I am not a native-born American (in fact, I was born in Vietnam), but I have been in America since I was ten. (I am now 14 1/2.)
I was also sworn in as a citizen two years ago, when I was almost 12.)
My name is Anh Kim Van Sandusky, and I am one of 50 kids in my family. Mom and dad adopted us because they wanted a big family, and they wanted a lot of kids. Which is what happened, and why there are so many kids in my family.
But I am not here to write about that. I am here to write about the Flag..the AMERICAN Flag. I am an American now, and the Flag means more to me than ever, especially since last September 11 when cowardly people purposely attacked our buildings and killed many innocent people, be they men, women, and even little children--people who DIDN'T DESERVE TO DIE.
The Flag of America is a simple one: red, white, and blue, with stripes (13) and stars (50) that shine brightly in a field of blue. It is simple, but it means FREEDOM to all who live here or to those who come to our shores; and visitors from other lands have always been welcomed; but the events of September 11 have made us more cautious, more vigilent, more aware. We will never forget those who perished in the attacks, and we will never forget those responsible; it only make us more determined than ever to get those responsible and punish them SEVERELY for what they did. (If I had MY way, I'd love to boil them alive; after all, that's just what THEY did when they crashed their planes into the Twin Towers and burned up many innocents!)
But it is a Flag that means more than freedom: it stands for liberty, for justice, and for tolerance. In America, we can be united as one, no matter where you come from, or how you believe (I am a former Buddhist, recently converted to Christian beliefs), or what heritage you have in your veins. I am Vietnamese through and through, but I am also AMERICAN. I now make America my home, and I have the papers to prove that fact. I believe in the Pledge of Allegience (WITH "UNDER GOD" STILL IN IT) and in standing up as we sing "THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER". I also salute the American Flag each and every time it passes by, and each and every time I see an American Flag I still get shivers and goosebumps!!
If you were to see me on the street, you would see a short, skinny Oriental kid on crutches; and more than likely I will be wearing something that has something to do with America or have something to do with the Flag on my shirt. I have a ton of clothes as it is, and I have many that have to do with America or the Flag.
And I am VERY PROUD to wear them, even if some of them ARE quite grotty in appearance!! (My friend who is from Australia says that; "grotty" means "ratty" or "grungy". I LOVE the way he talks!!)
Now the Fourth of July is staring at us, and we will be celebrating, as will Americans all across this great land. Yes, there's talk of terror happening, but we will make damned sure that DOESN'T happen; we are on our guard, and the skies and shores will have extra people on the lookout. We will continue to live our lives as normally as possible and not let terror rule; we are a courageous people, and it is NOT in our nature to be scared. Yes, we were savagely attacked last year, but we have emerged STRONGER than ever before!!! AMERICA IS STILL STANDING!! AND WE ARE STILL UNITED!!
And you can bet that I WILL be waving my Flag in the air, proud to be an AMERICAN!!!!
"God bless america/land that I love/stand beside Her/and guide Her/Through the night with the light from Above!"
"Oh, say can you see/By the dawn's early light/What so proudly we hailed/at the twilight's last gleaming?/whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight/O'er the ramparts we watched/were so gallantly streaming?/And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air/Gave proof through the night, THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE!/Oh, say does that star-spangled Banner yet wave/O'er the LAND OF THE FREE/AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE!"
"My country, 'tis of thee/sweet land of liberty/of thee I sing!
Land where my fathers died!/Land of the pilgrims' pride!/
From every mountain side/LET FREEDOM RING!!!!"
"I pledge allegience 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!"
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Reviewed by Steve Reichard
11/11/2002
Totally amazing and such a joy to read:) by the way thanks for all the wonderful comments you left me on my work I really appreciate them:)
A short story of mine was included in an anthology of short fiction by fourteen of Port Town Publishing Company's authors. It is out of print and no longer available except as a download. Contact me at charlenetess@yahoo.com if you want it.
What began as Songs of the Angelic Gaze in the summer of 2006 continued the following year as The Bridge of Silver Wings, and developed even further two years after that into The Bridge of Silver Wings 2009. Whether readers describe it as a conversa
A short story of mine was included in an anthology of short fiction by fourteen of Port Town Publishing Company's authors. It is out of print and no longer available except as a download. Contact me at charlenetess@yahoo.com if you want it.
