FLAG DAY 2012

It is right and just that we have a day to honor our Flag.  A symbol of Liberty around the world and one that has been defended by millions who wore the uniform of our military since the first flags in the 1770's.  It has taken many shapes and has changed but OLD GLORY bows to no one.

The picture of  our flag at right was taken at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan while I was there.  The flag shown was being flown in honor of a highschool classmate who perished at the World Trade Center on 09/11/2001.

Celebrate Flag Day by remembering all she stands for today and all those who stood up for her in the history of our great land.

 

I am the Flag

by Ruth Apperson Rous

I am the flag of the United States of America.

I was born on June 14, 1777, in Philadelphia.

There the Continental Congress adopted my stars and stripes as the national flag.

My thirteen stripes alternating red and white, with a union of thirteen white stars in a field of blue, represented a new constellation, a new nation dedicated to the personal and religious liberty of mankind.

Today fifty stars signal from my union, one for each of the fifty sovereign states in the greatest constitutional republic the world has ever known.

My colors symbolize the patriotic ideals and spiritual qualities of the citizens of my country.

My red stripes proclaim the fearless courage and integrity of American men and boys and the self-sacrifice and devotion of American mothers and daughters.

My white stripes stand for liberty and equality for all.

My blue is the blue of heaven, loyalty, and faith.

I represent these eternal principles: liberty, justice, and humanity.

I embody American freedom: freedom of speech, religion, assembly, the press, and the sanctity of the home.

I typify that indomitable spirit of determination brought to my land by Christopher Columbus and by all my forefathers - the Pilgrims, Puritans, settlers at James town and Plymouth.

I am as old as my nation.

I am a living symbol of my nation's law: the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.

I voice Abraham Lincoln's philosophy: "A government of the people, by the people,for the people."

I stand guard over my nation's schools, the seedbed of good citizenship and true patriotism.

I am displayed in every schoolroom throughout my nation; every schoolyard has a flag pole for my display.

Daily thousands upon thousands of boys and girls pledge their allegiance to me and my country.

I have my own law—Public Law 829, "The Flag Code" - which definitely states my correct use and display for all occasions and situations.

I have my special day, Flag Day. June 14 is set aside to honor my birth.

Americans, I am the sacred emblem of your country. I symbolize your birthright, your heritage of liberty purchased with blood and sorrow.

I am your title deed of freedom, which is yours to enjoy and hold in trust for posterity.

If you fail to keep this sacred trust inviolate, if I am nullified and destroyed, you and your children will become slaves to dictators and despots.

Eternal vigilance is your price of freedom.

As you see me silhouetted against the peaceful skies of my country, remind yourself that I am the flag of your country, that I stand for what you are - no more, no less.

Guard me well, lest your freedom perish from the earth.

Dedicate your lives to those principles for which I stand: "One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

I was created in freedom. I made my first appearance in a battle for human liberty.

God grant that I may spend eternity in my "land of the free and the home of the brave" and that I shall ever be known as "Old Glory," the flag of the United States of America.

Long May She Wave - Flags from the USS CONSTITUTION are auctioned in Philadelphia

Rare 28-star United States ensign from the USS Constitution, Texas flag, circa 1846, comprised of wool bunting, with 28 appliqued cotton stars. It brought $134,500. It was fitting that America's oldest auction house, founded in 1805, sold historic naval colors from America's oldest war ship, the USS Constitution






Rare and Early American Naval Flags Achieve Auction Records At Freeman’s -
May 8th, 2012
antiquesandthearts.com


Philadelphia, Penn. - Freeman's marathon day of auctions on April 30 — American furniture, silver, folk and decorative arts followed by the Historic USS Constitution Colors from the collection of H. Richard Dietrich Jr — was a resounding success, realizing a combined total of $2.5 million. Provenance, uniqueness and overall high-quality generated excitement and interest from new and veteran collectors as well as institutions at home and abroad. The 11 flags and cannonball from the USS Constitution realized $784,500, were 100 percent sold and established 12 auction records.


Freeman's chairman, Samuel M. "Beau" Freeman II commenting on the sale, "In my 50 years here at Freeman's, this is one of the — if not the — most historic sale Freeman's has ever hosted. We are proud that the American public recognized the historic significance of these flags from 'Old Ironsides' and stepped forward to protect our nation's treasures into the future."


Highlights of the collection traveled to invitation-only events in Annapolis and Newport earlier in April. They came home to Freeman's for the public exhibition which opened with a champagne reception attended by the Dietrich family. After a week-long exhibition, the auction started at 6 pm to a full room of seated and phone bidders.


The auction kicked off with the English red ensign, which achieved $43,750, and the rare imperial Brazilian ensign that fetched $50,000. The French Republic commissioning pennant that later achieved $18,750 was eclipsed by lot No. 4, the 3-pound projectile "cannonball" removed from 'Old Ironsides' hull, which rocketed passed its estimate of $300/500 to its final price of $22,500.


"Interesting to know that an English cannonball does better than a French flag," said auctioneer and vice chairman Alasdair Nichol light-heartedly from the rostrum. An equally competitive situation arose for a US Commodore's broad pennant estimated at $4/6,000 that sailed up to its final price of $32,500.


H. Richard Dietrich, III, said, "We were pleased with the auction. It was a very special collection of naval flags. It has been an honor as a family to have had these flags over so many years, and we are excited that they have found new stewards to enjoy and care for them. Working with Freeman's throughout this whole effort has been a pleasure. Freeman's did a great job showcasing the inspiring story of the flags, their hard work was evident at every stage."


Tying for top lot status was a rare and early US Commodore's broad pennant from the USS Constitution , the oldest known representation of a US Commodore's "broad pennant," in use from 1837 to 1845 and inscribed on the hoist "Constitution Bradd pendend." This broad pennant dates from the period when the Constitution served as the flagship of both the Mediterranean Squadron (1837–1838) and the Pacific Squadron (1839–1842) under Commodores Jesse Duncan Elliot and Daniel Turner.