[Dubya]

2003 Outlook: Housing Down, Economy Up

(December 27) -- Consumer spending, tax cuts, and low short-term finance rates could trigger improved economic growth next year, but the housing and mortgage lending businesses that have propped up the economy thus far will lose some of their shine, says David Berson, Fannie Mae chief economist.

Homebuilding, property sales, and mortgage originations will decline in 2003 as the interest rate on 30-year mortgage financing bumps up from just under 6 percent to just below 6.5 percent by the end of next year, Berson predicts.

Housing starts will also decline from an expected 1.69 million units in 2002 down to 1.64 million units in 2003.

Berson forecasts new-home sales to fall from an expected record 963,000 units this year to 944,000 next year, with resales slipping from 5.54 million--also an expected record--to 5.48 million.

Look for new mortgages to hit $2.04 trillion next year, down from a record $2.52 trillion this year.

Source: New York Newsday (12/27/02)

[Dubya]

STARS AND STRIPES FLAG
FOLDING CEREMONY
By Peggy Carter
--wife of a Viet Nam Vet who is Retired Army and the daughter of a WWII Vet--

The Flag Folding Ceremony represents the same religious principles in which our
Country was originally founded.

The portion of the flag denoting honor is the canton of blue
containing the stars representing states our veterans served in uniform.
The canton field of blue dresses from left to right, and only is inverted when
draped as a pall on a casket of a veteran who has served our country honorably in uniform.

In the evening, in the armed forces of the United States, at the ceremony of re-treat after
Taps have been sounded,the flag is lowered and folded in a triangle fold,
and kept under watch throughout the night as a tribute to our nation's honored dead.
The next morning it is brought out, at lie ceremony of Reveille,
and run up aloft as a symbol of our belief in the resurrection of the bodly.

*The First fold of our flag is a symbol of life.

*The Second fold is a symbol of our belief in the eternal life.

*The Third fold is made in honor and rememberance of the veteran departing our ranks
whom gave of a portion of life for the defense of our country to attain peace
throughout the world not to have been in vain and shall never be forgotten.

*The Fourth fold represents our weaker nature; for as American citizens trusting in
God, for it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in times of war for His Divine guidance.

*The Fifth fold is a tribute to our country; for in the words of the immortal Stephen Decatur.
"Our country; in dealing with other countries, may she always be right,
but it is still our country, right or wrong."

*The Sixth fold for this is where our hearts lie - and it is with our hearts that we
pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic to which
it stands, one Nation under God indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

*The Seventh fold is a tribute to our armed forces; for it is through these same armed
forces that we protect our country and our flag against all the enemies, whether they
be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.

*The Eighth fold is a tribute to the One who entered into the valley of the shadow of
death, that we might see the light of day; and this fold is made to honor -Mother, for
whom it flies on Mother's Day.

*The Ninth fold is a tribute to our womanhood; for it has been through their faith, love, loyalty,
and devotion that the characters of the men that have made this country great have been molded.

*The Tenth fold is a tribute to Father,
for he too has given of his sons for the' defense of our country, since she was firstborn.

We fold from the stripes toward the stars;
for whereas the stripes represent the thirteen original colonies that founded our republic,
and they are now embodied in the fifty sovereign states represented by the stars,
so that the stars cover the stripes.

*The eleventh fold for in the eyes of a Hebrew citizen,
this represents the lower portion
of the seal of King David and King Solomon,
and glorifies in their eyes the God of Abraham.
The God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

*The Twelfth fold for in the eyes of a Christian citizen, this represents an emblem of
eternity and glorifies in their eyes God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost

When the Flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, which reminds us of our national motto,
"IN GOD WE TRUST."

*After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat,
ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington,
and the sailors and marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones;
and they, followed by their comrades and shipmates in the armed forces of The United States,
have preserved for us the rights, privileges, and freedom which we are enjoying today.