Remembering the price that's been paid by so many men and women to preserve our liberty helps remind us of our heritage and how important it is for us to do our part.

May God bless all those who have given their all to keep our nation free!

Do 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 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 Decatur, "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 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 the 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, you'll 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"

Here are some meaningful and simple ways to celebrate Flag Day.  
Choose as many activities as you think your family will enjoy and have a wonderful time!

*  Invite friends to celebrate with you.  

*  Display the flag.

*  Say the Pledge of Allegiance.  

*  Talk about what the flag means to you.

*  Learn the history of Flag Day.

*  Learn the history of the flag.

*  Learn flag etiquette.

*  Learn about and sing “You’re a Grand Old Flag."

 *  Learn about and sing the national anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner."

*  Make Flag Day crafts.

*  Play a couple of fun games your family enjoys.

*  Serve simple refreshments like root beer floats or fresh fruit. 

*  Most of all, have fun and appreciate our heritage.

Have you ever wondered why The Star Spangled Banner is the national anthem of the United States of America?  

On March 3, 1931, President Herbert Hoover signed the law that made it our national anthem.  

Here is the story of The Star Spangled Banner.

The Star-Spangled Banner 

Oh say can you see by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
Oh say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner, O! long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country, should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Oh thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation.
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Today's post is for my friend, Ashley, a seven-year-old patriot from Colorado.  She and her Mom, Julie, study about America together.  

One of Ashley's favorite patriotic songs is "You're a Grand Old Flag."  She performed it with her class at school and she even knows dance moves to go along with the music!

Ashley, I thought you might want to learn a little more about "You're a Grand Old Flag."  

It was written by a man named George Cohan.  Although his birth certificate says he was born on July 3rd,1878, George and his family always said he was born on the 4th of July.  I'm not sure when he was born, but I think he really loved America!  

George loved music too and he started performing with his family when he was just a baby.  He knew how to sing and dance by the time he could walk and talk! 

George wrote "You're a Grand Old Flag" when he was 28 years old.  He had met a veteran from the Civil War who had fought at Gettysburg.   The elderly man gently held a carefully folded ragged old flag.  The man must have noticed George looking at his tattered flag because he said to him, “She’s a grand old rag.”  

As George thought about what the man said and the respect he showed for the flag, the words and music for a song came to him.  He called the song “You’re a Grand Old Rag,”  but some people thought that didn’t show quite enough respect  for something as special as the flag of the United States of America.

George was happy to change the words, and “You’re a Grand Old Flag” is still a well-known and well-loved song today, more than one hundred years later!  I remember singing it in school when I was about your age, but we didn’t have fun dance moves to go with it back then.

You know, I think we can learn some lessons from George:

• Even though he was a pretty famous guy, he showed respect and took time to be kind to an elderly veteran.  Just think, we wouldn’t have such a great song if he hadn’t been nice.  
• George listened carefully and thought about what other people had to say.
• He used his talents to help others.
• He liked to create new things and he could adapt to make them better.
• He loved America!

You're a Grand Old Flag
by George M. Cohan
 
You're a grand old flag,
You're a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave.

You're the emblem of
The land I love.
The home of the free and the brave.

Ev'ry heart beats true
'neath the Red, White and Blue,
Where there's never a boast or brag.

But should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.

You're a grand old flag,
You're a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave.

You're the emblem of
The land I love.
The home of the free and the brave.

Ev'ry heart beats true
'neath the Red, White and Blue,
Where there's never a boast or brag.

But should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.

And here's music if you'd like to sing along!

Here is John Wayne telling what the Pledge of Allegiance means to him.  
Flag Day is a great time to talk with your family about what the Pledge of Allegiance means to you.  

"If anyone, then, asks me the meaning of our flag, I say to him - it means just what Concord and Lexington meant; what Bunker Hill meant; which was, in short, the rising up of a valiant young people against an old tyranny to establish the most momentous doctrine that the world had ever known - the right of men to their own selves and to their liberties."  ~Henry Ward Beecher