Flag Day - A Salute to the U.S. Flag

History of Flag Day

In the United States, Flag Day (more formally, National Flag Day) is celebrated on June 14. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened that day by resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1777.

In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day; in August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress.

Flag Day is not an official federal holiday, though on June 14, 1937 Pennsylvania became the first (and only) U.S. state to celebrate Flag Day as a state holiday.

Title 36 Sec. 110 of the US Code is the official statute on Flag Day, however it is at the President's discretion to proclaim officially the observance.

The largest Flag Day parade is held annually in Troy, New York.

Flag Etiquette

STANDARDS of RESPECT

The Flag Code, which formalizes and unifies the traditional ways in which we give respect to the flag, also contains specific instructions on how the flag is not to be used. They are:

• The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.
• The flag should not be used as a drapery, or for covering a speakers desk, draping a platform, or for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.
• The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard
• The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations.
• The flag should never have placed on it, or attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind.
• The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.

When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.

The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary.

When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner.

Betsy Ross Flag History

According to what her family members said (after her death) that she had told them, in June 1776, she received a visit from George Washington, George Ross and Robert Morris of the Continental Congress. She had met Washington through their mutual worship at Christ Church (and she had sewn buttons for him previously), and George Ross was John's uncle. Although there is no record of any such committee, the three men supposedly announced they were a "Committee of Three" (perhaps self-appointed, under the circumstances) and showed her a suggested design that was drawn up by Washington in pencil. The design had six-pointed stars, and Betsy, the family story goes, suggested five-pointed stars instead because she could make a five-pointed star in one snip. The flag was sewn from American grown hemp by Betsy in her parlor. The flag was flown when the Declaration of Independence was read aloud at Independence Hall on July 8, 1776.

The First Official United States Flag: This 13-Star Flag became the Official United States Flag on June14th, 1777 and is the result of the congressional action that took place on that date. Much evidence exists pointing to Congressman Francis Hopkinson as the person responsible for its design. The only President to serve under this flag was George Washington (1789-1797). This Flag was to last for a period of 18 years.

Each star and stripe represented a Colony of which there were thirteen, united nearly one year earlier by the Declaration of Independence. The thirteen Colonies are listed below with the date that each ratified the Constitution and became a State.

• (1st) Delaware December 7th, 1787
• (2nd) Pennsylvania December 12th,1787
• (3rd) New Jersey December18th, 1787
• (4th) Georgia January 2nd, 1788
• (5th) Connecticut January 9th, 1788
• (6th) Massachusetts February 6th, 1788
• (7th) Maryland April 28th, 1788
• (8th) South Carolina May 23rd, 1788
• (9th) New Hampshire June 21st, 1788
• (10th) Virginia June 25th, 1788
• (11th) New York July 25th, 1788
• (12th) North Carolina November 21st, 1789
• (13th) Rhode Island May 29th, 1790

The Star Spangled Banner, the 15 Star Flag

The Star Spangled Banner: This Flag became the Official United States Flag on May 1st,1795. Two stars were added for the admission of Vermont (the 14th State on March 4th, 1791) and Kentucky (the 15th State on June 1st, 1792, and was to last for 23 years. The five Presidents who served under this flag were; George Washington (1789-1797), John Adams (1797-1801), Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809), James Madison (1809-1817), and James Monroe (1817-1825).

The 15-star, 15-stripe flag was authorized by the Flag Act of January 13, 1794, adding 2 stripes and 2 Stars. The regulation went into effect on May 1, 1795. This flag was the only U.S. Flag to have more than 13 stripes. It was immortalized by Francis Scott Key during the bombardment of Fort McHenry, Sept 13, 1814. The image above is representative of the actual flag that flew over Fort McHenry on that day and which is now preserved in the Smithsonian Museum. You can notice the "tilt" in some of the stars just as in the original Star Spangled Banner.

Where the original Star Spangled Banner went...

1814
The battle occurred, and the flag won its glory. Armistead was promoted to Lt. Colonel by Madison. Armistead died in service on April 25, 1818. He acquired the flag sometime before that date, but at this point it is unknown how.

1818
Armistead died and "legend" says that the flag was used in his funeral. However, in all of the newspaper accounts of Armistead's funeral, there is no mention of the flag being displayed at it. At his death the flag passed to his widow, Louisa Armistead.

1824
The flag was used in a reception for General Lafayette.

1861
Louisa Armistead died on October 3, 1861, and in her will left the flag to her daughter, Georgiana Armistead Appleton. The flag was sent to England for safe keeping during the Civil War, according to one of the Armistead family members, who made this statement in a newspaper interview in the 1880's. But Georgiana said, in a letter to Admiral George Preble, that the flag was in her possession during the rebellion.

June 24, 1873
The flag was displayed in the Charleston Naval Yards. Canvas backing was sewn on the flag and one of the first photographs was taken of it.

1876
The flag was loaned to the Navy Department for the Centennial Celebration.

1879
Georgiana Armistead Appleton died in 1879 and left the flag to her son Eben Appleton.

1907
Eben Appleton loaned the flag to the Smithsonian.

1912
Eben Appleton converts the loan of the flag to a gift to the Smithsonian.

1914
Amelia Fowler was commissioned to remove the canvas backing sewn on the flag when it was photographed in 1873 and replace it with the present linen backing.

The 50 Star Flag

50-Star Flag: Executive Order of President Eisenhower dated August 21, 1959 - provided for the arrangement of the stars in nine rows of stars staggered horizon tally and eleven rows of stars staggered vertically. This is the current flag of the United States. Hawaii was admitted as the 50th state on August 21st, 1959. The 27th flag of the United States became the official flag on July 4th, 1960. Nine presidents have served under this flag; Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961), John F. Kennedy (1961-1963), Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969), Richard M. Nixon (1969-1974), Gerald R. Ford (1974-1977), Jimmy Carter (1977-1981), Ronald W. Reagan (1981-1989), George Bush (1989-1993), William J. Clinton (1993-2001) and George W. Bush (2001-present)*.

1. Delaware - 1787	26. Michigan - 1837
2. Pennsylvania - 1787	27. Florida - 1845
3. New Jersey - 1787	28. Texas - 1845
4. Georgia - 1788	29. Iowa - 1846
5. Connecticut - 1788	30. Wisconsin - 1848
6. Massachusetts - 1788	31. California - 1850
7. Maryland - 1788	32. Minnesota - 1858
8. South Carolina - 1788	33. Oregon - 1859
9. New Hampshire - 1788	34. Kansas - 1861
10. Virginia - 1788	35. West Virginia - 1863
11. New York - 1788	36. Nevada - 1864
12. North Carolina - 1789	37. Nebraska - 1867
13. Rhode Island - 1790	38. Colorado - 1876
14. Vermont - 1791	39. North Dakota - 1889
15. Kentucky - 1792	40. South Dakota - 1889
16. Tennessee - 1796	41. Montana - 1889
17. Ohio - 1803	42. Washington - 1889
18. Louisiana - 1812	43. Idaho - 1890
19. Indiana - 1816	44. Wyoming - 1890
20. Mississippi - 1817	45. Utah - 1896
21. Illinois - 1818	46. Oklahoma - 1907
22. Alabama - 1819	47. New Mexico - 1912
23. Maine - 1820	48. Arizona - 1912
24. Missouri - 1821	49. Alaska - 1959
25. Arkansas - 1836	50. Hawaii - 1959

US concerned at Iran's expulsion of Afghan refugees

Tue May 22, 4:19 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States Tuesday voiced concern over Iran's large-scale deportations of Afghans living illegally in the country saying the flood of returning refugees was becoming a burden.

"The United States is concerned that a large influx of Afghan migrants is increasing the need for humanitarian assistance in western Afghanistan," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said. The United Nations said Monday that more than 70,000 Afghans who were in Iran illegally have been expelled in the past month.

Tehran has said it wanted one million Afghans repatriated by next March. The 70,000 who have been sent back started returning from April 21.

Washington supported calls from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Kabul to ensure "that Afghans living and working illegally in Iran are deported in a gradual, orderly and humane manner," McCormack said.

Afghanistan has asked Iran to halt the returns, saying it does not have the capacity to accommodate a large number of people at once.

According to the UN more than one million out of the two million Afghans living in Iran were there illegally, McCormack said.

Registered Afghan refugees living in Iran were not being targeted for deportation however, he added.

U.N. lifts Liberian diamond ban

Text for Photo Above - Actor Djimon Hounsou stars in the action drama film Blood Diamond, which portrays many of the atrocities in the illegal diamond trade.

Published: 28/04/2007 12:00 AM (UAE)

Agencies

Liberia: The United Nations has lifted its 2001 ban on Liberia's diamond exports, saying the country has made enough progress in certifying rough diamonds. The ban was meant to stop the sale of "blood diamonds" or diamonds mined illegally, which has fuelled conflicts in West Africa. British ambassador to the UN Emyr Jones Parry said the unanimous vote on Friday was “recognition of the progress made in Liberia". "This government has shown its determination to put in place measures to ensure that the proceeds of diamond sales go for the benefit of Liberia and its people and are not misappropriated," he said. Exports of rough diamonds from Liberia were banned in 2003 to cut off funds to local rebel groups who illegally traded un-cut diamonds for weapons. Click for Full Article

nationaljewelernetwork.com
May 01, 2007
United Nations—The U.N. Security Council on Friday lifted a 6-year-old ban on Liberian diamond exports meant to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the world market.

According to published reports, the 15-nation council voted unanimously to lift the ban. The move was made in "recognition of the progress made by Liberia" in setting up controls on its diamonds, which helped fuel a 14-year civil war that ended in 2003, British Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry said.

The resolution, drafted in the United States, said the country had taken action to meet the minimum demands of the Kimberley Process (KP), which was created to track the flow of rough diamonds across borders to prove they come from legitimate sources.

The decision to lift the ban will be reviewed in 90 days.

Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who took office last year, has pushed to end the embargo, saying money from diamond sales was necessary to finance reconstruction of the country, Reuters reported. The embargo was lifted two months before the latest extension of the ban was due to end.

"Liberia was ready," U.S. mission spokesman Ben Chang reportedly said. "The time was right."

Nathaniel Barnes, Liberia's U.N. Ambassador, reportedly said the country's application to join the Kimberley Process—filed late March—would be accepted.

He said the decision to lift the ban is important to the people of Liberia, which currently has 85 percent unemployment, with former combatants accounting for many of the jobless. Barnes reportedly said the resumption of diamond exports will help people get back to work.

The United Nations has already lifted a ban on Liberian timber exports, so the only sanctions remaining are a travel ban and assets freeze against certain named individuals, Reuters reports.

In a joint statement, non-governmental organizations Global Witness and Partnership Africa Canada called on members of the KP, the Security Council and the international community to assist the Liberian government in achieving important conflict-diamond-prevention goals and making diamonds a positive force for development.

"The government of Liberia has made good progress in establishing a system of controls to prevent diamonds from fueling conflict," Global Witness said in the statement. "This is a welcome step, but effective implementation and enforcement of the Kimberley Process, including accurate reporting and monitoring of trade and production statistics, will be crucial to ensuring that diamonds never again fuel wars. The government of Liberia must work to ensure that its system of controls is rigorously enforced, and that it takes full control of all diamond-mining areas."

In addition, Partnership Africa Canada said the Security Council and KP members must rigorously monitor Liberia's system of controls to make sure it is enforced.

"Cooperation with other diamond-producing countries of the region will be essential to the effectiveness of the Kimberley Process," the organization stated.

Click Here for Source

U.N. chief urges global support for Iraq

By EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press Writer Sun Apr 29, 7:40 PM ET

UNITED NATIONS - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged the world's major powers to support an economic and political reform package for Iraq at a conference in Egypt this week, saying this would encourage Iraqis to promote national reconciliation.

Ban is co-chairing Thursday's conference in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik to launch the International Compact with Iraq, which was established by the U.N. and Iraqi government shortly after Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki took office in June 2006.

The five-year compact requires the government to enact key political and economic reforms during its transition to financial self-sufficiency and integration into the regional and global economy.

Ban and al-Maliki will push participants at the conference to forgive Iraq's huge debts and provide financial assistance to help implement the plan.

"This will be a very important international conference to help the Iraqi government to restore peace politically and economically," Ban said in an interview Thursday.

"We are very much concerned by continuing sectarian violence, and we hope that with this commitment from the international community, (the) Iraqi people will also do their own efforts to promote national reconciliation."

Asked whether the compact can make an actual difference in people's lives in the face of sectarian violence, Ban said he was confident it would send a "strong message" to the Iraqi people to work toward national reconciliation.

Arab countries are demanding that Iraq's Shiite-led government do more to reach out to disgruntled Sunni Arabs before pledging any substantial aid to the country, according to a document obtained by The Associated Press before the meeting.

That stance, and the festering tensions between Iraq and its neighbors, are complicating the U.S. and Iraqi goal of getting strong support for the compact and forgiveness of Iraq's huge debts.

Al-Maliki, on a Mideast tour last week, said Iraq would not tolerate other Arab countries setting conditions on his government. He also accused some Arab countries of still harboring extremists who infiltrate Iraq to launch attacks.

Ibrahim Gambari, the U.N. envoy for the Iraq Compact, noted last month that several countries have already said they will forgive about $4 billion in Iraqi debt.

Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi presented the compact to envoys from nearly 100 countries and international organizations in March at U.N. headquarters.

The compact includes provisions for an oil-profit sharing law, which Abdul-Mahdi predicted the Iraqi parliament would adopt in the coming weeks; a plan for drawing foreign investment into the country; and a fully funded budget for 2007 calling for a doubling of spending on education and health.

Tribute to U.S. Air Force

U.S. Air Force Tribute

Air Force in Germany tells Dave Letterman:
Top 10 cool things about being in the Air Force

Top 10 reasons I love my Job - Air Lift Personnel

Air Force Anthem
(Robert Crawford)

Off we go into the wild blue yonder
Climbing high into the sun;
Here they come zooming to meet our thunder,
At' em boys, give 'er the gun!
Down we dive spouting our flames from under,
Off with one helluva roar!
We live in fame or go down in flame,
Nothing'll stop the US Air Force!

Minds of men fashioned a crate of thunder
Sent it high into the blue
Hands of men blasted the world asunder,
How they live God only knew!
Souls of men dreaming of skies to conquer
Gave us wings ever to soar,
With scouts before and bombers galore,
Nothing can stop the US Air Force!

Here's a toast to the host of those
Who love the vastness of the sky,
To a friend we send the message
Of his brother men who fly.
We drink to those who gave their all of old,
Then down we roar
to score the rainbow's pot of gold.
A toast to the host of men we boast
the US Air Force.

Off we go into the wild sky yonder,
Keep the wings level and true!
If you'd live to be a gray haired wonder,
Keep your nose out of the blue!
Flying men guarding our nation's boarders,
We'll be there followed by more,
In echelon we carry on!
Nothing'll stop the US Air Force!

NOTE: The Army Air Corps uses this song, substituting "Army Air Corps" for "US Air Force".