OLD GLORY
You are:
The most singular - The most significant
The most superlative - The most sublime
Flag in all the world
~
Your white stars and the field of blue they lay upon are the symbol of the heavens
and the divine purpose to which humanity has aspired from time immemorial;
And your stripes are symbolic of the rays of light emanating from the sun.
~
There was an act that said that the flag of the thirteen United States be the thirteen stripes, alternated with red and white
and the union be thirteen stars in white in a bay of blue field that would represent a new constellation.
George Washington said that they take the stars from the heavens
and the red from our mother country that would separate it by white stripes, and the white stripes will mean liberty.
~
Your elegant and ever-meaningful colors
Symbolize the true essence of:
AMERICA
AMERICANISM AND AMERICAN PATRIOTISM
RED
Symbolizes: Courage, Zeal, Perseverance, Vigilance, Strength and the Lifeblood of Patriotic Americans
WHITE
Symbolizes: Honor, Morality, Purity in Word and Deed, Cleanness of Life and Rectitude of Conduct
AND BLUE
Symbolizes: Faith in God, Liberty, Justice, Loyalty, Fellowship, Responsibility and Truth
~
You are the symbol of:
The land of the free and the home of the brave
~
You are the symbol of:
The fundamental and undeniable principles for which America stands:
HONOR - To Be Good LIBERTY - To Be Free
EQUALITY - To Be One JUSTICE - To Be Fair HUMANITY - To Be Kind
~
You are the symbol of:
AMERICANISM
Our Loyal Support, Everlasting Love and Formidable Defense
OF
OUR COUNTRY
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
You are the symbol of:
Our Loyal Support
For the fundamental and undeniable principles for which America stands:
You are the symbol of:
Our Everlasting Love
For The Honorable and Brave Patriotic Americans who founded our country
Our Everlasting Love
For The Honorable and Brave Patriotic Americans who have defended and who are defending our country
Our Everlasting Love
For The Honorable Patriotic Americans who respect our principles
And you are the symbol of:
Our Formidable Defense
OF
OUR COUNTRY
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
You are the symbol of:
OUR UNITED STATES DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE [1776]
“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. - -We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
OUR UNITED STATES DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE [1776]
Essentially states:
We hold these truths to be self-evident (clearly understood)
That all people are created equal
That all people are made the same
With a Heart! And With a Soul!
With a Body! And With a Mind!
That no one is better than oneself
That oneself is no better then someone else
That it is cruel and inhuman to bully someone else
That it is cruel and inhuman to torment someone else
That it is cruel and inhuman to make-fun-of someone else
That all people are endowed (presented) by their Creator
With certain (definite) unalienable (natural) rights
That among these definite natural rights are:
LIFE
That it is right for all people to Live
LIBERTY
That it is right for all people to be Free
And the pursuit of HAPPINESS
That it is right for all people to be Happy
~
You are the symbol of:
OUR UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION [1787]
Preamble:
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility,
provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity,
do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
OUR UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION [1787]
The basic instrument of our government
and the supreme law of our land
founded upon the essential rights of all people
is the embodiment of democratic principles
with the promise that those essential rights
will be respected and protected.
You are the symbol of:
Respect
Respect-for that which is Right!
Respect-for that which is Correct! Proper! Decent! Honest! And True!
You are the symbol of:
Respect
FOR OUR GOOD COUNTRY
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
And the fundamental and undeniable principles for which she stands
For the Honorable and Brave Patriotic Americans who founded our country
For the symbol of our country's greatness and all that she stands-for, our flag:
The Star Spangled Banner
You are the symbol of:
Respect
For Our Good Loving Parents
For Our Good Devoted School Principals and Teachers
For Our Good Fellow Americans
You are the symbol of:
Respect
For Our Good Commendable Veterans
For Our Good Dedicated Police Officers and Fire Fighters
For Our Good Dependable First Aid and Ambulance Personnel
You are the symbol of:
Respect
For Our Good Mentally and Physically Challenged Americans
For Our Good Younger Americans and Senior Citizens
For Our Good Honest Workers and Selfless Volunteers
You are the symbol of:
Respect
For One's Good Self
By Doing - What is Right!
And
By Being - A Person of Good Character!
You are the symbol of:
Realization
That we are the highest of God's Creation!
“A-Number-One”
Made Perfectly!
With:
A Heart! And A Soul!
A Body! And A Mind!
You are the symbol of:
Realization
That we possess the greatest of all treasures
“The Gift-of-Life”
And
“The Gift-of-Freedom”
Born Magnificently!
With Virtue - Our Own Special Excellence!
With Ability - Our Own Special Power to Achieve and Succeed!
And With Intelligence - Our Own Special Power to Think, Act, Reason and Learn!
You are the symbol of:
Realization
That we are Human Beings!
That we are Somebody! That we are Special!
That we are Important! That we are Great! That we are Americans!
You are the symbol of:
Realization
That Americanism and values are one and the same
That Americanism is a moral code of conduct - an unmistakable way to build character.
That Americanism in all actuality is a lifestyle of values - a good and worthwhile way of living.
That Americanism breeds:
“Fellowship - Loyalty - Morality - Responsibility - Vigilance - Courage - Strength”
You are the symbol of:
Believing
In Our Country and Ourselves!
You are the symbol of:
Being-Responsible-For
Our Words and Deeds!
You are the symbol of:
Being-Thankful-For
Who We Are!
And Taking-Hold-Of:
Our Power!
You are the symbol of:
Trying-Our-Best!
To Do - What is Right!
To Be - A Person of Good Character!
To Be - All That We Can Be by Learning and Respecting!
To See - Our American Dream come true! And To Feel - Pride in our Country and in Ourselves!
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You are the symbol of:
Our three branches of Our Federal Government:
Legislative - Executive - Judicial
You are the symbol of:
* Our Legislative Branch - Making Our Laws
The legislative Branch enacts legislation, confirms or rejects Presidential appointments, and has the authority to declare war.
Congress (Legislative) is composed of two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Senate
The Senate has 100 elected senators total; 2 senators per state. Each senator serves a 6 year term.
House of Representatives
The House has 435 voting representatives; the number of representatives from each state is based on the state's population.
Each representative serves a 2 year term and may be re-elected.
You are the symbol of:
* Our Executive Branch - Enforcing Out Our Laws
The executive branch carries out and enforces laws. It includes the President, Vice President,
the Cabinet, executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards, commissions, and committees.
President
The president is the head of state, head of the U.S. government and the commander-in-chief of the U.S. military.
Vice President
The vice president not only supports the president, but also acts as the presiding officer of the senate.
Cabinet
The Cabinet members are nominated by the president and must be approved by the Senate (with at least 51 votes).
They serve as advisors and heads of various departments and agencies.
You are the symbol of:
* Our Judicial Branch - Interpreting Our Laws
The judicial branch interprets the meaning of laws, applies laws to individual cases, and decides if laws violate the Constitution.
The judicial branch of government is made up of the court system.
Supreme Court
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the country.
The 9 justices are nominated by the president and must be approved by the Senate (with at least 51 votes).
Other Federal Courts
There are lower Federal courts but they were not created by the Constitution.
Congress deemed them necessary and established them using power granted from the Constitution.
State and Territorial Courts
Individual U.S. states and territories operate under the authority of the state and territorial constitutions and state and territorial law
You are the symbol of:
Our Honorable and Brave Patriotic Americans who founded our country
Our True American Patriots! ~ Our True American Heroes!
OF OUR AMERICAN REVOLUTION!
Who Sacrificed All!
To Establish
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Who suffered! And who died!
To save us! / To help us!
To support us! / To protect us!
To preserve our great Republic!
To uphold the undeniable principles of Honor - Liberty - Equality - Justice and Humanity for which America stands!
And to defend the unalienable rights of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness to which all people are endowed by their Creator!
You are the symbol of:
Their Blood - Sweat and Tears!
Their Service - Suffering and Sacrifice!
And There Are None So Brave!
~
You are the symbol of the over 50 million
Of Our Honorable and Brave Patriotic American Men and Women of:
OUR UNITED STATES NAVY
OUR UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
OUR UNITED STATES ARMY
OUR UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
OUR UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
OUR UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINES
OUR ARMY NATIONAL GUARD
OUR AIR NATIONAL GUARD
OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT
OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT
OUR FIRST AID AND AMBULANCE CORPS
Our True American Patriots! ~ Our True American Heroes!
Made up of all races, colors and creeds
Who have bravely served and who are bravely serving our country with honor!
Who have given and who are giving unselfishly of themselves in service to our country
To save us! / To help us!
To support us! / To protect us!
To preserve our great Republic!
To uphold the undeniable principles of Honor - Liberty - Equality - Justice and Humanity for which America stands!
And to defend the unalienable rights of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness to which all people are endowed by their Creator!
You are the symbol of:
Their Blood - Sweat and Tears!
Their Service - Suffering and Sacrifice!
And There Are None So Brave!
~
You are the symbol of:
Our loyal and selfless
Honorable and Brave Patriotic Vietnam Veteran who served our country with honor!
Who answered the call-of-duty!
To save us and the good people of South Vietnam! / To help us and the good people of South Vietnam!
To support us and the good people of South Vietnam! / To protect us and the good people of South Vietnam!
To preserve our great Republic!
To uphold the undeniable principles of Honor - Liberty - Equality - Justice and Humanity for which America stands!
And to defend the unalienable rights of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness for us and the good people of South Vietnam!
You are the symbol of:
Their Blood - Sweat and Tears!
Their Service - Suffering and Sacrifice!
You are the symbol of:
Their irreproachable character and uncommon valor!
Who gave their all and all they could!
Whose courage and fearlessness abound!
Who served - suffered and died honorably for The United States of America!
And There Are None So Brave!
You are the symbol of:
Our Honorable and Courageous / Gracious and Incomparable Patriotic American Women
Our True American Patriots! ~ Our True Unsung American Heroines!
Who have served and who continue to serve our country with honor!
Who have given and who are giving unselfishly of themselves in service to our country
To save us! / To help us!
To support us! / To protect us!
To preserve our great Republic!
To uphold the undeniable principles of Honor - Liberty - Equality - Justice and Humanity for which America stands!
And to defend the unalienable rights of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness to which all people are endowed by their Creator!
Who through her bounty of quiet courage and gentle strength
Has mothered and safeguarded:
Honor - Liberty - Equality - Justice and most assuredly Humanity
And There Are None So Courageous!
You are the symbol of:
Our Honorable Gold Star Mothers / Our Sublime American Patriots
Who lost their sons and daughters in service to our country
You are the symbol of:
Our Honorable Gold Star Wives / Our Superb American Patriots
Who lost their husbands in service to our country
You are the symbol of:
Our Honorable Women / Our True American Patriots
Who have worked and who are working in:
Our Public Education, Our Public Service, Our Ladies Auxiliary
Our American Red Cross, Our USO, Our Special Services, Our Defense Department and/or Our Defense Plants
You are the symbol of:
Our Honorable Women / Our True American Patriots
Who are the Mothers - Grand Mothers - Great Grand Mothers - Great, Great Grand Mothers - Great, Great, Great Grand Mothers,
Daughters - Grand Daughters - Great Grand Daughters - Great, Great Grand Daughters - Great, Great, Great Grand Daughters,
Sisters - Wives - Aunts - Nieces and Girlfriends
Of Our American Servicemen and Public Safety Personnel
You are the symbol of:
Our thanksgiving to God for all of them!
And our acknowledgement
That we could not have made it without them.
And that we will never - ever make it without them.
~
You are the symbol of:
The thousands upon thousands
Of Our Honorable and Brave Wounded and Forsaken Patriotic American
Our True Self-Sacrificing American Patriots! ~ Our True Self-Sacrificing American Heroes!
Who served our country with honor!
Who have suffered! And who are suffering!
Who are crippled! - Who are disfigured! - Who are paralyzed!
Who have lost their fingers and toes! - Who have lost their hands and feet! Who have lost their arms and legs!
Who are double amputees! Who are triple amputees! Who are quadruple amputees!
Who have lost their hearing! Who have lost their eyesight!
Who have lost their consciousness! Who have lost their spirit!
Giving unselfishly of themselves in service to our country!
To save us! / To help us!
To support us! / To protect us!
To preserve our great Republic!
To uphold the undeniable principles of Honor - Liberty - Equality - Justice and Humanity for which America stands!
And to defend the unalienable rights of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness to which all people are endowed by their Creator!
You are the symbol of:
Their Blood - Sweat and Tears!
Their Service - Sacrifice and Suffering!
And There Are None So Brave!
You are the symbol of:
The hundreds upon hundreds
Of Our Honorable and Brave Patriotic American Prisoners-of-War
Our True Forever-Faithful American Patriots! ~ Our True Forever-Faithful American Heroes!
Who served our country with honor!
Who have suffered! And who are suffering!
Who died mercilessly at the hands of the enemy
And the many who never came home, never came home
You are the symbol of:
The suffering Our Honorable and Brave Patriotic American Prisoners-of-War endured in service to our country
To save us! / To help us!
To support us! / To protect us!
To preserve our great Republic!
To uphold the undeniable principles of Honor - Liberty - Equality - Justice and Humanity for which America stands!
And to defend the unalienable rights of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness to which all people are endowed by their Creator!
That is beyond human comprehension.
You are the symbol of:
All Our Honorable and Brave American Prisoners-of-War Living and Dead
And our reverent and ever-faithful recognition
Of All Our Honorable and Brave Patriotic American Prisoners-of-War and Missing-in-Action
Who never came home and who are still unaccounted-for
You are the symbol of:
Their Blood - Sweat and Tears!
Their Service - Sacrifice and Suffering!
And There Are None So Brave!
You are the symbol of:
Our Vow That They shall never-be-forgotten!
~
You are the symbol of:
The many thousands upon thousands
Of Our Supreme American Patriots! Of Our Supreme American Heroes!
Who made the Supreme Sacrifice!
Who served our country with honor!
Our Honorable and Brave Patriotic American
SOLDIERS - SAILORS - AIRMEN - MARINES
FIRE FIGHTERS - POLICE OFFICERS - FIRST AID AND AMBULANCE PERSONNEL
Made up of all races, colors and creeds
Who sacrificed their precious lives, their precious loves and possessions for our country - for us - in the line-of-duty
To save us! / To help us!
To support us! / To protect us!
To preserve our great Republic!
To uphold the undeniable principles of Honor - Liberty - Equality - Justice and Humanity for which America stands!
And to defend the unalienable rights of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness to which all people are endowed by their Creator!
And There Are None So Brave!
~
You are the symbol of:
Our Honorable Americans
Our Loyal Patriots
Our Outstanding Citizens
Our Noble Countrymen and Women
Our Brave Warriors
Our Unyielding Defenders
Our Real Champions
Our True Heroes
Our Faithful Guardians
Our Fearless Saviors
Our Blessed Martyrs
~
You are the symbol of:
Their Blood - Sweat and Tears!
Their Service - Sacrifice - Suffering and Death!
You are the symbol of:
The most splendid reality they have made for you and me
For millions upon millions of Americans
And for millions upon millions upon millions of people around the world
To possess a magnificent birthright!
And the bountiful satisfaction
Of living our lives in Freedom!
~
You are the symbol of:
Their Supreme Patriotism and Ultimate Sacrifice
~
You are the symbol of:
Our Wholehearted and Everlasting Gratitude and Love
~
You are the symbol of:
The greatest treasures we possess
“The Gift of Life”
And
“The Gift of Freedom”
That there is no greater love! ~ That there is no greater sacrifice!
In the entire universe than for:
An Honorable and Brave Patriotic American
To lay down his or her precious life
So that we could live
“The Best-Life”
And have
“The Gift-of-Freedom”
~
You are the symbol of:
Our Being United-As-One
Showing Our Ultimate Respect! ~ Paying Our Ultimate Homage!
To All Our Supreme American Patriots! ~ To All Our Supreme American Heroes!
To Our Many Honorable and Brave Patriotic Americans who sacrificed:
Their precious lives - their precious loves and possessions for our country, for us, in the line-of-duty
~
You are the symbol of:
Our Sacred and Eternal Prayer
“Most Righteous and Almighty Creator
In Thy Perfect Love - In Thy Perfect Strength - And In Thy Perfect Care
Protect from all harm we pray
The most precious and most honorable souls of our departed:
Fathers and Mothers
Grandfathers and Grandmothers
Great Grandfathers and Great Grandmothers
Great Great Grandfathers and Great Great Grandmothers
Great Great Great Grandfathers and Great Great Great Grandmothers
Sons and Daughters
Grandsons and Granddaughters
Great Grandsons and Great Granddaughters
Great Great Grandsons and Great Great Granddaughters
Great Great Great Grandsons and Great Great Great Granddaughters
Husbands and Wives / Brothers and Sisters
Uncles and Aunts / Nephews and Nieces / Relatives and Friends
Now and Forever
Most Righteous and Almighty Creator
Welcome into Thy Divine Kingdom
Our Honorable and Brave Patriotic Americans
May they be seated at Thy Right Hand / May perpetual light shine upon them
And may their most faithful - most precious and most honorable souls
Through Thy Divine Mercy, rest forever in peace, Amen”
You are the symbol of:
Our Sixteenth President's
Ultimate Respect
For Our Supreme American Patriots! ~ For Our Supreme American Heroes!
“That from these honored dead we take increased devotion
to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.
That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.”
~ Unquote, Abraham Lincoln, Sixteenth President of the United States of America (1861-1865)
You are the symbol of:
Our Song of Ultimate Respect
For All Our Honorable and Brave Patriotic Americans
Who sacrificed their precious lives, their precious loves and possessions for our country - for us - in the line-of-duty
♪ TAPS
Day is done
Sinks the sun
And the stars all appear
One by one
Rest in peace
Compatriots dear
God is near
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You are the symbol of:
Our reverent acknowledgement!
Our consummate respect!
Our profound thankfulness!
Our eternal indebtedness!
To All Our Honorable and Brave Patriotic Americans
Who have bravely served and who are bravely serving our country with honor!
Our True American Patriots! ~ Our True American Heroes!
Made up of all races, colors and creeds
Who have given and who are giving unselfishly of themselves in service to our country
To save us! / To help us!
To support us! / To protect us!
To preserve our great Republic!
To uphold the undeniable principles of Honor - Liberty - Equality - Justice and Humanity for which America stands!
And to defend the unalienable rights of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness to which all people are endowed by their Creator!
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You are the symbol of:
Our One Family!
Our Good Family! Our Great Family!
“Our American Family”
You are the symbol of:
AMERICA'S
Revered Song
♪ GOD BLESS AMERICA
God Bless America
Land that I love
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above
From the mountains, to the prairies
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, my home sweet home
God bless America, my home sweet home
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You are the symbol of:
Betsy Ross
“Betsy Ross is best known for making the first American flag.
The story told is that she made the flag after a visit in June 1776
by George Washington, Robert Morris, and her husband's uncle, George Ross.
She demonstrated how to cut a 5-pointed star with a single clip of the scissors, if the fabric were folded correctly.
The Betsy Ross flag was designed during the American Revolution - June 1776
and features 13 stars to represent the original 13 colonies.
There was an act that said that the flag of the thirteen United States be the thirteen stripes, alternated with red and white
and the union be thirteen stars in white in a bay of blue field that would represent a new constellation.
Washington said that they take the stars from the heavens
and the red from our mother country that would separate it by white stripes, and the white stripes will mean liberty.
The Second Continental Congress passed the Flag Resolution of 1777 on June 14, 1777
making the Betsy Ross flag the first official flag of the United States.
This date is now celebrated annually as Flag Day.
Nicknames for our flag are: “The Star-Spangled Banner, Old Glory and Stars and Stripes”
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You are the symbol of:
THE THIRTEEN ORIGINAL COLONIES
New England Colonies
Rhode Island
Connecticut
New Hampshire
Massachusetts
Middle Colonies
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Delaware
New York
Southern Colonies
South Carolina
North Carolina
Virginia
Maryland
Georgia
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You are the symbol of:
The Battle and the Defense of Fort McHenry and our protection of “The Star Spangled Banner”
“The "war of 1812" was quickly coming to a sad end. Earlier in 1813 Maj. George Armistead (US) the commander of Fort McHenry
asked for a flag so big "the British would have no trouble seeing it from a distance."
Maj. Armistead had 1,000 soldiers, 57 guns and sturdy walls made of brick and stone to protect the fort.
During the attack of Baltimore the townsfolk asked a young 34-year old lawyer-poet attorney, Francis Scott Key, for his assistance
in obtaining the release of the town physician, Dr. William Beanes, who was being held as a prisoner aboard a British ship.
Mr. Key along with Col. John Skinner, an agent for prisoner exchange, sailed under a flag of truce 3 September.
Producing a pouch of letters from wounded British prisoners praising their care which Dr. Beanes provided, they were able to secure his release.
A decisive sea attack was soon to be launched by the British and the American party was not allowed to return having seen the enemy's preparations. The British began a bombardment of Fort McHenry which lasted 25 hours, firing bombshells weighing as much as 220 pounds.* As the battle ceased on the following morning, Key turned his telescope to the fort and saw that the American flag was still waving. The sight so inspired him that he pulled a letter from his pocket and began to write the poem which eventually was adopted as the National Anthem of the United States
“The Star Spangled Banner.”
Key was returned to Baltimore and later that day took a room at a Baltimore tavern where he completed the poem.
Years later, Key told a hometown audience in Frederick, Maryland:
“I saw the flag of my country waving over a city -- the strength and pride of my native State
-- a city devoted to plunder and desolation by its assailants. I witnessed the preparation for its assaults.
I saw the array of its enemies as they advanced to the attack.
I heard the sound of battle; the noise of the conflict fell upon my listening ear,
and told me that 'the brave and the free' had met the invaders.
The British entered Chesapeake Bay on August 19, 1814 and in just 5 days invaded and captured the young Republic's Capital,
burning down both the Capitol and White House with flames visible 40 miles away in Baltimore next to be attacked.
The British attack on Fort McHenry began early on September 13, 1814 in pouring rain.
All through the day and into the night for 27 straight hours, thousands of bombs - mortars, rockets and shells
battered the fort that guarded Baltimore Harbor.
The British ships carried mortars capable of lobbing bombshells over a target from two miles away.
The high-trajectory shells & mortars exploded above the heads of Our Honorable and Brave Patriotic Americans in the fort,
raining deadly shrapnel down on them.
Fires raged wherever the rockets and shells landed. For much of the battle, the British bombshells were falling at a rate of one a minute.
As many as 1,800 bombs were fired at the fort; the U.S. commander later estimated that 400 fell within its walls.”
You are the symbol of:
The five incredible things that happened through that perilous (dangerous) fight:
1st - “The Star Spangled Banner” was never destroyed!
2nd - The flag pole that proudly flew “The Star Spangled Banner” never-went-down!
because Our Honorable and Brave Patriotic Americans inside the fort
held onto the flag pole and some even sacrificed-their-lives so that “The Star Spangled Banner” would not-go-down!
3rd - Despite their fearsome assault and tremendous fire power the British were defeated, humiliated and forced to retreat!
4th - The courage and fearlessness of Our Honorable and Brave Patriotic Americans in defending Fort McHenry
and protecting “The Star Spangled Banner” was superhuman and beyond compare
5th - After the battle Francis Scott Key, a true American Patriot, was so inspired by Our American Victory
and the sight of “The Star Spangled Banner” still flying triumphantly over Fort McHenry that he wrote Our National Anthem
also known as “The Star Spangled Banner.”
You are the symbol of:
OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM
Our Country's Song of Greatness
♪ THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER
Oh, say can you see / Attention, can you see
By the dawn's early light / By the rising sun’s early light
What so proudly we hailed / What so greatly we respected
At the twilight's last gleaming / At the setting sun’s last shining light
Whose broad stripes and bright stars / Whose outstanding stripes and glowing stars
Through the perilous fight / Through the dangerous fight
O'er the ramparts we watched / Over the walls we watched
Were so gallantly streaming / Were so excellently flowing
And the rocket's red glare / And the rocket's were throwing red hot flames
The bombs bursting in air / The bombs were exploding sharp pieces of metal in all directions
Gave proof through the night / Gave no doubt whatsoever
That our flag was still there
Oh, say does that star spangled banner / Attention, does that magnificent flag of stars and stripes
Yet wave / Forever wave
O'er the land of the free / Over the land of the free
And the home of the brave
You are the symbol of:
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Our Promise of Loyalty to the United States of America
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America
And to the republic for which she stands
“One Nation Under God”
Indivisible with liberty and justice for all
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You are the symbol of:
“Old Glory”
“This famous name was coined by Captain William Driver, a shipmaster of Salem, Massachusetts, in 1831.
As he was leaving on one of his many voyages aboard the brig CHARLES DOGGETT -
and this one would climax with the rescue of the mutineers of the BOUNTY -
some friends presented him with a beautiful flag of twenty four stars.
As the banner opened to the ocean breeze for the first time, he exclaimed "Old Glory!"
He retired to Nashville in 1837, taking his treasured flag from his sea days with him.
By the time the Civil War erupted, most everyone in and around Nashville recognized Captain Driver's "Old Glory."
When Tennessee seceded from the Union, Rebels were determined to destroy his flag,
but repeated searches revealed no trace of the hated banner.
Then on February 25th, 1862, Union forces captured Nashville and raised the American flag over the capital.
It was a rather small ensign and immediately folks began asking Captain Driver if "Old Glory" still existed.
Happy to have soldiers with him this time, Captain Driver went home and began ripping at the seams of his bedcover.
As the stitches holding the quilt-top to the batting unraveled, the onlookers peered inside and saw the 24-starred original
“Old Glory”
Captain Driver gently gathered up the flag and returned with the soldiers to the capitol.
Though he was sixty years old, the Captain climbed up to the tower to replace the smaller banner with his beloved flag.
The Sixth Ohio Regiment cheered and saluted - and later adopted the nickname "Old Glory" as their own,
telling and re-telling the story of Captain Driver's devotion to the flag we honor yet today.
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YOU ARE THE SYMBOL OF:
OUR UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
ALABAMA, ALASKA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA
COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, FLORIDA, GEORGIA
HAWAII, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA
KANSAS, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MAINE, MARYLAND
MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSISSIPPI, MISSOURI
MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY
NEW MEXICO, NEW YORK, NORTH CAROLINA, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO
OKLAHOMA, OREGON, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA
SOUTH DAKOTA, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, UTAH, VERMONT
VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, WYOMING
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YOU ARE THE SYMBOL OF:
“IN GOD WE TRUST”
AND
“ONE NATION UNDER GOD”
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OPERATION RED, WHITE AND BLUE
www.operationredwhiteandblue.com
Fostering and Upholding
AMERICANISM
Petty Officer Jim Cava, United States Navy Retired - Combat Decorated Veteran
US Navy Corpsman / I (India) Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division - Republic of Vietnam 1968
Author - Founder - Speaker
FOR OUR CREATOR AND COUNTRY
~
Experience:
“THE AMERICAN SPIRIT”
AND
“THE GREATNESS OF AMERICA”
~
Telephone: 973-427-3871
E-mail: uspatriot1@optonline.net
~
“American Patriotism breeds:
Fellowship - Loyalty - Morality - Responsibility - Vigilance - Courage - Strength”
~ Petty Officer Jim Cava, US Navy Retired, American Patriot (1948-
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