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Freeper Canteen ~ Flag Day ~ June 14, 2004
Canteen Crew

Posted on 06/13/2004 8:06:37 PM PDT by StarCMC

 
 
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Thank the Veterans who served in
The United States Armed Forces.
 
 
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Support The United States Armed Forces Today!
 
 

 

 
   

 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.

Click for Flag Etiquette

 

 

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!

Stars And Stripes Forever        Where The Stars And Stripes And The Eagle Fly        Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue (Angry American)

 

 

 

 

 
 
 


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; History; Humor; Military/Veterans; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: airforce; army; canteen; coastguard; marines; military; nationalguard; navy; supportthetroops
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To: Lady Jag
Oh my goodness.....I think I'd make sure who my friends were before I went near the water.


421 posted on 06/14/2004 7:13:36 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Military Who Protects Her)
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To: Lady Jag

Hey, that squirrel is no dummy. It's much easier to find the baggie again, rather than the random nut buried somewah


422 posted on 06/14/2004 7:15:01 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Military Who Protects Her)
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

I thought I was going to have to suggest that you were a pushover. But if he has to come IN for his food....LOL! *HUG*


423 posted on 06/14/2004 7:16:59 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Military Who Protects Her)
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To: TexasCowboy

Ernest Tubb

Watch your toes!!


424 posted on 06/14/2004 7:20:57 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Military Who Protects Her)
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To: MS.BEHAVIN; 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub; bentfeather; HiJinx; Kathy in Alaska; mylife; MoJo2001; ...
Hey, Ms. B! Good to see you got the photos up. Sheesh, don't we all look SOOOOoooo tough...(not). I had no idea I look dthat goofy, why don't people tell me these things?!?!

Anyhoo, thanks again for a great time and the company of great people besides!

And, to ALL: There's a couple of military-related news storie I wanted to share with y'all...

First, it appears that my old steed, the Locheed P-3 ORION, is being replaced! I'll have to learn an entirely NEW airplane from which to do my job! Don't get me wrong, I'm not sad about it. ORION was much beloved by those who flew her, but she's getting simply too old to safely bring us home any more. Better she gets an honorable retirement, with fond memories, than to be removed in disgrace after some tragedy.

In other news, The Army has adopted an all-new uniform for the Infantry to use to replace the current BDU's. It's...interesting, to say the least.

In the next few weeks, I hope to have news of a new Navy Uniform as well. Meantime, enjoy these stories!

425 posted on 06/14/2004 7:22:50 PM PDT by Long Cut (Certainty of Death, small chance of Success...What are we waiting for?...Gimli the Dwarf)
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To: Kathy in Alaska
Ahh, Kat, you float like a feather........

I guess we gotta waltz across Alaska before we get to Texas.

426 posted on 06/14/2004 7:30:08 PM PDT by TexasCowboy (COB1)
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To: Long Cut
Good evening, LC. Did you hit all your clay pigeons?


Jimmy Buffett

427 posted on 06/14/2004 7:30:59 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Military Who Protects Her)
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To: TexasCowboy
This picture did me in.............

How's crawling coming along?


428 posted on 06/14/2004 7:35:13 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Military Who Protects Her)
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To: TexasCowboy; bentfeather; Colonel_Flagg; Lady Jag; StarCMC; MS.BEHAVIN; Spotsy; HopeandGlory; ...

Waylon Jennings ~ Amanda

429 posted on 06/14/2004 7:38:00 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Military Who Protects Her)
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To: TexasCowboy; bentfeather; Colonel_Flagg; Lady Jag; StarCMC; MS.BEHAVIN; Spotsy; HopeandGlory; ...
One more, and then I'm off for home. Be back in a bit.


Johnny Cash ~ Tennessee Flatop Box

430 posted on 06/14/2004 7:43:26 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Military Who Protects Her)
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To: Kathy in Alaska
He's learned about electricity, too.


431 posted on 06/14/2004 7:45:29 PM PDT by Lady Jag (Used to be sciencediet but found the solution)
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To: Kathy in Alaska
hehe ! Thank you. :^D

432 posted on 06/14/2004 7:47:23 PM PDT by MeekOneGOP (Call me the Will Rogers voter: I never met a Democrat I didn't like - to vote OUT OF POWER !)
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; StarCMC; Kathy in Alaska; bentfeather; MoJo2001; Bethbg79; tomkow6; ...
Greetings, Canteeners, Troops,
and All the Ships at Sea!

And yet another drive-by post for Old Sarge tonight, after a 16-hour day with PT, training, chow, tests, more chow, more tests, and a stand-up brief, then FINALLY a moment to post something.

But, in any event, Sarge is tickled to have his little digital toy up here, so here's two more candid shots from Ft. McCoy:

This is where Sarge lives; desk, bunk, chest of drawers, and Dexter the Dell, center stage!

And Sarge is taking a moment or two between classes, using the little robot cam.

Now, just a few Personals:

TO THE GALZ: I'm glad to see you're all here, having fun while I'm away.

TONKIN: Thanks for keeping the Canteen up for all of us; a home away from home!

STAR/MOJO: Sorry I missed the two of you, but thanks for all the little things!

Sarge will be here for a bit, so Let's Have Fun!

SARGE

433 posted on 06/14/2004 8:15:25 PM PDT by Old Sarge (2004: Win One More For The Gipper!)
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To: Kathy in Alaska
{{{{{ MA! }}}}}

I hope I don't miss you, but if I do, I miss you!


434 posted on 06/14/2004 8:20:51 PM PDT by Old Sarge (2004: Win One More For The Gipper!)
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To: Old Sarge

My, my Sarge......lookin good there with Dexter. They sure make good traveling companions, don't they? I like having my "stuff" right there at my fingertips. Are you learning lots of new stuff? Expanding on stuff you already know? I actually got here early and don't need catching up. Which is a good thing.....2+ hours of sleep last night wasn't enough. LOL!


435 posted on 06/14/2004 8:21:47 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Military Who Protects Her)
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To: Old Sarge

I'm here tonight, and even on time. How is that for novel? We had a beautiful, gorgeous, sunny day today. How's your weather? Are you in a humid place?


436 posted on 06/14/2004 8:24:35 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Military Who Protects Her)
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To: Old Sarge

Whew! good to see you, Bro.

I read about Sunday morning's lightning strike there this morning and thought maybe you were involved. I'm really glad to see you weren't.

Any word on the troops that were injured? Sure hope they're recovering...


437 posted on 06/14/2004 8:24:56 PM PDT by HiJinx (Go with courage, go with honor, go in God's good Grace. Come home when it's time. We'll be here.)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

THERE you are!

Dexter is proving to be dead useful. Surfing, classwork, games with the other guys - we rigged a hub in the barracks, and we're going at it with some of the first-person shooters - lots of fun!

Sometimes, it's rehashing old stuff; sometimes it's new stuff, and I have to wake up. All in all, it's not bad.


438 posted on 06/14/2004 8:29:47 PM PDT by Old Sarge (2004: Win One More For The Gipper!)
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To: HiJinx; Old Sarge
Jinxie.......Sarge is someplace where the weather is doing bad things? ARGH.....

Sarge, you be careful down there, or up there, or whatever!!!

439 posted on 06/14/2004 8:30:14 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Military Who Protects Her)
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To: Old Sarge

Are they feeding you ok, or does Ma need to send some goodies? Requests are gladly taken.


440 posted on 06/14/2004 8:33:00 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Military Who Protects Her)
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