Today is Flag Day in the United States. One hundred years ago today President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed this day, June 14th Flag Day, the same date that The Continental Congress picked the original stars and stripes design for our flag during the American Revolution. Wilson wanted to build a sense of national identity.
No symbol is more important to Americans than the United States Flag. We usually fly the flag of our nation on the front porch. This year we purchased another to fly in our back yard as well. We fly our flag as a symbol of democracy and our freedom.
There are a number of emotional reasons that one may fly the symbol of our nation. Many people who never flew the flag, bought one and have flown it since 9/11. Many fly the flag simply out of pride for our country. Of course there are many that fly the flag for the servicemen and women that have fought for our country. Many folks did not display the flag in their personal space in the early nineteenth century. The flag was only flown on ships and federal buildings.
My country tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died!
Land of the Pilgrim's pride!
From every mountain side,
Let freedom ring!
My native country, thee,
Land of the noble free,
Thy name I love.
I love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and templed hills;
My heart with rapture fills
Like that above.
Let music swell the breeze,
And ring from all the trees
Sweet freedom's song.
Let mortal tongues awake;
Let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break,
The sound prolong.
Our father's God to, Thee,
Author of liberty,
To Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright
With freedom's holy light;
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God, our King!
Samuel Francis Smith
If you live in the United States, do you fly the flag? If you do and want to share your reasons I would love to hear them. If you live in another country, do you fly the flag of your nation?
Your flag looks very nice hanging near your front porch. I didn't realize it was Flag Day today. I love that little wooden patriot fellow in your garden, he's cute.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a blessed week and a happy day.
~Sheri
Sheri, that's Uncle Sam that my dear sister made for me. He needs a new paint job, but I don't have the heart to cover up my sister's paint. She passed away and I miss her terribly. I hope your week is wonderful! ♥
DeleteI was just reading up on the history about the Flag and creating a "Flag Day". I'm listening to my Boston Pops "America The Beautiful" CD today. Elevates the spirit! We put up a flagpole in the yard many years ago and I have another spot on the house. I love to fly the flag :-)
ReplyDeleteLiz, the Boston Pops America the Beautiful is heart stirring music. I love that you are listening to it. We need to lift our spirits this week, especially! I would love to see your flagpole with Old Glory flying. ♥
DeleteBRAVO my Dear, Bravo!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post!!!!
Yes, we fly Old Glory! And just writing those words, gives me chills of Pride and of Patriotism. Yes it does. And I am proud of this fact, and proud to say it.
In this weird period of time, where we, in our Beloved Country are being chided, to always be Politically Correct, and to embrace the idea of No Borders... In this weird period of time, I proudly reject such notions!!!!
I have lived 79 years, without the necessity of Political Correctness being drummed into me, especially by naive, young university students.
I was alive, during WWII... And always have been proud to be a Citizen of These United States of America. 79 years of our brave Military, fighting and dying, to protect These United States of America, will do that to a person.
It will make them proud to be a Citizen. Not wanting to go around the world, apologizing for my country.
Yes, we Fly Our Flag!
And we place our hands, over our hearts, when reciting The Pledge of Allegiance.
I defy anyone to tell me, that this is old fashioned. Or to tell me, that it is time I came into the New World Order. Where there is no Patriotism. Where there are no Borders.
I repeat, Bravo!!!!
Tessa
Tessa, thank you for your thoughts about Old Glory. I'm so glad you fly it with pride! You have seen our country through thick and thin. Thank you for your perspective on what being an American means to you. I love old fashioned patriotism! ♥
DeleteI say Bravo to YOU, Tessa, and I agree with every word you said. I am beginning to believe that Political Correctness is a mental disorder.
DeleteYes we fly our flag and each night put the front light on to light it up (as proper flag etiquette). We don't fly it year round but for sure at this time of year and for any patriotic holiday. Many did after 9-11 but not so much anymore. I like that you have one in the back yard too. A great post!
ReplyDeleteDotsie, our front porch light stays on each evening as well. I have other banner flags that I put up as well and usually have them in the back. Of course the American flag is the most special. ♥
DeleteNothing means more to me than our own Welsh flag, Y Ddraig Goch {The Red Dragon} and even though my drive keeps my house private I do still fly flags on certain days. However, it is in our deeds {and goodness only knows why} that we are not allowed a flag pole or to fly flags on our property.
ReplyDelete~~~Deb xoxo
Oh Deb, I just knew you flew The Red Dragon! Pride of our countries crosses the wide ocean. Unfortunately we have similar restrictions in some neighborhoods---much to my sorrow! It is wonderful for you to fly your dear Welsh flag in your home. xoxo ♥
DeleteI love this post Martha Ellen...our beloved flag....long may she wave!
ReplyDeleteYes, Betsy, long may she wave! ♥
DeleteWhat a wonderful, poignant post today, dear Martha Ellen. Yesterday afternoon, I shared the story of Flag Day with my sweet, seven-year-old neighbor. We fly our flag on the front porch from May through November, weather permitting. I bring the flag in each night as darkness falls and hang it again each morning. I just love the act of hanging the flag to begin each new day!
ReplyDeleteIn my classroom, we began each day by saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Each day, one of my young students had the honor to hold the flag during the Pledge. Talking about the meaning of our flag and its stars and stripes was so important. The curiosity of my young students helped them to learn about the flags of so many other countries, too.
We have several small flags and flag bunting on display inside from Memorial Day through Labor Day, too. The more that I travel, the more important it feels to fly our flag, honoring the blessings of freedom!
Happy Flag Day! ♡Dawn@Petals.Paper.SimpleThymes
Dawn, you are such a great teacher. Your teaching will always continue with whomever is in your company. I love hearing about your classroom etiquette concerning our flag. It's so nice to hear the reverence with which you speak about Old Glory!
DeleteYour home sounds lovely all decked in the colors of our nation. I am so lucky to have met another patriot, dear Dawn. ♥
Loved your post and all the info you included. Your yard is lovely....made more special by the beautiful flag!!
ReplyDeleteI do fly our flag, and yesterday I flew our state flag as well!! I was controller for a flag manufacturer for a number of years, and my heart would swell every time I walked through the flag room and saw the beautiful Stars and Stripes!! I am an antique(er) :^) so for one Christmas, the company gave me a Betsy Ross flag. It is very special, and is flown on the holidays along with a current flag.
Thank you for a lovely post, and blessings to you,
J
Thank you J for stopping by. How nice that you worked for a company that makes the American Flag! Your Betsy Ross flag must be so special for you to own and fly! We have our Virginia State Flag as well and we fly it occasionally. Thank you again for thoughts today about our flag! ♥
DeleteHI Martha, Love this post . We put in an extremely tall pole to fly our flag over 20 years ago. The flag often needs to be replaced as it flies all year long and becomes rather tattered if we don't. I fly the flag to express my patriotism for this unique country. Freedom, liberty, The Constitution, the founding fathers, the greatest generation and all the men and women who have fought for our freedoms. It really enrages me when I see the free-est people on earth burning the AMerican flag, or denying some-one else the right to fly it ,in certain places. Freedom is so fragile and easily lost and I am afraid we are seeing, before our very eyes, the dismantling of all that we cherish, by people who Don't fly the flag or even like it.
ReplyDeleteJeri, our country is going through very difficult times as most of us would agree. We must not forget what our founding fathers wanted for our country. I feel this election year is bringing out the worst in us. We must not get discouraged. Our country is going through some serious growing pains.
DeleteI love that you fly Old Glory every day. I know it must be a sight of pride when you gaze upon the flag. Thank you for sharing your thoughts about our symbol of liberty. ♥
I love the American flag, but I no longer fly one. The one I had got ripped to shreds by the wind several years ago, and I just haven't gotten a new one.
ReplyDeleteThe American flag is also special to me because "flag" was the first word my now 26-year-old daughter ever said. Every time she saw the American flag, she would yell, "Vyag!" We dubbed her "Flag girl," and we bought her an American flag Christmas tree ornament one year.
Blessings,
Patti @ Embracing Home
Thank you for sharing your thoughts about our symbol of liberty, Patti. That's so sweet your daughter' first word was vyag! My children's first word was Da Da. I hope you are able to pick up a new flag to replace your old one. You are so right not to fly it all tattered and torn. Blessings to you as well. ♥
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