continental Congress’ official adoption of
the stars and stripes in 1777. At that time, they resolved
the flag of the United States would be represented by
13 alternating red and white stripes and the union by 13
white stars in a blue field.
Flag Day is not a federal holiday but is observed all across
the country. The holiday was officially established in
1916 by President Woodrow Wilson and in 1949 Congress
declared June 14 as a national holiday.
The Ragged Old Flag
By Johnny Cash and Charlie Daniels
Revised by Max Townson
As I walked around the county courthouse square,
On a park bench an old man was sitting there.
I said, “Your old courthouse is kinda rundown,”
He said, “Naw, it will do for our little town.”
I said, “Your flagpole is leaned a bit,
And that’s a Ragged Old Flag you got hanging on it.”
And he said, “Have a seat”, so I sat down.
And he said, “Son, is this the first time you’ve been to our
little town?”
And I said, “I think it is.” 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 that flag there
When Washington took it across the Delaware.
Then it got powder-burns the night Francis Scott Key
Sat watching it writing ‘Oh Say Can You See’.
Then she got a bad rip in New Orleans
With Packingham and Jackson a-tuggin’ at her seams.”
“Then she almost fell at the Alamo
Beside the Texas flag, but she waved on though.
Then she got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville
Then she got cut again at Shiloh Hill.
There was Robert E. Lee, Beauregard, and Bragg,
And the south winds blew hard on that Ragged Old Flag.”
“Then on Flanders Field in World War I
She got a big hole from a Bertha Gun.
Then she turned blood red in World War II
And she hung limp and low a time or two.
She was in Korea and Vietnam.
She even went to the Persian Gulf for her Uncle Sam.
Then she stormed across the sands of Afghanistan,
crossed the Tigress and the Euphrates to show
those terrorists they can’t do as they please.
They’ve got to realize that that ain’t no rag, that’s our flag.
At this very moment, she waves from our ships upon the
briny foam and since September 11th, there’s a lot more folks
waving her back here at home. However, in her own good
land, she’s been abused.
She’s been burned, dishonored, denied and refused. And the
government for which she stands has even been scandalized
throughout this land. Now she’s getting thread bare and
she’s wearing thin but she’s in good shape for the shape she’s
in.
‘Cause she has been through the fires before
and I believe that she can take a whole lot more.
So we raise her up every morning; we take her down at
night.
We don’t let her touch the ground, and we fold her up right.
So on second thought, I guess I do like to brag, cause I’m
mighty proud of that ragged old flag.
As I begin to rise from that park bench, I had to wipe a tear
from my eye. Then the old man shook my hand and said,
Son, I want you to always remember those brave and noble
men and women: the native Americans, the black, yellow
and white that shed their precious blood for those stars and
stripes.
Well all I could think of to say as I departed from the old
man on that glorious day was “God Bless the US of A.”
CULLMAN COUNTY SENIOR MAGAZINE FALL 2020 | 13