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Happy Holidays ~ Memorial & Veterans Day

STARS AND STRIPES FLAG FOLDING CEREMONY

The Flag Folding Ceremony represents the same religious principles in which our Country was originally founded.

The portion of the flag denoting honor is the canton of blue containing the stars representing states our veterans served in uniform. The canton field of blue dresses from left to right, and only is inverted when draped as a pall on a casket of a veteran who has served our country honorably in uniform.

In the evening, in the armed forces of the United States, at the ceremony of re-treat after Taps have been sounded, the flag is lowered and folded in a triangle fold, and kept under watch throughout the night as a tribute to our nation's honored dead.

The next morning it is brought out, at lie ceremony of Reveille, and run up aloft as a symbol of our belief in the resurrection of the bodly.

*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 rememberance of the veteran departing our ranks whom gave of a portion of life for the defense of our country to attain peace throughout the world not to have been in vain and shall never be forgotten.

*The Fourth fold represents our weaker nature; for as American citizens trusting in God, for 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 the immortal 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 for this is where our hearts lie - and it is with our hearts that we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic to 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 these same armed forces that we protect our country and our flag against all the enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.

*The Eighth 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; and this fold is made to honor -Mother, for whom it flies on Mother's Day.

*The Ninth fold is a tribute to our womanhood; for it has been through their faith, love, loyalty, and devotion that the characters of the men that have made this country great have been molded.

*The Tenth fold is a tribute to Father, for he too has given of his sons for the' defense of our country, since she was firstborn.

We fold from the stripes toward the stars; for whereas the stripes represent the thirteen original colonies that founded our republic,
and they are now embodied in the fifty sovereign states represented by the stars, so that the stars cover the stripes.

*The eleventh fold for in the eyes of a Hebrew citizen, this represents the lower portionof the seal of King David and King Solomon, and glorifies in their eyes the God of Abraham.
The God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

*The Twelfth fold for in the eyes of a Christian citizen, this represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies in their eyes God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost

When the Flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, which reminds us of our national 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; and they, followed by their comrades and shipmates in the armed forces of The United States, have preserved for us the rights, privileges, and freedom which we are enjoying today.

"Sent to me by Peggy Carter
--wife of a Viet Nam Vet who is Retired Army and the daughter of a WWII Vet--"

STARS AND STRIPES FLAG FOLDING CEREMONY

Enjoy This Bit of History

Take out a one dollar bill and look at it. The one dollar bill you're looking at first came off the presses in 1957 in its present design. This so-called paper money is in fact a cotton and linen blend, with red and blue minute silk fibers running through it. It is actually material. We've all washed it without it falling apart.

A special blend of ink is used, the contents we will never know. It is overprinted with symbols and then it is starched to make it water resistant and pressed to give it that nice crisp look.

If you look on the front of the bill, you will see the United States Treasury Seal. On the top you will see the scales for balance -- a balanced budget. In the center you have a carpenter's T-square, a tool used for an even cut. Underneath is the Key to the United States Treasury. That's all pretty easy to figure out, but what is on the back of that dollar bill is
something we should all know.

If you turn the bill over, you will see two circles. Both circles, together, comprise the Great Seal of the United States. The First Continental Congress requested that Benjamin Franklin and a group of men come up with a Seal. It took them four years to accomplish this task and another two years to get it approve

If you look at the left hand circle, you will see a Pyramid. Notice the face is lighted and the western side is dark. This country was just beginning. We had not begun to explore the West or decided what we could do for Western Civilization.

The Pyramid is uncapped, again signifying that we were not even close to being finished. Inside the capstone you have the all-seeing eye, an ancient symbol for divinity. It was Franklin's belief that one man couldn't do it alone, but a group of men, with the help of God, could do anything.

"IN GOD WE TRUST" is on this currency. The Latin above the pyramid, ANNUIT COEPTIS, means "God has favored our undertaking." The Latin below the
pyramid, NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM, means "a new order has begun."

At the base of the pyramid is the Roman Numeral for 1776.

If you look at the right-hand circle, and check it carefully, you will learn that it is on every National Cemetery in the United States. It is also on the Parade of Flags Walkway at the
Bushnell, Florida National Cemetery and is the centerpiece of most hero's monuments.

Slightly modified, it is the seal of the President of the United States and it is always visible whenever he speaks, yet no one knows what the symbols mean.

The Bald Eagle was selected as a symbol for victory for two reasons: First, he is not afraid of a storm; he is strong and he is smart enough to soar above it; Secondly, he wears no material crown. We had just broken from the King of England. Also, notice the shield is unsupported.

This country can now stand on its own. At the top of that shield you have a white bar signifying congress, a unifying factor. We were coming together as one nation. In the Eagle's beak you will read, "E PLURIBUS UNUM," meaning "one nation from many people."

Above the Eagle you have thirteen stars representing the thirteen original colonies, and any clouds of misunderstanding rolling away Again, we were coming together as one. Notice what the Eagle holds in his talons. He holds an olive branch and arrows. This country wants peace, but we will never be afraid to fight to preserve peace. The Eagle always wants to face the olive branch, but in time of war, his gaze turns toward the arrows.

They say that the number 13 is an unlucky number. This is almost a worldwide belief. You will usually never see a room numbered 13, or any hotels or motels with a 13th floor.
But, think about this:::

13 original colonies, 13 signers of the Declaration of Independence, 13 stripes on our flag, 13 steps on the Pyramid, 13 letters in the Latin above, 13 letters in "E Pluribus Unum", 13 stars above the Eagle, 13 plumes of feathers on each span of the Eagle's wing, 13 bars on that shield, 13 leaves on the olive branch, 13 fruits, and if you look closely, 13 arrows. And for minorities: the 13th Amendment.

"Why don't you know this?" Your children don't know this and their history teachers don't know this. Too many veterans have given up too much to ever let the meaning fade.

Many veterans remember coming home to an America that didn't care.
Too many veterans never came home at all.

Tell everyone what is on the back of the one dollar bill and what it stands for, because nobody else will.

-- Author Unknown --

The Story of Taps

A little history is good for all of us! We have all heard the haunting melody of "Taps." It's the song that gives us
that lump in our throats and usually tears in our eyes.

But do you know the story behind the song? If not, I think you will be pleased to find out about its humble beginnings.

Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near
Harrison's Landing, Virginia. The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land. During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moans of a soldier who was severely
wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention. Crawling on his stomach
through the gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier
and began pulling him toward the encampment.

When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead. The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock.

In the dim light he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the
Confederate Army.

The following morning, heart-broken, the fatherasked permission to give his son a full military burial despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted. The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral. The request was
denied since the soldier was a confederate. But, out of respect
for the father, they did say they could give him one musician. The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket
of the dead youth's uniform. This wish was granted. The haunting melody, which we now know as "Taps" used at military funerals, was born.

Day is done
Gone the sun
From the lakes
From the hills
From the sky
All is well,
safely rest.
God is nigh.

Fading light
Dims the sight
And a star
Gems the sky,
Gleaning bright
From afar,
Drawing nigh,
Falls the night.

Thanks and praise,
For our days,
Neath the sun,
Neath the stars,
Neath the sky,
As we go,
This we know,
God is nigh.

I, too, have felt the chills while listening to "Taps" but
I have never seen all the words to the song until now. I didn't even know there was more than one verse. I also never knew the story behind the song and I didn't know if you had either so I thought I'd pass it along. I now have an even deeper respect for the song than I did before.

~~ Author Unknown ~~