Neddy's Palaver

From Front Porch Flags by Neddy.

FLY THE FLAG on Patriot Day, September 11th!

Would it not be wonderful if on this coming Patriot Day, Monday, September 11th, 2006, an American flag be displayed in front of every home, apartment, office, shop and store in these United States of America? Would it not be wonderful if every individual American made it his or her patriotic duty to display Old Glory on this fifth anniversary of the Attack on America, in honor of the innocent lost lives from that day. As each of us raises our ensign on high it would be a sign to those who are today continuing to endure the pain and of lost loved ones to the War on Terror. Our flags would show our gratitude to those whose lives are at risk everyday at home and abroad to protect our liberty.

In the days, weeks and months following September 11th, 2001, America our country was profusely decorated with American flags as citizens mourned the great loss and stood ready to fight the enemy. Sadly, some of those flags disappeared. Let’s raise them all again and pin them on our lapels to show that we still stand with those our protectors who risk their all each and everyday to protect our country from another such attack. Let’s show our solidarity and our faith in victory over evil by flying our flag, “Old Glory”.

Take a moment to recall your feelings on that somber day when we were under attack. Display an American flag on September 11th, 2006, in remembrance and in resolution of victory over Islamic terrorism for us and for the freedom-loving world. God Bless America.

Johnny Cash’s “Ragged Ole Flag” tells the story of “Old Glory”, from Alabama DAR.

In the United States of America, Independence Day is celebrated on July 4th, as it was on that day in 1776, that the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence.

17th Street, Washington DC, July 2006

Happy Independence Day

America the Beautiful

Real Liberty

Fireworks Just for You

More Fireworks

Happy Homeschoolers

The Star Spangled Banner

The Old Executive Building, 17th Street, Washington DC, appears decorated for July 4th, 2006. The image was originally uploaded by barneykin. It is posted here from Neddy’s favorites.

June 14th, is Flag Day, a day for all Americans to celebrate "Old Glory", our national flag. On this day we remember its meaning and history. Our flag is a symbol that we all can embrace, regardless of our religion, our race, creed or national origin. It unifies us as a people. Flag Day is also a good time for flag maintenance. Many of us have been flying our flags day and night (properly illuminated, of course) since September 11th. Oftentimes they become faded, ragged and torn and we don’t notice. Flag day reminds us that it is time to replace the tattered American flag with a bright, new one. Our flag, not only represents our country, it represents our history, our distinctive culture and reminds us of the great future we hope to leave to our descendants. Let’s remember to celebrate today, Flag Day.

A moth-eaten rag on a worm-eaten pole
It does not look likely to stir a man’s soul,
‘Tis the deeds that were done ‘neath the moth-eaten rag,
When the pole was a staff, and the rag was a flag.
~Sir Edward B. Hamley, 1824-1893

Johnny Cash’s Ragged Ole Flag, from Alabama DAR.

Does this sound familiar: Ban on the Banner of Saint George? Americans all know that the “Southern Cross“, an ensign representing the cross of Saint Andrew, is offensive to some, but now comes word that the “Red Cross” is also offensive to others.

The “Red Cross” comes from the banner of the martyred Saint George, a red cross on a white background. It began as a battle flag for English crusaders during the middle ages and later became the national flag of England.

And what’s to become of the British Union Jack? That ensign contains three crosses representing three Christian saints. When the British remove the offending red cross, the cross of Saint George, does anyone truly believe that will be sufficient? Certainly, someone, somewhere, will claim something offensive about the white diagonal cross of Saint Andrew and/or the red diagonal cross of Saint Patrick. Multi-culturalism means that the majority must give up its ancient heritage, religion, symbols and history, bequeathed to it by the blood of martyrs and patriots, so that the minority be not offended. More at Kerfuffles.

Don’t forget, there were many wars before World War I - beginning with the American Revolution which our “ragtag” citizen soldier forebears won against the world’s mightiest army.

Listen as Johnny Cash tells about some of those other bloody conflicts involving “Old Glory” in “This Ragged Ole Flag” (MP3), from Luxapallila Chapter of the DAR.

Tracked at Mudville Gazette’s Linkback Festival and Outside the Beltway’s Wedding Jam.

About three years ago, in late 2002, the U.S. Navy announced that it would be flying the flag known as the ‘First Navy Jack‘ which pictures a rattlesnake slithering across a field of thirteen red and white stripes, with the motto DONT TREAD ON ME. This is different from the ‘Gadsden Flag‘, with which it is often confused. That ensign depicts a coiled rattlesnake on a yellow background. The naval ships were to fly the old time ensign in accordance with the U.S. Navy declaration: “The temporary substitution of this Jack represents an historic reminder of the nation’s and Navy’s origin and will to persevere and triumph.”

Sunday, September 1, 2002 ~ U.S. Navy Revives Old Rattlesnake Flag, ‘Don’t Tread On Me,’ To Fly On All Vessels The U.S. Navy is ordering its fleet to fly the defiant Don’t Tread on Me rattlesnake flag aboard all its vessels to emphasize America’s determination in the war on terror, reports TIME magazine on Monday. Navy Secretary Gordon England’s directive said the resurrected flag “represents an historic reminder of the nation’s and Navy’s origin and will to persevere and triumph.“

Not only does this antique emblem show defiance to our enemies today, it reminds all of us of the courage and determination of our revolutionary forebears who created it. They were but a ragtag army of local militiamen when they impertinately admonished the world’s greatest army at that time, to “get out of the way, or else“!