Fourth of July Memories...
* No one knows for sure who made the first Stars and Stripes.
Some historians consider Francis Hopkinson,
one signer of the Declaration of Independence,
to be the designer.
Betsy Ross, a seamstress, did sew one
of the very earliest versions of the flag
for the Pennsylvania Navy in 1777. *
* In the late 1800's, James B. Upham,
encouraged school children to save their pennies
to buy Amercian flags for their schools
and within a year they had saved enough money to
purchase thousands of flags...the tradition
of flying an American flag near schools
continues to this day. *
* The Pledge of Allegiance, written by Francis Bellamy,
was first published in a children's magazine in 1892:
"I pledge allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America
and to the Republic, for which it stands,
one nation, under God, indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all." *
* The Latin words--E Pluribus Unum--
or "one out of many"
appear on the Great Seal of the United States.
One nation made up of many states.
One nation made up of many people. *
* A resolution regarding the United States Great Seal
defines the meanings of our country's colors:
Red--stands for hardiness and courage
White--stands for purity and innocence
Blue--stands for vigilance, perseverance, & justice.
We are thankful for the many
men and women of valor who have fought,
some giving their lives,
to uphold what the United States stands for. *
* After a night of watching the British bomb
Fort McHenry in the War of 1812,
Francis Scott Key was so happy to see the American flag
still flying the morning, that he wrote a poem.
Later, his poem was put to the tune of another song
and it became America's National anthem,
"The Star-Spangled Banner." *
* The Oath of Citizenship:
"I hereby declare, on oath,...
that I will support and defend
the Constitution and laws
of the United States of America." *
* In 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin Jr.
planted the first American flag on the moon
along with a plaque that reads:
"Here men from the planet Earth first set foot on the Moon.
July 1969 A.D. We came in peace for all mankind."
America now has 6 flags on the moon, one flag for each Apollo mission. *
* When the flag is flown at half-mast,
it is to honor the memory of someone who has died.
The flag is flown at national and state parks, at all types of sports
events, and on many public buildings.
It is also flown at all of America's ports of entry.
Whether on land or at sea, if the flag is flown upside-down,
it is a sign of emergency. *
* On July 4, 1776, the thirteen original colonies
declared their independence from Great Britain.
The United States of American adopted a constitution in 1787
and the next year, the people of Philadelphia
held the very first Fourth of July celebration. *
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
and crown thy good
with brotherhood
from sea to shining sea!
Happy 4th of July!!!
Love,
The Chuppies
