Freeper Canteen ~ Flag Day ~ June 14, 2004

Canteen Crew

[StarCMC]

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The United States Armed Forces.

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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!

[tomkow6]

MINE

[trussell]

I'm not terribly upset by it :)
I was just worried if we were going to be easily found by the troops that wanted to join us.

[trussell]

That is great!! Keep us informed of any new info you get on this, OK?

[HopeandGlory]

AM THE FLAG OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

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 institutions of learning.
I stand guard with 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 loved - I am revered.
I am respected -- and I am feared.

I have fought in every battle of every war
for more then 200 years.
I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg,
Shiloh and Appomattox.
I was there at San Juan Hill,
the trenches of France,
in the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome
and the beaches of Normandy, Guam.
Okinawa, Korea and Khe San, Saigon, Vietnam know me,
I was there.
I led my troops,
I was dirty, battleworn and tired,
but my soldiers cheered me
And I was proud.
I have been 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 upon, burned, torn
and trampled on the streets of my country.
And when it's by those whom I've served in battle -- it hurts.
But I shall overcome -- for I am strong.

I have slipped the bonds of Earth
and stood watch over the uncharted frontiers of space
from my vantage point on the moon.
I have borne silent witness
to all of America's finest hours.
But my finest hours are yet to come.

When I am torn into strips and used as bandages
for my wounded comrades on the battlefield,
When I am flown at half-mast to honor my soldier,
Or when I lie in the trembling arms
of a grieving parent
at the grave of their fallen son or daughter,
I am proud.

MY NAME IS OLD GLORY
LONG MAY I WAVE.
DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN
LONG MAY I WAVE

[Soaring Feather]

Good morning everyone!

[stanz]

How sweet! What a wonderful memory for them both! Thanks for sending it.

[tomkow6]

Good morning, Ms Feather!

[Ms.Poohbear]

Happy Flag Day

[darkwing104]

Good Morning Canteen FReepers. Happy Birthday US Army and Happy Flag Day to everyone in the Canteen. Just finished PT and ready for some Coffee.

[kjfine]

Nice job on the thread, Sis. I knew you had it in you. Now if I could just do the same....LOL!!!

[Atlantic Friend]

Hi there Sarge, how are you and waht's new in your outfit ?

[Atlantic Friend]

Logan sure seems excited by the visit ! Or is he (already) giving orders to all these Big People ("You with the shirt, fetch me some cool milk - stirred, not shaken, and you, the mustache fellow, tell me again about the birth of Free Republic")

[kjfine]

In the heyday of sailing ships, all war ships and many freighters carried iron cannons. Those cannons fired round iron cannon balls. It was necessary to keep a good supply near the cannon, but how to prevent them from rolling about the deck? The best storage method devised was a square based pyramid with one ball on top, resting on four resting on nine, which rested on sixteen. Thus, a supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in a small area right next to the cannon. There was only one problem...how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding or rolling from under the others.
The solution was a metal plate called a "Monkey" with 16 round indentations. But, if this plate were made of iron, the ironballs would quickly rust to it. The solution to the rusting problem was to make "Brass Monkeys." Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts much more and much
faster than iron when chilled. Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron cannonballs would come right off the monkey. Thus, it was quite literally, "Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey." (And all this
time, you thought that was an improper expression, didn't you?

[HiJinx]

This gentleman hit two clay birds at a time...
EVERY time...
Positively disgusting!

Well, now, don't get too discouraged. Sounds like some of the guys I shoot against. They're good...I'm just there for the fun and camaraderie!

[Soaring Feather]

Morning darkwing!! Hope you are staying cool. :-)

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

	~ MILITARY REQUESTS ~
	Helping our military!! If you are interested in helping our military, please FReepmail MoJo2001, Brad's Gramma, or Kathy In Alaska for more information. Below is a brief overview of the help that is needed. Thank you! Operation Semper Fi - Field Hospital in Iraq needs basic necessities and anything else you can think of. Operation Iraqi Children - An Active Duty FReeper, smaagee, has requested help for children ages 3-11 in Mosul. If you are interested in helping, please contact us. Make sure to put "Operation Iraqi Children" in the subject line. Operation Military Families - Many military family members have been affected by the deployments. As with many places in the United States, it has taken quite a toll on the population in general. In Indiana, "close" to 100,000 Active Duty and Reservists have left the State. Many of those family members left behind are having a hard time, if you are interested in helping then contact us. Donations For Our Troops - If you'd like to help send care packages without having to shop, we've found a reliable FRiend to help you. Please contact patriciaruth in FReepmail. She has been doing this for a long time and would be happy to have the help. Operation Convoys - Our military folks that are members of those Transportation companies need help with the basic necessities and items to hold them over until they return back to base. We've all heard about roadside bombings. Please help make their life a little easier. Operation Emails, FReepmail, and SNAIL MAIL - So? You don't have the time or money to send anything, how about an email or snail mail? You can even send a FReepmail. We would be happy to send it forward. WALTER REED & BETHESDA HOSPITALS - FReeper TruthNtegrity visits our Troops in the hospital as often as possible. She needs some help getting them pre-paid phone cards and something to pass the time by. (Such as games, magazines, etc..). If you are interested in helping, please FReepmail her. Thank you! Operation Care Packages - If you'd like to bring a smile to any of our brave heroes, send them a little something from home. It will go a long way to lifting their morale. It's a long road to killing all the terrorists. Don't let our brave heroes forget that we care about them. FReepmail us if you'd like to help.   Are you not sure what to send or do? CLICK TO VISIT THE CANTEEN POST OFFICE!! Thank you!

[Soaring Feather]

LoL

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"Logan sure seems excited by the visit !"

He sure does!
Indeed he has come so far from when we 1st were introduced to him!

[StarCMC]

I love this story Valin. I think I've heard John McCain talk about it too.

[StarCMC]

ROFLOL!! Perfect!