I went to an assembly
not long ago
a play at my son’s grammar school
I had forgotten my seeing glasses
and since my sunglasses are
prescription I was wearing those
musta looked like a thug
350 students stood
put their hand over their heart
in one voice
recited the pledge
I was never so glad for dark sunglasses
all of those voices, so young and strong and
beautiful
pledging their allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America
coulda been hormones
most likely was pride
the flag stood at the corner of the stage
all eyes fixed upon it's glory
my mind flashed to images of brave
men and woman
giving their lives so that we could have this moment
a moment of freedom such as this
my eyes scanned the room
for the one little boy I had come to see
the one little boy that I choose to raise under these
stars and stripes
and in that second
our eyes met, locked in the words
we smiled
I was never so glad for dark sunglasses



I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America
and to the republic for which it stands
one nation
under God
indivisible
with liberty and justice
for all

Happy Birthday America