I am the flag

I am the flag of the United States of America
My name is Old Glory.

I fly atop the world's tallest buildings.
I stand watch in America's halls of justice.
I fly majestically over great institutes of learning.
I stand guard with the greatest military power in the world.
Look up! And see me!

I stand for peace, honor, truth, and justice.
I stand for freedom.
I am confident . . . I am arrogant.
I am proud.

When I am flown with my fellow banners,
my head is a little higher,
my colors a little truer.

I bow to no one.
I am recognized all over the world.
I am worshipped.
I am saluted.
I am respected.
I am revered. I am loved.
And I am feared.

I have fought every battle of every war for more than 200 years...
Gettysburg, Shilo, Appomatox, San Juan Hill, the trenches of France,
the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome, the beaches of Normandy,
the deserts of Africa, the cane fields of the Philippines,
the rice paddies and jungles of Guam, Okinawa, Japan, Korea, Vietnam,
and a score of places long forgotten by all but those who were with me.

I was there!

I led my soldiers.
I followed them.
I watched over them...
They loved me.
I was on a small hill in Iwo Jima.
I was dirty, battle-worn and tired,
but my soldiers cheered me,
and I was proud.

I have been soiled, burned, torn and trampled on the streets of countries
I have helped set free.
It does not hurt . . . for I am invincible.
I have been soiled, burned, torn and trampled on the streets of my country,
and when it is by those with whom I have served in battle . . . it hurts.
But I shall overcome . . . for I am strong.

I have slipped the bonds of Earth
and stand watch over the uncharted new frontiers of space
from my vantage point on the moon.

I have been a silent witness to all of America's finest hours.
But my finest hour comes
when I am torn into strips to be used for bandages
for my wounded comrades on the field of battle.
when I fly at half mast to honor my soldiers...
and when I lie in the trembling arms
of a grieving mother at the graveside of her fallen son.

I am proud.
My name is Old Glory.
Dear God . . . Long may I wave!

SMSgt. Don S. Miller, USAF (Ret.)

Indiana: Five Critical Pro-Gun Reforms Take Effect July 1!

As Hoosiers prepare to celebrate America’s Independence Day and the freedoms we enjoy, gun owners have something else to celebrate: five important gun law reforms took effect in Indiana on Friday, July 1.

 

2011 was the most successful pro-gun legislative session in the Hoosier State’s recent history, as the Indiana General Assembly passed and Governor Mitch Daniels signed into law five NRA-supported bills that will expand and protect the rights of lawful gun owners.

 

As of July 1, Hoosiers:

 

  • Are protected from employer anti-gun workplace discrimination;
  • have the ability to purchase a long gun in any state that allows such sales;
  • can transport a firearm to a shooting range without a state-issued permit;
  • know that wherever one might travel throughout Indiana, the same firearm laws and freedoms apply evenly across local boundaries; and 
  • are able to carry a loaded firearm on their person on off-road vehicles on private property.

 

Senate Enrolled Act 292, the “Firearm Preemption Reform” bill, mandates a strong and meaningful statewide standard for all firearm laws in Indiana, prevents municipalities from restricting firearm purchases, ownership and lawful carry that are allowed by state law, and removes existing special exemptions for particular communities. 

This bill was authored by state Senator Jim Tomes (R-49) and was coauthored by Senators Jim Smith (R-45), Scott Schneider (R-30), Jim Banks (R-17), Brent Waltz (R-36), Brent Steele (R-44), Dennis Kruse (R-14), John Waterman (R-39), Brandt Hershman (R-7), and NRA Board Member Senator Johnny Nugent (R-43).  The measure was sponsored in the House by state Representative Mike Speedy (R-90) and cosponsored by Representatives Sean Eberhart (R-57), Eric Koch (R-65), Heath VanNatter (R-38) and Terry Goodin (D-66).

Senate Enrolled Act 506, the “Firearm Transport Permit Reform” bill, makes important reforms to current Indiana law. Until SEA 506 becomes effective Friday, July 1, state law bans the transport of a handgun in your vehicle without a state-issued permit for any reason unless driving from the point of purchase to your home or fixed place of business, or from your home or fixed place of business to a gunsmith for repair.

 

The “Firearm Transport Permit Reform” bill was authored by state Senator Jim Tomes (R-49) and coauthored by Senators Dennis Kruse (R-14), Jim Smith (R-45), Scott Schneider (R-30), Brent Waltz (R-36), Michael Young (R-35), John Waterman (R-39), Travis Holdman (R-19), Jim Banks (R-17) and NRA Board Member Johnny Nugent (R-43). The measure was sponsored in the House by state Representative Heath VanNatter (R-38) and cosponsored by Representatives Sean Eberhart (R-57) and Robert Morris (R-84).

 

Senate Enrolled Act 411, also known as the “Parking Lot 2.0” bill, clarifies and strengthens last year’s “Parking Lot” employee protection bill by putting an end to abusive corporate anti-gun policies by several employers around the state, including forced firearm registration, random vehicle searches, and publicized “gun zone” parking lots for gun owning employees.

 

This bill was authored by state Senators Johnny Nugent (R-43) and Jim Tomes (R-49) and was sponsored in the House by state Representative Eberhart (R-57) and cosponsored by Representatives Woody Burton (R-58) and David Cheatham (D-69).


Senate Enrolled Act 94 is known as the “Non-Contiguous State Firearm Purchase” bill.  SEA 94 removes the unnecessary and onerous ban on lawful rifle and shotgun purchases in states that do not border Indiana.  SEA 94 also aids Indiana’s economy by allowing Indiana firearm retailers to sell rifles and shotguns to lawful residents of non-border states who travel or shop in Indiana. This bill was authored by state Senators Travis Holdman (R-19) and Jim Tomes (R-49) and co-authored by Senators Johnny Nugent (R-43), Brent Steele (R-44), Lindel Hume (D-48), John Waterman (R-39), Dennis Kruse (R-14), Allen Paul (R-27), Ron Grooms (R-46), Jim Smith (R-45) and Tom Wyss (R-15). In the House, the bill was sponsored by state Representative Matthew Lehman (R-79) and cosponsored by Representative Sean Eberhart (R-57).

Senate Enrolled Act 154 allows loaded firearms on off-road vehicles on private property if the person carrying the firearm owns or has permission to be on the property.  SEA 154 was authored by state Senator Brent Steele (R-44) and co-authored by Senators Jim Buck (R-21), Dennis Kruse (R-14) and Phil Boots (R-23). The bill was sponsored in the House by Representative Sean Eberhart (R-57) and was co-authored by Representatives Dale Grubb (D-42), Matt Ubelhor (R-62) and Steve Davisson (R-73).

 

The NRA would also like to thank Governor Mitch Daniels, Senate President Pro Tempore David Long (R-16) and House Speaker Brian Bosma (R-88) for supporting each of these important new reforms.

 

All five firearm laws went into effect on July 1, just in time for our nation’s Independence Day celebration.

Dark-hunter

We are Darkness. We are Shadow. We are the Rulers of the Night. We, alone, stand between mankind and those who would see mankind destroyed. We are the Guardians. The Soulless Keepers. Our souls were cast out so that we would not forewarn the Daimons we pursue. By the time they see us coming, it's too late. The Daimons and Apollites know us. They fear us. We are death to all those who prey upon the humans. Neither Human, nor Apollite, we exist beyond the realm of the Living, beyond the realm of the Dead. We are the Dark-Hunters. And we are eternal.