12 October 2016
Our world is in a bit of turmoil . . . we’re in the process of electing a new president, and I’ve never seen the country stoop to this level of nastiness. Fortunately . . . or unfortunately . . . you’ll read about this election in your history books. I’ve been around for a few of these elections, but never have I seen one that divided people so deeply! And I don’t believe we’ve ever had two candidates spit so much venom . . .
I’m not really writing today to discuss politics . . . only to tell you that we, as a country, seem to have lost focus. I’m not going to even go the the old vernacular “Well, back in my day . . . ” because that’s history . . . this is your world . . . you and your peers will get to decide which direction . . . assuming you still have a choice (and I’d like to think that things will have gotten better by the time you’re old enough to read this) . . . you’ll get to decide which direction to take our country!
When I was a little girl (now you’re thinking “Here it goes” . . . bear with me) my father was in the Navy, so I grew up on Naval bases . . . filled with men and women serving our country . . . willing to sacrifice themselves to maintain our sweet freedoms. My sister, your Aunt Mimi, and I were taught to raise the American flag every morning then to take it back down at dusk . . . a sailor played Taps somewhere on base . . . we recited the Pledge of Allegiance before school started . . . were entrenched in American history . . . the Fourth of July was not just about parades and fireworks . . . when we went to the movies, the National Anthem played before the movie started, and EVERYONE stood with their hand over their heart (it was weird to go to a movie in the civilian world because that didn’t happen). Nobody said we had “National Pride” . . . we were just being good American citizens . . . proud of our great nation.
As an adult I carried this tradition into the Girl Scout troop that I led . . . your mom and Aunt Erika were in that troop. Every meeting the girls conducted a formal flag ceremony . . . they recited the Pledge of Allegiance . . . the Girl Scout Promise. At one of our meetings we invited a retired Army Colonel to come and tell the girls what each symbol on the flag stood for . . . how to properly fold one . . . and what each fold meant. I hope that you have learned this by now, but if not . . .
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag: “I 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.” It should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove any non-religious 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. Members of the Armed Forces not in uniform and veterans may render the military salute in the manner provided for persons in uniform.
The American Flag: The stripes represent the original 13 Colonies and the stars represent the 50 states of the Union. The colors of the flag are symbolic as well; red symbolizes hardiness and valor, white symbolizes purity and innocence, and blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.
The folds of the American Flag:
When you vote in your first election, be sure that you have spent the time to figure out who the candidates are . . . no doubt you will find faults . . . we are all human after all. Do not enter that voting booth with the thought of voting for the “lesser of two evils!” Even if you can’t fully believe in one of the candidates, find something you can agree with . . .
Psalm 33:12-22 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage! The Lord looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds. The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. …”
Our world is in a bit of turmoil . . . we’re in the process of electing a new president, and I’ve never seen the country stoop to this level of nastiness. Fortunately . . . or unfortunately . . . you’ll read about this election in your history books. I’ve been around for a few of these elections, but never have I seen one that divided people so deeply! And I don’t believe we’ve ever had two candidates spit so much venom . . .
I’m not really writing today to discuss politics . . . only to tell you that we, as a country, seem to have lost focus. I’m not going to even go the the old vernacular “Well, back in my day . . . ” because that’s history . . . this is your world . . . you and your peers will get to decide which direction . . . assuming you still have a choice (and I’d like to think that things will have gotten better by the time you’re old enough to read this) . . . you’ll get to decide which direction to take our country!
When I was a little girl (now you’re thinking “Here it goes” . . . bear with me) my father was in the Navy, so I grew up on Naval bases . . . filled with men and women serving our country . . . willing to sacrifice themselves to maintain our sweet freedoms. My sister, your Aunt Mimi, and I were taught to raise the American flag every morning then to take it back down at dusk . . . a sailor played Taps somewhere on base . . . we recited the Pledge of Allegiance before school started . . . were entrenched in American history . . . the Fourth of July was not just about parades and fireworks . . . when we went to the movies, the National Anthem played before the movie started, and EVERYONE stood with their hand over their heart (it was weird to go to a movie in the civilian world because that didn’t happen). Nobody said we had “National Pride” . . . we were just being good American citizens . . . proud of our great nation.
As an adult I carried this tradition into the Girl Scout troop that I led . . . your mom and Aunt Erika were in that troop. Every meeting the girls conducted a formal flag ceremony . . . they recited the Pledge of Allegiance . . . the Girl Scout Promise. At one of our meetings we invited a retired Army Colonel to come and tell the girls what each symbol on the flag stood for . . . how to properly fold one . . . and what each fold meant. I hope that you have learned this by now, but if not . . .
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag: “I 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.” It should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove any non-religious 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. Members of the Armed Forces not in uniform and veterans may render the military salute in the manner provided for persons in uniform.
The American Flag: The stripes represent the original 13 Colonies and the stars represent the 50 states of the Union. The colors of the flag are symbolic as well; red symbolizes hardiness and valor, white symbolizes purity and innocence, and blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.
The folds of the American Flag:
- The first fold of our flag is a symbol of life.
- The second fold is a symbol of our belief in the eternal life.
- The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veteran departing our ranks who gave a portion of life for the defense of our country to attain a peace throughout the world.
- The fourth 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 times of war for His divine guidance.
- The fifth fold is a tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, “Our country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong.”
- The sixth 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 seventh 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 eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered in to the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and to honor mother, for whom it flies on mother’s day.
- The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood; for it has been through their faith, love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great have been molded.
- The tenth fold is a tribute to father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since they were first born.
- The eleventh fold, in the eyes of a Hebrew citizen, represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon, and glorifies, in their eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
- The twelfth fold, in the eyes of a Christian citizen, represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in their eyes, God the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost.
- When the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, “In God we Trust.”
When you vote in your first election, be sure that you have spent the time to figure out who the candidates are . . . no doubt you will find faults . . . we are all human after all. Do not enter that voting booth with the thought of voting for the “lesser of two evils!” Even if you can’t fully believe in one of the candidates, find something you can agree with . . .
Psalm 33:12-22 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage! The Lord looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds. The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. …”
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