Every Day is Veterans Day

A U.S. Flag is waving from a flagpole outside my window, and another is on the curb put there by a group of Boy Scouts honoring our veterans.  Originally Veterans Day was Armistice Day, Congress made that change, to make a permanent holiday honoring our veterans. The First Armistice Day was the day when the First World War ended.  It concluded on the 11th day of the 11th Month at 11:11 AM.  They called it the War to end all Wars, but as we know from history that was not the case.

One thing we know is true is when we see our flag billowing in the wind we get a great feeling of emotion in our hearts and minds.  We know of the great sacrifices that past generations have given to guarantee our freedoms.

Emotion is tied to our flag; think of that moment in time when Francis Scott Key saw the large Flag from a ship through the clouds of smoke as he watched British ships bombard Fort McHenry.  He expressed his feelings by penning the Star Spangled Banner that became our National Anthem.   In the case of the Star Spangled Banner, it was made to be seen easily.  That banner is now in the American History Museum in Washington after undergoing 10 years of restoration.

The 15-star, 15-stripe "Star Spangled Banner Flag."

How big was it you may ask?  Well here are the facts.  Made in 1813 it was 30 ft. x 42 ft. currently it’s 30 ft. x 34 ft.  It had 15 Stars (one cut out).  Flown on September 14, 1814 to signal the American victory over the British in the Battle for Baltimore.  Big Flags send very big messages.  Read the words to the Star Spangled Banner, and see how you feel?

Francis Scott Key's original manuscript copy of his "Star-Spangled Banner" poem.

One of two surviving copies of the 1814 broadside printing of the "Defence of Fort McHenry," a poem that became the lyrics of the anthem of the United States.