Cindylou's Dream Come True -- Welcome to my Dream

According to popular legend, the first American flag was made by Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia seamstress who was acquainted with George Washington, leader of the Continental Army, and other influential Philadelphians. In May 1776, so the story goes, General Washington and two representatives from the Continental Congress visited Ross at her upholstery shop and showed her a rough design of the flag. Although Washington initially favored using a star with six points, Ross advocated for a five-pointed star, which could be cut with just one quick snip of the scissors, and the gentlemen were won over.

Unfortunately, historians have never been able to verify this charming version of events, although it is known that Ross made flags for the navy of Pennsylvania. The story of Washington's visit to the flagmaker became popular about the time of the country's first centennial, after William Canby, a grandson of Ross, told about her role in shaping U.S. history in a speech given at the Philadelphia Historical Society in March 1870.

What is known is that the first unofficial national flag, called the Grand Union Flag or the Continental Colours, was raised at the behest of General Washington near his headquarters outside Boston, Mass., on Jan. 1, 1776. The flag had 13 alternating red and white horizontal stripes and the British Union Flag (a predecessor of the Union Jack) in the canton. Another early flag had a rattlesnake and the motto “Don't Tread on Me.”

The first official national flag, also known as the Stars and Stripes, was approved by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. The blue canton contained 13 stars, representing the original 13 colonies, but the layout varied. Although nobody knows for sure who designed the flag, it may have been Continental Congress member Francis Hopkinson.

After Vermont and Kentucky were admitted to the Union in 1791 and 1792, respectively, two more stars and two more stripes were added in 1795. This 15-star, 15-stripe flag was the “star-spangled banner” that inspired lawyer Francis Scott Key to write the poem that later became the U.S. national anthem.

I had the privilege to see the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D. C.

The flag is kept covered and only shown several times a day for a few moments, to keep it from further deterioration. It is not what one would expect, it was all tattered and torn, pieces of it cut away for souvenirs in earlier times, but to me it was one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen.

As the flag is being displayed several renditions of "The Star Spangled Banner" is played, and I gotta tell you it brought tears to this bunnie's eyes, and goosebumps on my arms as I visualized what Francis Scott Key must have seen to inspire him.

I spent a lot of time in Washington DC when Mr Bunnie was hospitalized at Walter Reed Army Hospital, and my time there made me a better American.

In 1818, after five more states had gained admittance, Congress passed legislation fixing the number of stripes at 13 and requiring that the number of stars equal the number of states. The last new star, bringing the total to 50, was added on July 4, 1960, after Hawaii became a state.

Ross, Betsy, 1752–1836, American seamstress, b. Philadelphia. Her full name was Elizabeth Griscom Ross. She is known to have made flags during the American Revolution, although the long-accepted story that she designed and made the first American national flag (the Stars and Stripes) is generally discredited.

The United States Flag Code stipulates that as the symbol of a living country, the flag is considered in itself a living thing and should be properly displayed and cared for. The code outlines the proper ways to display the

American flag.

Raise the flag briskly. Lower it ceremoniously.
Never allow the flag to touch the ground or floor.
Do not fly the flag in bad weather, unless it is an all-weather flag.
The flag can only be flown at night if properly illuminated. Otherwise, it should only be flown from sunrise to sunset.
The flag should always be allowed to fall free.
The flag should never be used to carry, store, or deliver anything.
Never fly the flag upside down except to signal an emergency.

Ceremonial

When hung over a sidewalk on a rope extending from a building, the stars are always away from the building.
When the flag is hung over a street running east to west, the stars are always toward the north. When the flag is hung over a street running north to south, the stars are always toward the east.
When a group of flags is being displayed, the U.S. flag should be at the center and at the highest point. The only exception is when the flag of another nation is being flown—national flags should be of the same size and fly at the same height.
When covering a casket, the stars should be at the head and over the left shoulder. The flag should never touch the ground or be lowered into the grave.

Inside

When on a speaker's podium, the flag should be either above and behind the speaker, or to the speaker's right as he faces the audience.
When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union (blue field) should be uppermost and to the flag's right, that is, the observer's left.
In a window, or suspended above a corridor, the flag should hang with the union on the viewer's left.

Government

The flag should be flown daily at the main administration building of public institutions.
Polling places should display a flag on election days.
School buildings should display a flag when school is in session.
Flags should fly at half-mast on the deaths of certain government officials.
When the flag is displayed against a wall with another flag from crossed staffs, the U.S. flag should be on the right (facing the audience) and its staff should be on top of the other flag's.

Parades

When the flag is carried in procession with other flags, it should be either on the right of the line of flags, or in front of the center of the line.
On floats, the flag should be displayed on a staff.
The flag should not be draped over a car, train, or boat. When displayed with a car, the flag's staff should be attached to the right fender, or the chassis.
The flag should be held upright and should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental, state, or organizational flags may be dipped.

Decorative

The flag should never be used as clothing, bedding, or drapery. Red, white, and blue bunting may be used as decoration instead, with the blue on top, white in the middle, and red below.
The flag should never be part of a uniform, but a flag patch or lapel pin can be part of a police or other uniform.
The flag should not be used to cover a statue or monument.
The flag should not be used to cover a ceiling.
Advertising banners should not be hung from the same staff as a flag.
The flag should not appear on napkins, boxes, or other disposable items, nor should it be embroidered on cushions, handkerchiefs, or similar objects.

Flag Maintenance

The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.
Care should be taken not to let the flag get torn, dirty, or damaged.
The flag should never have placed upon it, nor attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing.

When to Fly the Flag

New Year's Day, January 1
Inauguration Day, January 20
Lincoln's Birthday, February 12
Washington's Birthday, third Monday in February
Easter Sunday (variable)
Mother's Day, second Sunday in May
Armed Forces Day, third Saturday in May
Memorial Day (half-staff until noon*), the last Monday in May
Flag Day, June 14
Independence Day, July 4

Labor Day, first Monday in September
Constitution Day, September 17
Columbus Day, second Monday in October
Navy Day, October 27
Veterans Day, November 11
Thanksgiving Day, fourth Thursday in November
Christmas Day, December 25
Other days as may be proclaimed by the President of the United States
The birthdays of States (date of admission)
State holidays

*On Memorial Day, the flag should be hung at half-staff until noon, when it should be raised to the top of the staff.

Pledge of Allegiance

The pledge should be said while standing at attention and facing the flag with right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag and render the military salute.

The same behavior applies during the raising or lowering of the flag, or when it passes on parade.

On Sept. 13, 1814, Francis Scott Key visited the British fleet in Chesapeake Bay to secure the release of Dr. William Beanes, who had been captured after the burning of Washington, DC. The release was secured, but Key was detained on ship overnight during the shelling of Fort McHenry, one of the forts defending Baltimore. In the morning, he was so delighted to see the American flag still flying over the fort that he began a poem to commemorate the occasion. First published under the title “Defense of Fort M'Henry,” the poem soon attained wide popularity as sung to the tune “To Anacreon in Heaven.” The origin of this tune is obscure, but it may have been written by John Stafford Smith, a British composer born in 1750. “The Star-Spangled Banner” was officially made the national anthem by Congress in 1931, although it already had been adopted as such by the army and the navy.

The American's Creed

William Tyler Page

“I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.“I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies.”

NOTE: William Tyler Page, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, wrote “The American's Creed” in 1917. It was accepted by the House on behalf of the American people on April 3, 1918.

I AM OLD GLORY

I AM THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

MY NAME IS OLD GLORY.

I FLY ATOP THE WORLD’S TALLEST BUILDINGS.

I STAND WATCH IN AMERICA’S HALLS OF JUSTICE.

I FLY MAJESTICALLY ABOVE GREAT INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING.

I STAND GUARD WITH THE GREATEST

MILITARY POWER IN THE WORLD.

LOOK UP AND SEE ME!

I STAND FOR PEACE - HONOR - TRUTH AND JUSTICE.

I STAND FOR FREEDOM.

I AM CONFIDENT - I AM ARROGANT.

I AM PROUD.

WHEN I AM FLOWN WITH MY FELLOW BANNERS,

MY HEAD IS A LITTLE HIGHER,

MY COLORS A LITTLE TRUER.

I BOW TO NO ONE!

I AM RECOGNIZED ALL OVER THE WORLD.

- I AM WORSHIPPED

- I AM SALUTED

- I AM RESPECTED

- I AM REVERED

- I AM LOVED,

AND I AM FEARED!

I HAVE FOUGHT

IN EVERY BATTLE OF EVERY WAR

FOR MORE THAN 200 YEARS:

GETTYSBURG,

SHILO,

APPOMATTOX,

SAN JUAN HILL,

THE TRENCHES OF FRANCE,

THE ARGONNE FOREST,

ANZIO,

ROME,

THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC,

THE BEACHES OF NORMANDY,

PEARL HARBOR,

MIDWAY,

GUAM,

OKINAWA,

JAPAN,

KOREA,

VIET NAM,

PANAMA,

IN THE PERSIAN GULF,

SOMALIA,

BOSNIA,

AND A SCORE OF PLACES LONG FORGOTTEN,

BY ALL THOSE WHO WERE THERE WITH ME...

I WAS THERE!

WHENEVER MY TROOPS WENT IN HARMS WAY,

I WAS THERE WITH THEM.

I’VE BEEN WITH GROUND TROOPS,

ON SHIPS, SUBMARINES, AIRCRAFT, AND TANKS.

I LED MY SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN AND MARINES.

I FOLLOWED THEM,

AND WATCHED OVER THEM.

THEY LOVED ME.

I WAS ON A SMALL HILL IN IWO JIMA,

I WAS DIRTY, BATTLE-WORN AND TIRED.

BUT MY SOLDIERS CHEERED ME!

I STILL STAND WATCH

OVER THE ARIZONA MEMORIAL IN MEMORY

OF THE MANY SAILORS WHO DIED THERE.

AND I AM PROUD!

I HAVE BEEN SOILED, BURNED, TORN AND TRAMPLED

ON THE STREETS OF COUNTRIES THAT I HAVE HELPED SET FREE.

IT DOES NOT HURT. FOR I AM INVINCIBLE.

I HAVE BEEN SOILED, BURNED, TORN AND TRAMPLED

ON THE STREETS OF MY OWN COUNTRY

AND

WHEN IT IS BY THOSE WITH WHOM I HAVE SERVED IN BATTLE

- IT HURTS.

BUT I SHALL OVERCOME.

FOR I AM STRONG!

I HAVE SLIPPED THE BONDS OF EARTH

AND FROM MY VANTAGE POINT ON THE MOON,

I STAND WATCH OVER

THE UNCHARTED NEW FRONTIERS OF SPACE.

I HAVE BEEN THE SILENT WITNESS

TO ALL OF AMERICA’S FINEST HOURS.

BUT MY FINEST HOUR COMES

WHEN I AM TORN IN STRIPS TO BE USED

AS BANDAGES FOR MY WOUNDED COMRADES

ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE

AND WHEN I FLY AT HALF MAST

TO HONOR MY SOLDIERS, MY SAILORS, MY AIRMEN, MY MARINES.

AND WHEN I LIE IN THE TREMBLING ARMS

OF A GRIEVING MOTHER,

AT THE GRAVESIDE OF HER FALLEN SON OR DAUGHTER --

I AM PROUD.

MY NAME IS “OLD GLORY”

LONG MAY I WAVE, DEAR GOD, LONG MAY I WAVE