An American Summer...
An American Summer is red, white, and blue. Beginning with Memorial Day and on into July, these colors are inseparable from our vacation days and celebrations. Today is Flag Day and the streets of my home town are lined with flags. The Boy Scout Troops in the LDS Wards set up the flags for each flag holiday throughout the year...this is how they raise funds for their activities. They learn flag ettiquette and how to care for this precious symbol. I'm so proud of these young people and I admire the example set by the boys' leaders. Only the hardest of hearts could fail to swell at the sight of so many flags.
Flag Days Origins...
Flag Day was officially signed into law by President Harry Truman in 1949, but has been celebrated for over 200 years. But what are it's true origins? From the National Flag Day Foundation website I found the following information:
"The “Stars and Stripes”, the official National symbol of the United States of America was authorized by congress on that Saturday of June 14, 1777 in the fifth item of the days agenda. The entry in the journal of the Continental Congress 1774-1789 Vol. Vlll 1777 reads “Resolved that the flag of the thirteen United States be Thirteen stripes alternate red and white: that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”"
"In Waubeka, Wisconsin, in 1885 Bernard John Cigrand a nineteen year old school teacher
in a one room school placed a 10” 38 star flag in an inkwell and had his students write essays on what the flag meant to them. He called June 14th the flag’s birthday. Stony Hill School is now a historical site. From that day on Bernard J. Cigrand dedicated himself to inspire not only his students but also all Americans in the real meaning and majesty of our flag."
God Bless Our Flag!
I am so grateful for the opportunity to live in this great country and for the flags flying over every home town reminding every citizen that today is Flag Day. May we each take a moment to consider the meaning of those colors....Red, White, and Blue.
Have a lovely Flag Day!
First posted June 14, 2012
3 comments:
Happy Flag Day!!! I love the images of the vintage postcards! Have a great weekend!
Hugs,
Lynn
Great post! It always breaks my heart when I see a flag being treated without respect. We were once driving down the street when I noticed a hand-held flag just lying in the street. We drove over it and at the red light, I had to get out and go get it. Yup, I held up traffic, but I just shrugged and waved the flag to those waiting behind. They didn't seem to care, but I felt I saved the little flag. To me, it represents all of the men and women who sacrificed for our country, lost their lives, lost their homes, and yet, it still waves. How could someone treat it so badly? Thanks for such a great post!
Beautiful tribute and important reminders. Your graphics are wonderful.
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