Freeper Canteen ~ Flag Day ~ June 14, 2004

Canteen Crew

[StarCMC]

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		Flag Day June 14, 2004
	I am the flag of the United States of America I was born on June 14, 1777, in Philadelphia. There the Continental Congress adopted my stars and stripes as the national flag. My thirteen stripes alternating red and white, with a union of thirteen white stars in a field of blue, represented a new constellation, a new nation dedicated to the personal and religious liberty of mankind. Today fifty stars signal from my union, one for each of the fifty sovereign states in the greatest constitutional republic the world has ever known. My colors symbolize the patriotic ideals and spiritual qualities of the citizens of my country. My red stripes proclaim the fearless courage and integrity of American men and boys and the self-sacrifice and devotion of American mothers and daughters. My white stripes stand for liberty and equality for all. My blue is the blue of heaven, loyalty, and faith. I represent these eternal principles: liberty, justice, and humanity. I embody American freedom: freedom of speech, religion, assembly, the press, and the sanctity of the home. I typify that indomitable spirit of determination brought to my land by Christopher Columbus and by all my forefathers - the Pilgrims, Puritans, settlers at James town and Plymouth. I am as old as my nation. I am a living symbol of my nation's law: the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights. I voice Abraham Lincoln's philosophy: "A government of the people, by the people,for the people." I stand guard over my nation's schools, the seedbed of good citizenship and true patriotism. I am displayed in every schoolroom throughout my nation; every schoolyard has a flag pole for my display. Daily thousands upon thousands of boys and girls pledge their allegiance to me and my country. I have my own law—Public Law 829, "The Flag Code" - which definitely states my correct use and display for all occasions and situations. I have my special day, Flag Day. June 14 is set aside to honor my birth. Americans, I am the sacred emblem of your country. I symbolize your birthright, your heritage of liberty purchased with blood and sorrow. I am your title deed of freedom, which is yours to enjoy and hold in trust for posterity. If you fail to keep this sacred trust inviolate, if I am nullified and destroyed, you and your children will become slaves to dictators and despots. Eternal vigilance is your price of freedom. As you see me silhouetted against the peaceful skies of my country, remind yourself that I am the flag of your country, that I stand for what you are - no more, no less. Guard me well, lest your freedom perish from the earth. Dedicate your lives to those principles for which I stand: "One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." I was created in freedom. I made my first appearance in a battle for human liberty. God grant that I may spend eternity in my "land of the free and the home of the brave" and that I shall ever be known as "Old Glory," the flag of the United States of America. Click the pics for music - mouse over for titles!                     History of Flag Day The Fourth of July was traditionally celebrated as America's birthday, but the idea of an annual day specifically celebrating the Flag is believed to have first originated in 1885. BJ Cigrand, a schoolteacher, arranged for the pupils in the Fredonia, Wisconsin Public School, District 6, to observe June 14 (the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes) as 'Flag Birthday'. In numerous magazines and newspaper articles and public addresses over the following years, Cigrand continued to enthusiastically advocate the observance of June 14 as 'Flag Birthday', or 'Flag Day'. On June 14, 1889, George Balch, a kindergarten teacher in New York City, planned appropriate ceremonies for the children of his school, and his idea of observing Flag Day was later adopted by the State Board of Education of New York. On June 14, 1891, the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia held a Flag Day celebration, and on June 14 of the following year, the New York Society of the Sons of the Revolution, celebrated Flag Day. Following the suggestion of Colonel J Granville Leach (at the time historian of the Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of the Revolution), the Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Dames of America on April 25, 1893 adopted a resolution requesting the mayor of Philadelphia and all others in authority and all private citizens to display the Flag on June 14th. Leach went on to recommend that thereafter the day be known as 'Flag Day', and on that day, school children be assembled for appropriate exercises, with each child being given a small Flag. Two weeks later on May 8th, the Board of Managers of the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution unanimously endorsed the action of the Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Dames. As a result of the resolution, Dr. Edward Brooks, then Superintendent of Public Schools of Philadelphia, directed that Flag Day exercises be held on June 14, 1893 in Independence Square. School children were assembled, each carrying a small Flag, and patriotic songs were sung and addresses delivered. In 1894, the governor of New York directed that on June 14 the Flag be displayed on all public buildings. With BJ Cigrand and Leroy Van Horn as the moving spirits, the Illinois organization, known as the American Flag Day Association, was organized for the purpose of promoting the holding of Flag Day exercises. On June 14th, 1894, under the auspices of this association, the first general public school children's celebration of Flag Day in Chicago was held in Douglas, Garfield, Humboldt, Lincoln, and Washington Parks, with more than 300,000 children participating. Adults, too, participated in patriotic programs. Franklin K. Lane, Secretary if the Interior, delivered a 1914 Flag Day address in which he repeated words he said the flag had spoken to him that morning: "I am what you make me; nothing more. I swing before your eyes as a bright gleam of color, a symbol of yourself." Inspired by these three decades of state and local celebrations, Flag Day - the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777 - was officially established by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30th, 1916. While Flag Day was celebrated in various communities for years after Wilson's proclamation, it was not until August 3rd, 1949, that President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day. To learn about Flag Etiquette, click the Flag.     Flag Folding   As an Army and Navy custom, the flag is lowered daily at the last note of retreat. Special care should be taken that no part of the flag touches the ground. The Flag is then carefully folded into the shape of a tri-cornered hat, emblematic of the hats worn by colonial soldiers during the war for Independence. In the folding, the red and white stripes are finally wrapped into the blue, as the light of day vanishes into the darkness of night. This custom of special folding is reserved for the United States Flag alone.   How to fold the Flag Step 1 To properly fold the Flag, begin by holding it waist-high with another person so that its surface is parallel to the ground.   Step 2 Fold the lower half of the stripe section lengthwise over the field of stars, holding the bottom and top edges securely.   Step 3 Fold the flag again lengthwise with the blue field on the outside.   Step 4 Make a triangular fold by bringing the striped corner of the folded edge to meet the open (top) edge of the flag. Step 5 Turn the outer (end) point inward, parallel to the open edge, to form a second triangle.   Step 6 The triangular folding is continued until the entire length of the flag is folded in this manner.   Step 7 When the flag is completely folded, only a triangular blue field of stars should be visible.       Flag Trivia Q. Who cut the American flag into pieces and was honored for doing it? A. Robert Peary, who left pieces of the flag scattered at the North Pole. Q. Is it ever appropriate to fly the flag upside down? A. Yes, but only in an emergency. It means "Help Me, I am in Trouble!" Q. What is done with worn or outdated flags? A. Flags are used until they are worn out and then they are destroyed, preferably by burning. Q. Francis Scott Key wrote the words to "The Star-Spangled Banner" on the back on an envelope. What is the source of the music for it? A. The music is from an old English drinking song called "To Anacreon in Heaven." Q. The American flag first flew over a foreign fort in what country? A. Libya -- over Fort Derne, on the shores of Tripoli. Q. A vexillologist is an expert in what? A. The history of flags. Q. "Shipwreck" Kelly (1885-1952) was famous for sitting for long periods of time. What did he have to do with flags? A. He set many flagpole-sitting records. He sat for 49 days on one flagpole. He once estimated that he spent a total of over 20,000 hours sitting on flagpoles. Flagpole sitting was a craze started in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1929.       Click the pics for music - mouse over for titles!

[trussell]

I wanted that #100!!

[trussell]

Nite all, will try to visit tomorrow.

[bellevuesbest]

The Helmsman
Butch Rankin

One bright summer day
The gallant destroyer Durant swept proudly on her way
Bright faces clustered on her deck or, leaning o’er her side
Watched carelessly the feathery foam that brushed her worn sides
Ah, who beneath that cloudless sky, the smiling bends serene
Could dream that danger, awful, vast impended o’er the scene
Could dream that ere an hour had sped that frame of sturdy iron and oak
Would sink beneath the ocean’s waves, black with fire and smoke

A Seaman sought the Captain’s side, a moment whispered low
The Captain’s swarthy face grew pale as he hurried down below
Alas! Too late! Though quick and sharp and clear his orders came
No human efforts could avail to quench the insidious flame

Bad news quickly reached the deck, it sped from lip to lip
And ghastly faces everywhere looked from the doomed ship
Is there no hope, no chance of life? A hundred lips implore
“But one,” the Captain made reply, ‘To run the ship ashore.”

A sailor whose heroic soul that hour should yet reveal
By name John Calvin Groen, stood calmly at the wheel
“Head her Southeast,” the Captain shouts above the smothered roar
“Head her Southeast without delay; make for the nearest shore!”

No terror pales the Helmsman’s cheek or clouds his dauntless eye
As in a sailor’s measured tone, his voice responds, “Aye, Aye.”
Three hundred souls crowd forward, wild with fear
While at the stern the dreaded flames above the deck appear

The Helmsman watched the nearing flames but still with steady hand
He grasped the wheel and steadfastly steered the ship toward land
“John Groen, can you still hold out?” he heard the Captain cry
A voice for out the stifling smoke, faintly responds, “Aye, Aye.”

But half a mile, a hundred hands stretch eagerly to shore
But half a mile, that distance sped, peril shall be all o’er
But half a mile! Yet stay the flames, no longer slowly creep
But gather round the Helmsman bold, with a fierce and terrible sweep

“John Groen,” with an anxious voice, the Captain cries once more
“Stand by the wheel five minutes yet, and we shall reach the shore!”
Through flame and smoke that dauntless heart responded firmly still
Unawed, though face to face with death, “With God’s good help, I will.”

The flames approach with giant strides, they scorch his hand and brow
One arm, disabled seeks his side, ah, he is conquered now
But no, his teeth are firmly set, he crushes down his pain
His knee upon the stanchion pressed, he guides the Durant again

“One moment yet, one moment yet!” the Captain shouts more
“Brave heart, thy task is o’er
The pebbles grate beneath the keel, the ship is on the shore!”

Three hundred grateful voices rise in praise to God, that he
Hath saved them from the fearful fire and the all engulfing sea

But where is he, that Helmsman bold? The Captain saw him reel
His burned hands released from their task, he sank beside the wheel
The Captain lifts his listless form and carries him to the bow
The Crew lets out a mighty roar
As the Helmsman is gently lowered to waiting hands upon the shore

The Captain bellows so all could hear
“John Calvin Groen, a tin can sailor and Helmsman you be
And when you are fit once again, I want you to sail with me.”
And through scorched and swollen lips, “Aye, Aye, sir..
As soon as I am well, we’ll sail into Hell if need be.”

[SevenofNine]

Well report is two different report one on Sky news reporting it is miltary and other is civlains so I don't know what

Yeah Kathy they think it is Al Quada attack tell me something I don't know guys

HELLO

Also another report off BBC wire Brit Lib Party not Labour or Tory but far Left party leader said if he get elect by people next year in UK he want get UK Troops out there

What a wimp

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Long Cut

"PULL!"

[Fawnn]

Well, in that case, I'll see your one and two grandkids, and raise you three:



;)

[Fawnn]

trussell!!! #100!!!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Ms.Behavin

"PULL!"

[Kathy in Alaska]

WOW WOW and WOW!!!! Great picture!! So, LC, did you hit what you were shooting at?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Too funny! Look at all those grandbabies that y'all have.

[Kathy in Alaska]

So, ms b.....did you hit one. (What are those things called that you shoot at?)

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Congressional Candidate Charlie Summers (R)

Navy Reserve

"PULL!"

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good night and sleep well, t. ((HUGS)) Don't work too hard.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Clay pidgeons...
and I'd rather not discuss it, Thank you!
;0)
Ms.B

[Kathy in Alaska]

"...and I'd rather not discuss it, Thank you!"

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Candidates left to right:Brian Hamel, Charlie Summers,Our gracious host William Schneider, Mr.B, and Lois Snowe-Mello

[Kathy in Alaska]

Sleep well, Spot! Thanks for helping entertain our troops.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

That will DO, thank you!
I do have more pictures..
Mr.B arrived home late, and the computer crashed...
It seemed to take forever to upload these to Fotki..
I thought I would post a few tonight..
and I will put the rest up tomorrow...

We could not have asked for better weather...
Everyone was so friendly..
It was a letter perfect/picture perfect day!
If you will note the scenery...this is an incredibly beautiful gentleman's farm, that sits high on a hill..
It is a gorgeous place....
Ms.B

[MS.BEHAVIN]

This gentleman hit two clay birds at a time...
EVERY time...
Positively disgusting!
;0)
Ms.B

[Kathy in Alaska]

The Helmsman

Beautiful poem. Thanks bellevuesbest.