“No historian can take part with–or against–the forces he has to study. To him even the extinction of the human race should merely be a fact to be grouped with other vital statistics.”
~Henry Brooks Adams
Abigail Adams’ great-grandson
Black Tom was the first major terrorist attack on the US.
“On July 31, 1916 Black Tom island, which was next to Liberty Island, literally blew up and off the map (what was left of the island is now part of the mainland in Liberty State Park). The island was a major munitions depot. And by major we mean “2,000 tons of munitions parked in freight cars and pierside barges.” After midnight small fires started on some of the piers and then began to grow. Around 2:08 a.m. the munitions started to explode.”….
Read more here:
Gothamist
and here:
Wikipedia
Did Ya Know?
A Little Geography:
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There are 195 countries in the world recognized by the U.S. State Department.
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There are actually 196 countries, see also 192 members in the U.N.
Are You Curious?
Check out the links for those answers
- There are still three recognized independent countries not on the list, who are they?
- Who is the one outsider?
THE AMERICAN FLAG
Did you know that at military funerals, the 21 gun salute stands for the sum of the numbers in the year 1776.
Have you ever noticed how the honor guard pays meticulous attention to correctly folding the American flag 13 times?
You probably thought it was to symbolize the original 13 colonies, but we learn something new every day!
The 1st fold of our flag is a symbol of life.
The 2nd fold is a symbol of our belief in eternal life.
The 3rd fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing our ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of our country to attain peace throughout the world.
The 4th fold represents our weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in time of war for His divine guidance.
The 5th fold is a tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decaur, “Our Country”, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong.
The 6th fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that We 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 7th fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country and our flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.
The 8th fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day.
The 9th fold is a tribute to womanhood, and Mothers. For it has been through their faith, their love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great has been molded.
The 10th fold is a tribute to the father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for defense of our country since they were first born.
The 11th fold represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies in the Hebrews eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
The 12th fold represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in the Christians eyes, God the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit.
The 13th fold, or when the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost reminding us of our nations motto,
“In God We Trust.”
After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, Ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington, and the Sailors and Marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones, who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for us the rights, privileges and freedoms we enjoy today.
There are some traditions and ways of doing things that have deep meaning. In the future, youll see flags folded and now you will know why. Share this with the children you love and all others who love the symbol of
“Liberty and Freedom.“
Author Unknown
Traditional flag etiquette prescribes that before an American flag is stored or presented, its handlers should twice fold it in half lengthwise; then (from the end opposite the blue field) make a triangular fold, continuing to fold it in triangles until the other end is reached. This makes a triangular “pillow” of the flag with only the blue starred field showing on the outside, and it takes thirteen folds to produce: two lengthwise folds and eleven triangular ones.
The American flag isn’t folded in this manner because each of the folds has a special symbolic meaning; the flag is folded this way because it provides a dignified ceremonial touch that distinguishes folding a flag from folding an ordinary object such as a bed sheet, and because it results a visually pleasing, easy-to-handle shape. This thirteen-fold procedure was a common practice long before the creation of a ceremonial assignation of “meaning” to each of the steps. An elaborate flag folding ceremony incorporating these meanings has since been devised for special occasions such as Memorial Day and Veterans Day. These associations are “real” in the sense that they mean something to the people who participate in the ceremony, but they are not the reason why a flag is folded in the traditional thirteen-step manner.” Snopes.com
While Public Law 94-344 does not place any significance or meaning to the 13 folds of the American flag the sentiments written above have been adopted as a tradition by many veterans and family members of veterans of our great nation as they reflect what we recognize about our flag and our country. They give meaning and hope to those family members who have lost a loved one fighting for our freedoms. There are a multitude of sites online and other entities which claim that these meanings have never been official but, if you talk to many veterans of our great country these words do have a great significance and meaning and are official in that sense. Tell me what makes a tradition? Does it just crop up one day and become a reality? How did our national song come about? Was it an official publication written into a law somewhere to begin with or did the people adopt it and it then become our National Anthem? There are those who take issue with the religious nature of the lines but that is all a matter or preference and that is what fighting for our freedom gave us the freedom to choose religion or not to choose it along with all of our other rights. Who are you to say that this needs to be taken down and ignored? I fought for freedom of speech right along with all of the other rights that we enjoy today and am permanently disabled because of it. I appreciate your view as that is what you have the right to do but don’t take exception when others raise their voice as it is their God given right and they are exercising it by the laws of our Country and Constitution.”
L. Halamek, PO3 US Navy
Disabled Veteran
No Matter how or why these sentiments evolved we think this is beautiful!
