Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

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

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

 
 
For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday...
Thank the Veterans who served in
The United States Armed Forces.
 
 
Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom?
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
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 481-493 next last
To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; All

I.G.Y

Click



Artist: Donald Fagen
Song: I.G.Y
Lyrics: lyricscafe.com

Alright Canteen! MoJo's in need of sleep!

I leave you with a favorite song of mine.
 

I.G.Y.

Standing tough under stars and stripes
We can tell
This dream's in sight
You've got to admit it
At this point in time that it's clear
The future looks bright
On that train all graphite and glitter
Undersea by rail
Ninety minutes from New York to Paris
Well by seventy-six we'll be A.O.K.

What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free

Get your ticket to that wheel in space
While there's time
The fix is in
You'll be a witness to that game of chance in the sky
You know we've got to win
Here at home we'll play in the city
Powered by the sun
Perfect weather for a streamlined world
There'll be spandex jackets one for everyone

What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free

On that train all graphite and glitter
Undersea by rail
Ninety minutes from New York to Paris
(More leisure for artists everywhere)
A just machine to make big decisions
Programmed by fellows with compassion and vision
We'll be clean when their work is done
We'll be eternally free yes and eternally young

What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free

 

61 posted on 06/13/2004 9:16:15 PM PDT by MoJo2001 ("You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong" ---Abraham Lincoln & Ronald Reagan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; Kathy in Alaska; All

Well you all, I am headed out for a little shut eye...gotta rest up for work tomorrow! I'll be checking in as time permits!! HUGS!


62 posted on 06/13/2004 9:17:16 PM PDT by StarCMC (Please pray for the 2/7 Marines and Josh.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: Fawnn

Thanks!


63 posted on 06/13/2004 9:18:27 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (I just pay rent, the cats, goat and dog let me live here.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: StarCMC

Sweet Dreams
God Bless You and Your Family


64 posted on 06/13/2004 9:19:36 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (I just pay rent, the cats, goat and dog let me live here.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: StarCMC

Thanks, Star, for all the flag information. Great thread.


65 posted on 06/13/2004 9:19:59 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Military Who Protects Her)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: StarCMC
Good night and sleep well, Star.
Thanks for all you do for our troops Canteen.


66 posted on 06/13/2004 9:42:32 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Military Who Protects Her)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: MoJo2001; The Sailor
Good night, Kid, and sleep tight. Thanks to The Sailor for his service to our country, and to you and the boys for your service as a Navy family. Thanks for helping make the Canteen a wonderful place where our troops, past and present and worldwide, can come to to relax. *HUGS*


67 posted on 06/13/2004 9:43:31 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Military Who Protects Her)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: Kathy in Alaska

'Nother night owl signing off, Kathy...

See you in the AM!


68 posted on 06/13/2004 9:46:51 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.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: All

Well guess who throw diva fit on Maggie Thatacher because she curstey to Ronnie coffin at Funeral

Ananova reporting Queen Elizabeth couriers SHUT UP so those crazy Brits

Also anotehr report off BBC wire EU vote in some of countries were low you know why there was soccer game speaking of soccer those Brit soccer hooligans at again Sky News reporitng after defeat by Brit soccer team the fans start riot outside the staidum

ANd remember they giving out Free Hippie lettuce to all soccer fans

Also Kydto news wire reporting that North Korea saying Kim don't play that way and we still building our nukes reset according to report they not going stop

Also Hareetz wire reporting IDF person claim that in past two weeks there been serious inncident of young women go to IDF checkpoint try be suicide points some of people are young as 12 year old


69 posted on 06/13/2004 9:49:37 PM PDT by SevenofNine ("Not everybody , in it, for truth, justice, and the American way,"=Det Lennie Briscoe)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: HiJinx
Thanks for bringing Piper to visit. Good night and sleep well, Jinxie. ((HUGS)) And thank you for your service to this great country of ours and for helping honor our troops.


70 posted on 06/13/2004 9:51:18 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Military Who Protects Her)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: All

Breaking news off Kydto news wire report that Dubya administation has told Thanks but no thanks to wacky North Korea leader Kim Jong 11 on direct talks


71 posted on 06/13/2004 9:58:00 PM PDT by SevenofNine ("Not everybody , in it, for truth, justice, and the American way,"=Det Lennie Briscoe)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 69 | View Replies]

To: SevenofNine
Thatcher's curtsy before Ronnie's casket was one of the most poignant moments of the past week!!

I agree with you Seven, those snotty palace rats can shut up!
72 posted on 06/13/2004 9:58:45 PM PDT by Spotsy (The news media should report the news, not manufacture it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 69 | View Replies]

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

73 posted on 06/13/2004 9:59:19 PM PDT by Brad’s Gramma (God Bless America)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: Brad's Gramma

How utterly fantastic and appropriate!!!

Lucky Logan, eh!?

Ok, now I'm really going to call it a night...just had to wait up to see this last post!


74 posted on 06/13/2004 10:02:21 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.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 73 | View Replies]

To: SevenofNine
Breaking news off Kydto news wire report that Dubya administation has told Thanks but no thanks to wacky North Korea leader Kim Jong 11 on direct talks

But Mad Maddy says it's really fun to hang with Kim!

75 posted on 06/13/2004 10:02:39 PM PDT by Spotsy (The news media should report the news, not manufacture it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: Brad's Gramma

Beautiful pic BG! WooHoo JimRob!


76 posted on 06/13/2004 10:03:24 PM PDT by Spotsy (The news media should report the news, not manufacture it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 73 | View Replies]

To: StarCMC
Wonderful intro Star! Thank you.


77 posted on 06/13/2004 10:06:48 PM PDT by Spotsy (The news media should report the news, not manufacture it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 76 | View Replies]

To: Texas Termite; Jim Robinson; TexasCowboy; Brad's Gramma; Kathy in Alaska; MoJo2001; LaDivaLoca; ...
Click on the pic for all the pics of Logan and Jim Robinson


78 posted on 06/13/2004 10:12:27 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (I just pay rent, the cats, goat and dog let me live here.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

Thanks Tonkin!!!!!!


79 posted on 06/13/2004 10:13:11 PM PDT by Brad’s Gramma (God Bless America)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 78 | View Replies]

To: Spotsy; All

I get so yell at by Oakland Raiders fans

Guys do you think Al Davis and Kim Jong 11 shop at same store

I mean it

Breaking news off SKY news report that car bomb target US covoy at this hour in Baghdad Iraq

NO Report NOT YET on injuries or death


80 posted on 06/13/2004 10:13:38 PM PDT by SevenofNine ("Not everybody , in it, for truth, justice, and the American way,"=Det Lennie Briscoe)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 481-493 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson