Betsy Ross Did Not Make the First US Flag

Our flag carries American ideas, American history and American feelings. It is not a painted rag. It is a whole national history. It is the Constitution. It is the Government. It is the emblem of the sovereignty of the people. It is the NATION.
-Henry Ward Beecher, 1861

Isn't that a lovely site? Happy Flag Day, everyone.

In keeping with my theme of promoting patiotism and love of our country, I am discussing our beloved flag. As I said in my last post, parents need to be teaching their kids about our history. This in one way I can assist in that.

Betsy Ross did not design and sew the first US flag, as I learned in school. Actually, that rumor started around the 1876 Centennial celebrations, according to research by the Smithsonian Institute.

So who did create our flag? No one is really sure. But there is a lot of speculation over who designed and sewed the first one. What we do know is that is has undergone 26 revisions since our first "Grand Union Flag." Why don't you and your kids research this as a family project?

And what does the flag stand for? Every child should be taught this. Do an internet search for the poem, Face the Flag, as it is a wonderful and uplifting narrative about our country and our flag. We should also know how to fly the flag with respect: this link is great http://www.holidayinsights.com/other/flagday.htm Also if your flag is torn or frayed, it should be retired appropriately. Call your local Boy Scouts and they will retire your flag for you. They have a special ceremony for it.

Below is a great way to teach the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag (you can find it spoken by John Wayne with an internet search).

Pledge of Allegiance
Written by Francis Bellamy and Commentary by John Wayne

I pledge allegiance to the flag

What do those words mean to you? To me they say thank you America for your strength, your courage, and for our freedom which has been a beacon to the world for 200 years.

of the United States of America

Whose bright stars are 50 states each bearing its own stamp of individuality. People 200 m strong, People who come to her from all corners of the earth.

And to the republic for which it stands

A land of laws with an ingenious system of checks and balances that allows no man to become a tyrant and lets no group to prevail. If their power is not tempered with real concern for the governed, a land where the power of dissent and free speech is jealously guarded. The ballot box is the sword and people its wielder.

One nation under God

A land where freedom of worship is a cornerstone of her being. A land drenched with temples and churches, synagogues and alters that rise in profusion to embrace all the religions of the world.

Indivisible

A land forged by the hot steel of raw courage and formed forever by the awful crucible—Civil War

With liberty

Where a man in pursuit of an honest life will not be denied his chance. Where her citizens move freely within her vast borders without hindrance or fear. A land brimming with opportunity where freedom of choice is the guideline for all.


and justice

The courts of our land are open to all. Its wheels of justice grind for all causes, all people. They look to every avenue for justice every concern of the law and they temper their reasoning with mercy for all.

for all

God bless the USA.

Saving Our Country--One Child at a Time

If you have read many of my blogs, you know how fiercely patriotic I am. Lately I have been saddened to see how many Americans no longer have the "American dream". Listening to the news, you would think that we live in a terrible country who hates everyone else and is overrun with greed and corruption. What government doesn't have their fair share of greed and corruption? But it is not what defines us as a country.

So for the next few weeks I am going to write a blog each week to talk to you parents about hope and change we can really believe in. In actuality we live in the best country that has ever been on the face of the home we call earth. Americans cherish individual liberty, creativity, and growth. Our constitution guarantees that we have the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." There are very few countries, even today, in which that is true.

I am calling on parents to "brainwash" their kids--in a good way. During the days building up to the Independence Day celebrations, talk to your kids. Tell them all the wonderful things that our ancestors have stood and died for. Teach them what is in the constitution and how the magic of our constitution is that is can be changed. Our leaders can be changed and laws can be changed. We hold national elections every two years to guarantee that no one person can control our lives.

My dad "brainwashed" me. He fought in WW II for our freedom and was very proud of it. He told me on a regular basis how wonderful this country is. He grew up a poor country boy from Tennesse and was able to go to college and have professional success that his father could only dream of. The first song I ever learned was the Marine Corps Hymn, and he also made sure I knew other patriotic songs. He insisted that we be silent when the National Anthem was played to reflect on what it means. To this day, I still get tears when I hear America the Beautiful or God Bless America. Smaltzy? Yes, but is that a bad thing?

Explain to your children that yes, we have not always done the right thing in this country. We are a government of people who are fallible and make mistakes. However, our lawmakers, while they may differ on what is best, all try to come from a place of right intention. And if they don't, we can move someone else in that will. We are always the first country to come to the aid of another country in crisis, even our enemies.

Our individual freedoms are precious and our kids need to understand that if we and they are apathetic, we can lose them. Don't count on your schools to teach your kids what you want them to know. Some teach history from the left and some teach it from the right. To me, history is history and should be a retelling of facts without bias from either side.

Over the next few weeks, I am going to share some ideas that you can use to teach your children about our amazing history and why we should be proud to be Americans. Sadly, too many times these days they are hearing how awful we are--most of which is absolutely not true. When we do make blunders, we eventually find a way to try to make it right. That is what we do. We are Americans, proud to be from the greatest nation on earth.