Seasonal Free Tips

Proud to be an American The Bald Eagle has evolved into one of the most prominent symbols of the United States of America, representing America's traits of courage, strength and freedom. The colors in the American Flag, red, white and blue represent the following: white represents purity and innocence; red represents hardiness and valor and blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice. The stars represent symbols of the heavens and the divine goal to which man has aspired from time to time immemorial. When flying the American Flag, there are some flag etiquette rules: the flag should not touch the ground, floor, water or anything else beneath it. The union or the canton should be at its peak, meaning that the rectangle with the stars should be towards the top. Hanging the flag with the union down signals extreme disaster. If you intend to display your flag after dark, it needs to be illuminated with a spotlight of some sort. The American Flag should not be used for any other purpose; meaning it should not be used as a tapestry or ceiling decoration or as a bedspread. If you are going to display the American Flag with other flags, the American Flag should be located to the right side of a single flag, raised higher than the other flag. When flying the flag on the same staff as other flags, the American Flag should be located on the top. The idea is that the other flags should not be in a position of greater prominence or honor. When flying the American Flag from your car, the flag should be securely clamped to the car, ideally on the right-hand side. The flag should never be draped over the hood, top, sides or back of the car. If the flag has become tattered or frayed, then it must be properly retired and replaced. Check with your local VFW chapter to see when they conduct a flag retirement ceremony. Memorial Day represents a time when we mourn and remember those who have lost their lives fighting for America. Memorial Day was officially declared on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, who was the National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was first observed on May 30, 1868 when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The Pledge of Allegiance represents an oath of loyalty to the United States national emblem, the flag, and to the nation it symbolizes. The Pledge of Allegiance was originally written by Francis Bellamy and was first used on October 12, 1892 during a Columbus Day observance. The original wording has changed over time and is now recited as, 'I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.' Presidents Day is a day to reflect on current and past presidents. Presidents Day was a commemoration of George Washington's Birthday in 1796. By the early 19th century, Washington's Birthday became a bonifide national holiday. Eventually, the holiday in February came to observe all those who served as president. The following have served as the 44 presidents of the United States of America: " George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, James K. Polk, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Chester A. Arthur, Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison, Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William H. Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama.