FLAG DAY
A PROUD DAY IN JUNE – FLY THOSE FLAGS !!!
For this years Flag Day, I chose to help celebrate the Star Spangled Banner’s 200 years! As national treasures go, it was a bargain: $405.90 was paid to Mary Pickersgill of Baltimore, who fashioned it from red, blue and undyed wool, plus cotton for the 15 stars to fly at the fortress guarding the city’s harbor.
A collage of 2 women, 1914, at the Smithsonian working to restore the Star-Spangled Banner in a room with a model of a giant squid; by Terry Winters.
An enormous flag, 30 by 42 feet, it was intended as a bold statement to the British warships that were certain to come. And, when in September 1814, the young United States turned back the invaders in a spectacular battle witnessed by Francis Scott Key, he put his joy into a verse published first as “Defense of Fort M’Henry,” and then, set to the tune of…
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Posted on June 13, 2015, in Uncategorized and tagged Flag Day, History, holidays, Military, Tributes, USA. Bookmark the permalink. 27 Comments.
Pacific Paratrooper 
the creative blogger award
cheers, Gavin.
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I thank you very much and I am honored than you feel I deserve this award, Gavin. But, I’m afraid I decline all awards due to the fact that I am merely the faceless narrator of what I have learned about my father and his Greatest Generation. I sincerely hope this will not deter our future friendship.
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I understand completely ☺
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Thank you very much, Gavin. I appreciate that.
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Over four hundred bucks to make a flag? In those days? Wow … it would be interesting to relate that sum to the ‘value’ of gold at the time.
It seems an awesome amount (unless the coinage was going through a rough patch right then) (I lose track).
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Had to look this up myself, Argus… from 1792 until 1833, Gold remained at $19.39 an ounce. The price didn’t rise much during the next 70 years except in 1868 when it hit over $27.
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So 20 ounces of gold, then?
At today’s rates (approx 1180 dollars per ounce) she’d have collected almost $24,000 … certainly wouldn’t have been an easy task… it would be interesting to know how much an ‘average’ Joe scored in a year.
Ben Franklin said to the effect that “to burn two candles, you need to have a ship at sea” which I take to be indicative of the times.
Thanks for looking it up, gives a wee perspective. Stirring times indeed!
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Thanks for your interest.
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Didn’t know about Mary Pickett. Glad our area flys the flag proudly. We are in a small sub-division outside of town and almost everyone is flying the flag!.
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That is great to hear, Kathy!! You chose a terrific place to move to.
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I really believe that, also. Like minded people.
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😉
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A fabulous post again and a great reminder! I was taught to love and respect the flag when I was young and it was reinforced in school. Too bad they don’t teach things like that anymore. But, alas, we can’t go back. I have discovered the name Key in my family line but have not done enough research yet to see if I can tie Francis Scott in there anywhere! I’m keeping my fingers crossed! 😀
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I had the same type lessons in regard to respecting the flag and saying the Pledge of Allegiance – WHY can’t we go back to that? Isn’t it politically correct to be loyal to your country? – Oh well, I just don’t understand I suppose! Wouldn’t that be something to discover Francis Scott was in your line!! Then – I can say – “I know someone who is related….”
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We are of like minds, GP! 🙂
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😉
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Flag issues here as well, in that there is a proposal to change ours. Many feel we should stick to the flag we have, but flags do change over time and the changes don’t mean we love our country less.
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Agreed, I think the changes help show the progress the country has made.
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That’s an excellent way of putting it.
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Thank you, Ann. It expresses how I feel.
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Enjoy the celebration of your flag GP. We still have a flag dilemma over here, as we have the Union Flag (Jack) to symbolise Britain, but each country likes to display its own flag too. There is the Saltire for Scotland, St George’s flag for England, the red dragon flag of Wales, and Northern Ireland still has its own unofficial flag, popular with Unionists there.
I note that many southern states in the US still fly the Confederate Stars and Bars on public buildings too.
Best wishes from England, Pete.
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I didn’t realize the different flags in the UK were any problem – maybe they should make a collage of them all to make one – or cede?
The CSA flag over here is sometimes used as a cultural statement or protest. It doesn’t offend me as it represents a large part of our history. Some people get their backs up about it, but that [to me] is a personal problem on their part.
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They only become a problem when used politically GP. The neo-nazis here seem to have hijacked the flag of St George, and often the Union Jack too. The flag in Northern Ireland has issues with the Catholics living there, and is banned from public buildings.
I also like to see the Confederate flag still being used, as I am very interested in the Civil War. Regards, Pete.
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The Union Jack (ok, Union flag) is an amalgamation. Of sorts …
It’s easy to think of the UK as a country, it sort-of is but is actually a mini USA in its own right—hence the ‘Union’ part. They seem to muddle along though …
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Hey – that’s about all any of us are doing right – muddling along – awaiting some sort of change!!!!
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Thank you for linking up.
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