America Stands Tall

July 8, 2002

by Robert Yoho

Silently they stood, guns at the ready, facing down the British troops on Concord Bridge. Cold and shivering, they stood barefoot in the blood stained snow of Valley Forge. Nathan Hale stood tall as they slipped a noose around his neck and he uttered his final words: "I regret that I have but one life to give for my country." America sometimes didn’t know if she would see another sunrise. But she stood.

As the smoke and flames rose above those blue Hawaii skies, America once again stood tall. Our fleet destroyed, the Arizona resting in its watery grave, our young men incinerated in the roiling, oil soaked waters of the Pacific, America stood tall. Her shoulders were slumped and she wiped away a tear from her eye, but America stood. And she knew there would be another day.

America stood tall on the brutal death marches of Bataan. Their sick and dehydrated bodies were often wracked with pain, but they stood! Our country stood tall when the doomed members of Torpedo Squadron 8 perished in the murky depths at the battle of Midway. America stood tall when she braved the guns and mortars of Omaha Beach. She crawled and clawed her way through the bloody sands to the distant seawall, but she stood!

America stood tall on the day when President Truman made the fateful decision. We stood tall when Colonel Tibbets and the Enola Gay dropped their deadly cargo. Gen. MacArthur and America stood tall on the decks of the U.S.S. Missouri when another war ended. America’s new day had come.

With "one small step for man," America stood tall on the white, sandy surface of the moon. America stood tall in the face of communism. We stood before the impenetrable concrete barrier and our president urged them to "tear down this wall!"

In the face of terrorism, our country once again stood tall. The two shining towers of the World Trade Center had long stood proud and tall on the gleaming New York skyline. In less than two hours, the towers were gone. But America stood tall on Black Tuesday.

Firefighters and policemen bravely entered those towering infernos to rescue ordinary citizens. Many of them perished that day, but their memories and selfless acts of heroism will continue to stand tall. In vain, their colleagues searched the rubble for survivors. However, their valiant efforts and utter disregard for their own safety made a nation proud. A battered and bloody America stood tall. Her shoulders were slumped and she wiped away a tear from her eye, but America stood. And she knew there would be another sunrise.

Fully aware of their eventual fate, the passengers on United Flight 93 refused to sit still in the face of terror. Ordinary Americans citizens stood tall and were transformed into heroes. Humble patriots, armed with nothing more than their faith and love of family, boldly fought back against the evil day. They came to their feet; they stood tall. With the words "Let’s roll!" - America stood tall.

In the midst of the crisis, our president provided calm and capable leadership. President Bush indeed stood tall. He stood tall among the firefighters in New York City when he said, "I hear you! The world hears you. And the people who tore down these buildings will hear from all of us soon!" Our president stood tall before Congress, when he addressed the chaotic country and a waiting world. He stood tall when he said, "We will bring the terrorists to justice or we will bring justice to the terrorists!"

America also stood tall in the faces of our men and women in uniform. Their Commander-in-Chief warned them to "be ready." But they have always stood tall and ready to serve. The arrogant armies of al Qaeda could not stand against the military might of a wounded and relentless America. America stood tall, on the verge of another sunrise.

Our armed forces have stood tall on the battlefield or in the rows of glimmering white headstones standing in formation at Arlington. Whether at war or at their eternal rest, our military has stood tall. And America forever stands tall because of them.

Like our country, the colors of our flag have also stood tall. Old Glory stood tall through the shelling of Fort McHenry and inspired the penning of our National Anthem. Our flag stood tall and triumphant on the black, volcanic soil of Mount Suribachi. Our dust covered flag stood tall as three weary firefighters raised it over the rubble of the World Trade Center. The red, white, and blue stood defiantly as it was draped over the side of a damaged Pentagon. Whenever Old Glory flies above the landscape, America stands tall.

In history and heritage, America has stood tall. But most of all, our nation stands tall because it was founded on bended knees. Our founders stood tall when they sought Him out for guidance. Moreover, those brave men stood tallest when they bowed only to God.

Throughout our history, America has stood tall. From pauper to president, from pilgrim to programmer, from Minuteman to Marine, our people have stood tall. We have been bloodied and blessed, haughty and humbled, tested and triumphant, but through it all, America has always stood tall!