What on EARTH is that flag?

A little more insight into great Military Medals

November 18, 2009

Following one of my latest write ups on the Medal of Honor, I have decided to do a series on the Medals of Valor awarded to each branch of the US Military. The Medal of Honor is the highest decoration awarded by the US government. For a Marine to receive it, he/she must demonstrate valiant efforts in the time of battle against American enemy forces. There have been 3,467 medals awarded; however, nearly 2,000 of these were given during the Civil War and Indian War. This breaks down to only 1519 medals being awarded in wars since ~1865. There have been 19 double recipients of which 5 received two medals for the same act by different branches of the military.

I found some other Military Medals that I wasn’t as informed about until I started doing some research. These will be ordered from most decorated to being going downward.

The Navy Cross is the “second highest award for valor”* behind the Medal of Honor. It was designed by James Earle Fraser and approved by Congress in 1919 due in part to the United States participation in World War I. Since then, it has been awarded more than 6,300 times. The criteria of the award are:

While engaged in action against an enemy of the United States.

While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force.

While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict in which the United States is not a belligerent party.*

Design: A cross pattée with four laurel leaves in the corners of the cross. The center features a ship while the reverse features crossing anchors with the letters USN (United States Navy). The ribbon is navy blue with a white stripe down the middle.

Silver Star Medal

The Silver Star is the third highest decoration in the US Military for valor. The Silver Star replaced the Citation Star on July 19, 1932** The Citation Star is shown in the very middle of the Silver Star to this day. Congress passed the Silver Star into law on August 7, 1942 for the Navy and December 15, 1942 for the Army. There are no definite records of the Silver Star in existence but it is estimated that between 100,000 and 150,000 Silver Stars have been awarded since inception. Note: Pilots are generally awarded the Silver Star following 5 or more confirmed kills. The criteria to be awarded must involve heroism that goes above and beyond in the following actions:

In action against an enemy of the United States.

While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force

While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party**

Design: The Silver Star is in fact a gold star in appearance. In the middle is a silver star which is encased by laurel wreaths. The back of the star reads: “For Gallantry in Action” and the ribbon features cloth in the order of ultramarine blue, white, ultramarine blue, white, and Old Glory red.

Legion of Merit Medal

The Legion of Merit medal is given for exceptional bravery and conduct for outstanding service and achievement. Congress passed legislation for the Legion of Merit on July 20, 1942*** The main thing that separates the Legion of Merit from the previous Medals is the fact that it can be earned in times of peace and many foreigners have become recipients. The criteria to be awarded:

In peacetime, service should be in the nature of a special requirement or of an extremely difficult duty performed in an unprecedented and clearly exceptional manner.

The performance must have been such as to merit recognition of key individuals for service rendered in a clearly exceptional manner.

For service not related to actual war the term “key individual” applies to a narrower range of positions that in time of war and requires evidence of significant achievement

Design: The design of the medal is different based on the ranking of the recipient. These recipients are ordered from most to least distinguished as:

The Chief Commander Degree of the Legion of Merit Medal is, on a wreath of green laurel joined at the bottom by a gold bow-knot (rosette), a domed five-pointed white star bordered crimson, points reversed with v-shaped extremities tipped with a gold ball. In the center, a blue disk encircled by gold clouds, with 13 white stars arranged in the pattern that appears on the United States Coat of Arms. Between each join, within the wreath are crossed arrows pointing outwards. The overall width is 2 15/16 inches (75 mm). The words “United States of America” are engraved in the center of the reverse. A miniature of the decoration in gold on a horizontal gold bar is worn on the service ribbon.

The Commander features the same exact design which hangs from a crimson ribbon and is connected by a golden laurel wreath.

The Officer design features the same medal design yet is connected to a crimson ribbon via a simple golden hook with a gold replica mounted to the middle of the ribbon.

The Legionnaire design is an replica of the officer design without the medal replica on the ribbon.***

Distinguished Flying Cross Medal

The Distinguished Flying Cross can be awarded to any member of the US Armed Forces yet must take place during aerial combat, following November 11, 1918. Before that date, armed forces members could receive the Distinguished Flying Cross when being nominated for Medals listed above in which the nominee did not receive them. The Flying Cross was passed in an act by congress on July 2, 1926 and its first recipient was Charles Lindbergh. Since then, it has been awarded to many famous recipients, including President George H. W. Bush, John McCain, and Clark Gable to name a few. The criteria for the award:

Officer or enlisted member of the US Armed Forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by “heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918”.

Display of heroism while working as instructors or students at flying schools****

Design: The Cross was designed by Elizabeth Will and Arthur DuBois and features a bronze cross pattée. Laying on top of the cross is 4 propellers and these sit on top of rays between the arms of the cross. It hangs from a ribbon that features a red strip in the middle, mirrored on the sides by a thin stripe of white, wide stripe of blue, thin strip of white, and a thin strip of blue.

Navy and Marine Corps Medal

The Navy And Marine Corps Medal is the second highest medal awarded for non-combat actions. It can be awarded the US Navy and Marine Corps soldiers. The most famous recipient of the award was John F. Kennedy for his actions in World War II. It was passed by Congress on August 7, 1942 during World War II. It is most often given for sea rescues where one’s life is risked. The formal requirements are:

Service members who, while serving in any capacity with the Navy or Marine Corps, distinguish themselves by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. Typically, it is awarded for actions involving the risk of one’s own life.”****

Design: The medal is made of a golden octagon design on which an eagle is standing on a warship anchor. Underneath the anchor is a globe and “HEROISM” inscribed.

Bronze Star

The Bronze Star can be awarded to members of any US Military Service for acts of bravery or merit. It was passed with Executive Order on February 4, 1944******. When the Bronze Star is awarded for bravery, it is the fourth-highest combat award of the U.S. Military and the ninth highest military award in both non-combat and combat awards in the order of precedence of U.S. military decorations. The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to those who meet specific requirements:

Serving in capacity within or along with United States Army after December 6, 1941

Distinguishing himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving aerial flight.

The acts of heroism are of a lesser degree than required for the award of the Silver Star. The acts of merit or acts of valor must be less than that required for the Legion of Merit but must nevertheless have been meritorious and accomplished with distinction.

Design: Designed by Rudolf Freund, the medal features a bronze star with a smaller inscribed bronze star in the middle. The reverse side has the inscription of “Heroic of meritorious achievement” with a space for the name of the recipient of the medal to be engraved. It is hung by a red, white, and blue ribbon.

Air Medal

The Air Medal was established with Executive Order on May 11, 1942 by President Dwight D Eisenhower. It can be awarded for a single heroic act or to a full service of heroism. Requirements:

Crew member or non-crew member who are required to participate in aerial flight on a regular and frequent basis.

Combat duties require regular and frequent flying in other than a passenger status, or individuals who perform a particularly noteworthy act while performing the function of a crew member but who are not on flying status.**********

Design: A bronze “compass rose” with an inscribed soaring eagle that hangs from a blue and orange ribbon.

I’m going to do more research on few others I have heard about and get those up here shortly. So stay tuned for more information and if you’d like to hear about anything in particular please let me know!

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy_cross
**http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_star
***http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legion_of_merit
****http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Flying_Cross_(United_States)
*****http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy_and_marine_corps_medal
******http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_star
*******http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Medal

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Posted by Lexi the Vexillologist

Learn about some great Veteran Memorials seen in Saving Private Ryan

November 9, 2009

Have I ever talked about how much I absolutely loooove watching movies? I really don’t think there’s a better way to relax for a couple hours (with your eyes open) than to sit and watch a really good movie. I’ve seen a lot of them, all different kinds, cause I like just about anything. I also think watching a movie can be very therapeutic to a mood we might be having. Movies have lots of ups and downs and twists, maybe some puzzling plot points to make you think a little bit, we laugh and cry, and we revel at the breakthrough advances being made with visual effects. Heck, sometimes the dialogue and plot of a movie don’t need to be any good at all, so long as the special effects and graphics are awesome!

Emotion is a word I use a lot when talking about movies, because all the senses are stimulated when watching a good movie with a good story. And timing is no mistake, usually, when we see movies at the theatre, or on TV. Christmas movies will (normally) be shown around… you guessed it… Christmas, and other holiday movies shown near their respective calendrical tribute. War movies… now there’s a really big genre. Not just movies about wars, but movies about Military branches, or having something to do with US history, military history, or inner workings of armed forces… now that’s a list that can go on for days and days. I saw a couple movies on TV recently, and I realized that seeing them at this time of year was not necessarily a random accident. These military stories are being shown to coincide with Veteran’s Day, which is coming up in just a little over a week (November 11). I’ve only seen a few of these military movies in the last week or so, it’s not like seeing A Christmas Story for 24 straight hours on Christmas or anything, but the few I saw were very influential on me. And, if you haven’t figured it out by now, I’m gonna tell you why… here we go…

The Laste Caste

The first film I saw about a week ago was The Last Castle with Robert Redford. This isn’t a war movie or anything inspired by a real life event. In actuality it shows a side of the armed forces you don’t often see or think about, as the story takes place in a military prison. Okay, major downer. I know, right… where am I going with this… I was all pumping you up about great war movies and now i’m talking about jail! I’m not gonna rehash the whole plot, but I did want to tell you about a part of the movie that deals with our American Flag. A pretty big part of the movie’s plot involves the flag. Long story short: the warden of the jail has an American Flag in a decorative case, and the flag is stolen by a prisoner (Robert Redford!!!) who’s intention is to fly it upside down in the exercise yard. As you are full aware, I am a stickler for the rules, so I must tell you that you should never do that, because flying our colors upside down has particular meaning, and that is as a signal of distress. It’s in the US Flag Code:

“The flag should never be displayed with the union [blue and white star field] down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.”

So, it’s not that doing it would be wrong, because there may be a time that calls for the American Flag to be flown upside down, but it would see viewed as disrespectful and most inappropriate for any other reason. Anyway, because I talk often about history, and many times about our colors, I thought this movie was an interesting one to tell you about. Now, I didn’t give the whole thing away. In fact I hardly told you anything about it. So, if you’re curious, I can confidently endorse this movie as entertaining, and recommend you see it.

Saving Private Ryan

Okay, this next movie was very, VERY moving for me. I cried lots and lots, and then I started thinking lots and lots, and I was like, wait a minute, I feel like heard this one before. So… I watched Saving Private Ryan with Tom Hanks and Matt Damon. Tom Hanks, by the way, I also a HUUUUUGE history buff, and he’s responsible for the Band of Brothers miniseries. That’s another war genre story. Not gonna talk about it now, but you should see that, too! The movie is set around the June 6, 1944 Normandy Invasion by Allied Forces during World War II, and there is no mistaking the emotions felt by viewers that this movie intended to summon. The film opens with an old man and his family who are visiting the grave site of a soldier. The cemetery in the film is an actual site and is rather significant to memorials. I’ll tell you more about it in a few minutes. Anyway, from here, the story flashes back to June 6, 1944: Omaha Beach. Gunfire and explosions surround us as Allied Forces are landing on troop carriers from the sea. For the first 20 minutes it looks as if we’re watching actual war documentary footage of a raging, bloody battle that immediately sets the tone and mood for the remainder of the film. As the story develops, we learn that three brothers fighting in WWII have all died within days of each other, and their mother is about to be visited by the Army to receive the news. What’s more, their is a fourth brother, Private James Ryan, who is serving in Normandy, and supposedly MIA. The Army springs in to action and dispatches a company, led by Tom Hanks’ character (Captain Miller) with orders to find Private Ryan (Matt Damon) and deliver him safely. This is a most emotional film, and while it is a work of fiction set against historical events, there are hints of truth to the plot. There were several instances of brothers losing their lives in active duty while in the service of their county. Saving Private Ryan is said to loosely parallel the story of the The Niland Brothers. The Niland’s were four American brothers from Tonawanda, NY (a suburb between Buffalo and Niagara Falls), who all served during WWII. Of the four, two survived the war, but there was time it was believed that only had survived. It was later discovered that a second surviving Niland brother was held captive in a Japanese POW cam in Burma.

USS The Sullivans

You may find this immensely ironic, but there is in fact another equally dynamic parallel to Saving Private Ryan. The irony is that it also has ties to the Buffalo, NY region. In Buffalo, at the foot of the Erie Canal Harbor, is a small Naval Park, complete with a museum of ships, military vehicles, and a veterans memorial honoring soldiers from the region. The significance to Saving Private Ryan is one of the sea vessels in the museum; a destroyer class Navy ship named, The Sullivans. The USS The Sullivans was named in honor of the five brothers who lost their lives when their ship, the USS Juneau, was sunk by a Japanese submarine during the Battle of Guadalcanal on 13 November 1942. Unlike Saving Private Ryan, or the real-life story of the Niland brothers, none of the Sullivan brothers survived. This was the greatest military loss by any one American family during WWII. One summer, once upon a time, My family took a vacation up north to see Niagara Falls. We had to pass through Buffalo, NY, and while driving on the highway I could see the ships in the water. I begged my dad to stop the car so we could see the Naval Park. As part of a tour, me and my family walked on-board the USS The Sullivans, and heard the amazing, and tragic, story of the Sullivan brothers.

The Navy had a policy of separating siblings, but this was not strictly enforced. Because the Sullivan’s were not drafted, but instead voluntarily enlisted for service in the Navy, the five brothers from Iowa stipulated that they serve together, and all five were assigned to the USS Juneau. Nine months after their assignment to the USS Juneau, it was sunk by the Japanese during the Battle of Guadalcanal. We learned during our tour that Destroyers are named for naval heroes and leaders, and that the name of this ship, “The Sullivans,” had historically caused confusion cause the Navy doesn’t use the “the” in front of ship names. In this particular instance “the” is part of the ship’s name, signifying more than person. The USS The Sullivans that we toured in the Buffalo Naval Park was put in to service in 1944 toward the end of WWII, and was decommissioned in 1965. However, the name of the ship and the memory of the Sullivan brothers lives on… in 1997 the Navy commissioned a new destroyer, DDG-68, and named her USS The Sullivans. To wrap up the story on the Sullivan brothers, the United States War Department sprung in to action with the future intent to prevent any family from suffering a similar catastrophic loss by enacting the Sole Survivor Policy: a set of regulations designed to protect members of a family if they have already lost family members in military service. While I said “wrap up,” there’s a whole lot more you could know about the Sullivan’s, including a museum wing in Waterloo, Iowa dedicated to the fallen heroes. If you’re interested in this gripping story, just do a Google search! You’ll find all kinds of info.

View of the Cemetery from Memorial

Earlier, when I was getting in to the plot about Saving Private Ryan, I mentioned a military cemetery. The cemetery in the opening scene of the movie is The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, and it is a WWII cemetery honoring American soldiers who died in while serving in Europe. What’s important about this site is that it was the first American WWII cemetery established on European soil. Remembered at The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial are 9,387 American soldiers, and over 300 unknown. While many are buried here, the bodies of 1,557 Americans who served and lost their lives could not be located. The names of those who could not be returned are inscribed on the walls of a semicircular garden memorial.

I think it is most important that, while we prepare to observe Veterans Day this November 11th, when we take a moment to reflect on all of the men and women, both of whom are here today, and especially those no longer with us. For those who fought for our freedom and way of life, we take a moment to recognize those soldiers who are memorialized abroad, while with us in our hearts and spirits, are not with us on our home soil, the land for which they fought. It is this exact reason I delved in to the “Private Ryan” story, and capped it here with The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. What’s more, while this memorial was the first American cemetery in Europe, it is not the only cemetery and memorial on foreign soil. Take some time to remember these courageous men and women in the coming days. Also, take a moment to reflect on our memorials here at home, both our highly visible national memorials in Washington, D.C., and those on the local level that you may have in your hometown.

Until next time,
Lexi

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Posted by Lexi the Vexillologist

Sgt. Robert B. Burger’s American Flag Story

November 5, 2009

Yesterday we received a Virtual Wall of Honor submission for a brave soldier by the name of Robert B. Burger. We thought you would enjoy the story about the American Flag he found flew over Germany as well as the great photographs from part of his history.

Robert B. Burger Sr. was a Sgt. in the U.S. Army, serving in Europe during WWII. Dad’s company took over a town in Germany. Having no flag to display, Sgt. Bobby Burger found a tattered one in a garbage can, used adhesive tape to bind the ’stars’ end, and boot straps to secure it to the flagpole rope. The ’stars’ end of the flag was so tattered that only 42 stars are actually displayed – I still have the flag framed and proudly display it in my office. I enjoy telling the story of how this flag came to ‘fly’ over this small German town. Although he would not talk about the war, he was very proud of his service. My Dad’s only brother was a POW in Japan. Dad died in 1994.

Submitted by his son, Robert B. Burger Jr.

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Posted by Lexi the Vexillologist

Remember the brave and the fallen on Veterans Day

November 2, 2009

Veteran’s Day is coming up around the corner, and one thing that’s always dear to me is our Military service men and women. After living smack dab next to Fort Bragg, one thing I grew a deeper appreciation for is our members of our Military, past and present. And having a grandfather who I honored on our Virtual Wall of Honor (Robert Miller), as well as an uncle, who both served in different conflicts, I grew a deeper appreciation for Veterans. As many people prepare for Veteran’s Day this year with flag flying, parades, etc., I wanted to do a little research on some Veteran’s Memorials because I never fully knew their history other than an image and a name.

Tomb of the Unknowns

Tomb of the Unknowns (Arlington National Cemetery): The Tomb of the Unknowns, which is also frequently referred to as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, is a monument created by soldier turned architect named Lorimer Rich in 1921 that is dedicated to the members of the U.S. Armed Forces who died while serving but who’s remains were never identified. The display of the tomb itself holds specific meanings, where the World War I unknown is below the large marble monument, holding the remains of a recipient of the Medal of Honor, as well as many of the highest service awards available. Next to the WWI Unknown are white marble slabs on the ground, marking the crypts of the Unknown from World War II, Korea, and at one point Vietnam (in 1998 the remains of First Lieutenant Michael Blassie were identified from the Vietnam tomb.)

Since 1937, The Tomb of the Unknowns is guarded 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by what’s known as a Tomb Guard, a special group within the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment. In the Summertime the guard is changed every 30 minutes while during the Winter the guard changing takes place every hour. Even when Arlington Cemetery closes for the day, the guard still remains in place but is changed every two hours until the cemetery reopens the next day. If you’re ever in Washington D.C., the changing of the guard is truly an honor to see and I recommend taking the time to pay tribute to the fallen who gave you the right to stand there and witness it.

Vietnam Womens Memorial

Vietnam Women’s Memorial (Washington D.C.): I love this memorial, but that’s probably because I love to see that Women during the Vietnam War, served proudly and were recognized for their bravery and duties during that period of time. The Vietnam Women’s Memorial honors the women who served during the Vietnam War. Glenna Goodacre, a Texas born sculptor, designed the Memorial and dedicated it in 1993 for the women of the Vietnam War. The Memorial shows 3 women in uniform tending to a wounded soldier in memory of the large numbers of women nurses that served. There is also a replica of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial on display at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park in New Mexico, which was the first large scale Vietnam Memorial in the United States and remains the only state park in the United States dedicated solely to Vietnam Veterans.

Marine Corps War Memorial

Marine Corps War Memorial (Arlington, Virginia): This Marine Corps War Memorial, also known as the Iwo Jima Memorial, represents all members of the United States Marine Corps who have died in conflict since 1775, serving as a reminder of the sacrifice they gave for our Country. Sculptor Felix de Weldon, a Austrian born sculptor who became an American Citizen in 1945, designed the cast bronze memorial based on one of the most iconic photographs of Military history, the Raising of the Flag on Iwo Jima. If you’ve never seen the original photograph before, it is truly an amazing shot in time that will bring out the emotion of the soldiers holding the flag.

One fact that I did learn that I thought was neat was that the location and date of every Major Marine Corps engagement up to this very day is inscribed into the base of the Memorial, honoring all of those who have served, not only our past Veterans. In November of 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower dedicated the memorial in honor of the 179th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps. During his time in office, President John F. Kennedy issued a proclamation that the American Flag would fly on the top of the memorial 24 hours a day, which is very uncommon for traditional U.S. Flag flying regulations.

Statue at the Memorial

Korean War Veterans Memorial (Washington D.C.): On Flag day in 1992 the groundbreaking took place for one of the most intricate war Memorials I’ve ever seen, the Korean War Veterans Memorial. Constructed of solid granite, the memorial features more than 2,500 photographic images sandblasted into the wall depicting soldiers, supporters and the land the conflict took place on. Centered within the wall of the memorial are nineteen statues standing tall at over 7′ each constructed of stainless steel representing troops on patrol from each branch of the Armed Services. If you’ve never seen this Memorial in person, it is overpowering and truly gives the sense of the conflict and the bravery that took place during it. It is unmistakenly an amazing masterpiece of great honor.

It wasn’t until 1995 that President Bill Clinton and the President of the Republic of Korea dedicated the memorial to the brave men and women who served in the Korean War conflict. But each member of the United Nations that contributed to the Korean War effort is listed on the United Nations Wall to the North of the grand statues, signifying an honor of not only our troops, but those who also made sacrifices.

World War II Memorial

National WWII Memorial (Washington D.C.): Located right in the National Mall in our Nations capital, is 56 pillars and a set of arches surrounding a beautiful plaza adorned by a gleaming fountain in honor of the 16 million soldiers who served in WWII, the supporters of the conflict from home as well as the 400,000+ individuals who lost their lives. This great monument is known as the National WWII Memorial. The Memorial is in the shape of two semi-circles curving around the fountain and standing between the two sets of pillars is the Freedom Wall, which features 4,048 gold dimensional stars around a curve, each of which is representing 100 American soldiers who died in the war.

This memorial is fairly new to Washington D.C., opening to the public only a few years ago in 2004. President Bill Clinton signed the law authorizing to have the memorial built, but it was President George W. Bush who dedicated it a few days before Memorial Day. It’s amazing in its size, though it has received some criticism of its architecture and location. I was lucky enough to witness the beauty of this memorial a few years ago, and though it is large in it’s size with its pillars, it is still beautiful in all ways. All together it holds on true meaning, which is to honor those who took part in world War II.

More Veteran Memorials: I could go on forever about about Veteran Memorials. There’s so many of them around this great Nation, but only so much space to talk about them. Of course one of the most recognized memorial is the Vietnam War Memorial. I chose not to fully write about the Vietnam Memorial because there is so much information and visuals available already, that it would have been it’s own blog posting! But I do want to give some links to some other memorials, some that you may have heard of and some that are new to you.

United States Navy Memorial – Dedicated in 1987, this memorial is located in Washington D.C. and honors the brave men and women who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard as well as the Merchant Marine.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial – This iconic war memorial honors the brave soldiers who fought in one of the most controversial wars of our time, the Vietnam War, and who are fallen or unaccounted for. It lists the names of over 58,000 soldiers.
African American Civil War Memorial – Located in Washington D.C., the African American Civil War Memorial honors over 200,000 soldiers and sailors who fought during the American Civil War cast in bronze.
Spirit of the American Doughboy – Sometimes nicknamed Iron Mike, the Doughboy sculpture is widely recognized and honors the veterans of World War I.
Liberty Memorial – This grand memorial houses the national World War I Museum in Kansas city, Missouri

This Veteran’s Day, fly your American flags proudly, thank a Veteran if you know one, and remember the great sacrifices that these memorials were built for. And as always, we’d love to honor the brave soldiers of the past and present on our Virtual Wall of Honor. It may not have all the flashy bells and whistles of a grand monument, but it’s our way of saying Thank You to those who deserve it.

Nicki Snyder
Creative Director

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Posted by Lexi the Vexillologist

10 best American National Anthem performances

October 29, 2009

After the feedback from the Top 10 military movies blog; I thought what other fun things could we rank…the National Anthem! Words that we hear at almost every sporting event, but how close do you listen? The words are inspirational and have amazing staying power to past the test of time. I have been told it is one of the most difficult songs to sing, but I think these people did it the best.

1. Marvin Gaye – How do you take an iconic song, respect it yet place your own touch on it? You let Marvin Gaye sing it! The soft beat and smooth voice are perfection in my opinion. 1983 NBA All-Star game, do you remember anything else about this game – no.

2. Jimi Hendrix – He does not sing the Star Spangled Banner, but this is probably the most well known rendition in American today. Understanding some of the underlining symbolism may turn some off, but from an artistic standpoint – wow.

3. Whitney Houston – During the 1991 Superbowl, one of the high points for patriotism during the Gulf War, aside from a chilling version of the National Anthem by Houston, notice the number of American Flags and patriotic signs in the crowd.

4. Brian McKnight – MLB All-Star game. Classic Brian McKnight – light and flawless.

5. Christina Aguilera – Does anyone have stronger vocals than her? Simple and crisp. She has performed the National Anthem several times, but I think this is her best performance at the 2005 NHL Penguins/Bruins game.

6. Beyonce – Pretty good, not what I expectd from her, but still top 10 material.

7. Jennifer Hudson – 2009 Superbowl. After a personal tragedy, Hudson with a heart full of emotion lets out a strong performance.

8. Josh Groban – One of the best pure voices alive. Strong, fluent World Series take.

9. Carrie Underwood – Nice, clean performance. Does not give me the goose bumps like others do. I really like her voice I would venture to guess she will climb the charts with future showings.

10. 7 year old boy – I could not identify the name of the child. I have a 9 year old who does not have all the words down. This is a 7 year old hitting it – cute to watch his nervous movements, but he still hits it.

I am sure I missed some great performances and you will not totally agree with my Top 10. Please let me know your top 10…

Steve A. Cates

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Posted by VP of Multi-Channel Marketing

Thank you to Carrot-Top Employees…

October 29, 2009

Nobody knows more about FLAGS than we do.

With the global economy in disarray and many American companies closing or filing bankruptcy, this year has posed unique challenges for Carrot-Top Industries as it did for most American businesses. I personally am proud of our team, from the newest employee to our 25+ year veterans, from front line employees to upper management for coming together as a team and laying the foundation for what appears to be years of rapid growth. We have been very fortunate to not only survive, but gain significant market share this year by offering only top quality products starting with our Beacon and Patriarch US flags all the way down to the Waterhog entrance mats. Combine our carefully designed or selected products from our merchandising department with our industry leading customer care poised with product information, white glove service and attention to detail. From customer care to distribution where our warehouse team has handled more orders and shipping options to make sure our vast inventory is shipped quickly and accurately to you the customer.

In additional to designing our catalogs and web sites our expert graphic artist are available directly to our customers to make sure your custom orders are exactly what you need for your application. Not to be left out is our finance team who carefully works with our customers to offer credit terms and unmatched supplier payment. In 2009 after initial testing we were fortunate to launch two new companies Industry Basics and Mats Unlimited to support our customers growing needs.

This may seem like a shameless marketing push, but it is a heartfelt public THANK YOU to our team for their efforts this year.

Wanda R. Melissa

Torina Jennifer

Krista Brandy

Milly Zandy

Niesha Sanchez

Kelly Joe

Matt V. Wanda B.

Christina Kim

Pat Tiffany

Chrissy Matt G.

Liz Nicki

Jenni Eric

Melvin Molly

Izzy Charles

Tamer Katie

Dwight

Thank you all for allowing me to be apart of this great team!

Steve A. Cates

Leave a Comment » | Executive Blog | Tagged: Carrot-Top Flags, Carrot-Top Industries, carrot-top.com, great customer service, industrybasics.com, matsunlimited.com, thank you note to employees | Permalink
Posted by VP of Multi-Channel Marketing

City of Belton flag in Iraq

October 28, 2009

City of Belton Flag in Iraq

“You did a City flag for us back in July. We wanted a flag to send to Iraq with our adopted Army unit from nearby Ft. Hood. Thought you might want to see how good the flag looks flying over Iraq! …Thanks for all your help.”

Video of Military information and flags flying (flags are shown flying at the end of the video)

Submitted by: Cristy Daniell, City of Belton www.ci.belton.tx.us

Leave a Comment » | Customer Flag Photos, Military Flags & History | Tagged: army flags flying, belton flag in iraq, city of belton, custom military flags, flags in iraq, flags overseas, iraq flags, military flags, military flags flying | Permalink
Posted by Lexi the Vexillologist

Carrot-Top Industries is getting ready to celebrate our 30th Anniversary!

October 28, 2009

Carrot-Top Industries 30th Anniversary Logo, new for 2010.

Here at Carrot-Top Industries we are gearing up for 2010. Not only are we excited about the recession coming to an end, we are also ready to Celebrate our 30th Anniversary. There has never been a better time to buy American made products, especially when it comes to US flags! Nobody knows this better than Carrot-Top Industries, we have been supplying American Made flags to businesses and government since 1980. In honor of 30th Anniversary we are unveiling our new for 2010 logo.

Our customer service is considered the best in the industry, so we want your feed back. Tell us how long you’ve been a customer with us, rate our products, give us feed back on our new logo or simply wish us a Happy Anniversary.

We would like to thank our customers, some of you have been with us from the beginning and it’s because of our customers that we have reached this milestone. We are looking forward to meeting your patriotic needs for many years to come and wish you the best in 2010!

Our tag line reads true, now more than ever…
Nobody knows more about flags than we do!

Leave a Comment » | Employee Blog | Tagged: 30th Anniversary, american flags, Carrot-Top Industries, Made in America, us flags | Permalink
Posted by customkim

Which way is it to the Tea Party in 2009!

October 28, 2009

Gadsden Flag

Ah, the irony. This past weekend the NFL took the show on the road to play a game in London between the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While the game was being played it made me remember my last blog about the Boston Tea Party, the players involved in that event, and how the teams and the venue of this past weekend’s game made almost parallel connections to 1773: the people of Boston (New England Patriots), the British (British people live in London), and the crew of the tea vessels (or those swabby Buccaneers). Yeah, it’s a stretch, but kind of funny in an ironic way.

So anyway, last week I told you about the real Boston Tea Party. I had thought about it because of another bumper sticker I saw, though the sticker didn’t have anything to do with Boston per say. The sticker represented the Gadsden Flag with it’s signature saying “Don’t Tread On Me” and it’s bright yellow signature color. The Gadsden flag has been seen flying proudly at a lot of the recent Tea Party protests because of it’s historical significance in American History. This sticker though, was referencing coordinated protest events happening around the country that have used the term “Tea Party” to promote themselves. It’s a coordinated effort of people who have used mostly the internet and social networking in order to pool resources and execute their events around the country.

I don’t pretend to be any kind of political expert, but I do fancy myself an observer of many worldly events. I also like out of this world stuff, too, but that doesn’t mean I’m a rocket scientist. So, before we get in to anything, just lemme tell ya that I’m only blogging today about “stuff,” and not politics or agenda. That said, here is what today’s Tea Party Protests are all about…

We’ve all heard about stimulus packages, tax increases, and debt. People around the country who are against all of these things are part of a grassroots group who are against the U.S. government’s recovery plan, and they gather to speak out against what they’re calling “wasteful government spending and unnecessary government growth.” The correlation between the phrase “Tea Party” comes down to their message that the American people have been ‘T’axed ‘E’nough ‘A’lready, or ‘TEA’ for short.

So far, three nationally organized Tea Party protest events have been held in the United States this year: April 15, 2009 was the first which was organized to accompany the deadline to file federal income returns. Another event was held during the weekend of the Fourth of July, and another on September 12, 2009. Details vary, but anywhere from nearly 270,000 to half a million protesters organized on tax day to protest their cause in about 200 cities. Other statistics say that protests were held in as many as 750 cities. Regardless or the actual numbers, it’s impressive to me that this effort to organize was done entirely over the internet through websites and social networking pages like Twitter, and Facebook.

Many issues by the attendees of the events have been raised during the various protests, but their message boils down to one goal which is to “reject government spending as a way out of the recession.” It’s not really a Democrat or Republican thing, either, because it’s been noted that Tea Party protesters have voiced their disappointment with both President Obama’s and President George W. Bush’s spending plans

Responses to the Tea Party protest are mixed, I guess it depends on which side of the issue they’re taking. Even the media presents things differently, so I would say that you have to be mindful and objective with regard to how you get your news. Just remember that whichever your side or view, we all stand together under the same flag, and with our feet firmly planted on the same soil that is the most wonderful place on Earth, The United States of America.

Leave a Comment » | Lexi's Flag Blog | Tagged: 2009 tea party, dont tread on me flag, dont tread on me protests, gadsden flag, tax protests, tea party protests | Permalink
Posted by Lexi the Vexillologist

Which way is it to the Tea Party…round 1!

October 19, 2009

I don’t know if I’ve been living under a rock for the past couple months, or if I’ve just been too busy to notice some things going on around me. It must be the latter, because I don’t think living under a rock would be very cozy! Sometimes I might space out a little, and miss a few things that don’t exactly jump out at me. But seriously, this is a super busy time of year for me (and probably you, too), with the holidays coming, especially Halloween (one of my all-time faves!).

Anyway, back to why I was being kind of a space cadet: earlier this week I was taking a drive to the costume shop to pick up some supplies for my Halloween party this year. While stopped at a traffic signal I noticed a bumper sticker on the minivan stopped in front of me; the sticker said something like, Which way is it to the Tea Party? I have to admit that, right away, I didn’t know what it meant. The first thing that popped in to my head was, “it was in, like, Boston… Duh!” But after a little while I remembered that there’s been all kinds of political ballyhoo about taxes and all that good stuff that lots of people like to huff about… I recalled reading about organized protests, and that the groups are using a “tea party” slogan for the cause. Catchy I suppose, after all, the real Boston Tea Party had everything to do with taxes and representation.

If you know me, or if you at least read my little blog once in a while, you know that I looooove my US of A, and I’m a big history buff. So today’s chit chat (thanks to the catchy bumper sticker that caught my eye while I was having a “duh” moment) is all about the authentic Boston Tea Party of 1773.

Illustration of a Tea Plant

In the 1700’s, tea was the hot thing to drink. When I say ‘hot,’ I mean that it was the stylish beverage. And, well, it was also hot. Talk about your confusing homonyms! Anyway, everybody was loving their tea. Because taxes were so high smuggling was a worry to lawmakers, so Great Britain took a special step in making sure the colonies received their shipments of tea only from England. That way England could tax the supplier, then tax their buyers, and make a quick profit. Through a series of ‘deals’ with other exporting countries, tea was sold to Great Britain and, in turn, Great Britain sold that tea themselves to the colonies.

This little tax twist made the colonists none too happy, and here’s why: the British colonists argued it unconstitutional to be taxed because, according to the British Constitution, they couldn’t be taxed without consent from their elected people. It was Taxation Without Representation. In their case this referred to the representatives who they’d elected in the colonies. Since it was the British Parliament who slapped the taxes on the imports, and the colonists were not involved in electing members of British Parliament, the colonists said they shouldn’t be taxed by Great Britain. Their cries fell on deaf ears, and the taxes rained down anyway.

Taxes began to get heavy with the Townshend Revenue Act of 1767 (which levied tax and duty on lots of imported goods, not just tea). It was followed by protests and boycotts from the colonies. In 1770 Parliament lifted the Townshend Act (but kept the tea duty in place). Later in 1773 the Tea Act was introduced where England’s supplier, the East India Company, could cut out the middle-man (Great Britain in this instance) and sell tea directly to the colonies. This would now actually make tea cheaper for American colonists, but it was also right about this time when colonists just about had it up to here with the Brits. It came down to the ever long grievance of Taxation Without Representation.

The Destruction of Tea at Boston Harbor

Now, here’s where the Boston Harbor gets turned in to the biggest cup of Lipton Brisk y’all ever did see. In every colony except Massachusetts, protestors were able to force the tea consignees (the guys who took the tea from importing ships) to give in or to return the shipments to England without paying tax. It wasn’t going that way in Boston, however. When the Dartmouth, a ship carrying tea, arrived in the Boston Harbor in late November, 1773, Samuel Adams called a meeting to pass a resolution urging the captain of the ship to go back without paying the duty, and Massachusetts Governor (and British Loyalist) Thomas Hutchinson refused to let that happen. Two of Hutchinson’s sons were consignees working the shipment and saw to make a commission profit on the cargo. Meanwhile, two more ships carrying tea arrived in Boston Harbor.

Dumping the tea overboard

On December 16, the last day of the Dartmouth’s deadline to unload its cargo and head back to England, Governor Hutchinson still refused to allow the Dartmouth (and the other ships) to leave. That night a group of men disguised as Mohawk Indians boarded the ships and dumped all the tea into the water. The Boston Tea Party was one of the many precursors that led to the American Revolutionary War. The event served to rally support for revolutionaries who would eventually prove successful in their fight for independence.

That, in an abridged nutshell, was the Boston Tea Party of 1773. As I stated a little bit ago, I love the United States of America, my country and sweet land of liberty, and I’m also a history buff. On the flipside of the coin, I don’t really like to get all huffy puffy political. I don’t think everything about government should deal in absolutes. Some sides are right about some things, and other sides have good points, too. You have to take the good, and then work with the not so good to make it better. But all’s I gotta say is that the current organized Tea Party protests happening around the country are not the same as what we know from historical events, so don’t get confused if you glance over a story in the newspaper.

I don’t know about you but I’ve had enough tea for today. It’s all a bunch of sour grapes. You know how the old saying goes… when life serves you lemons, make lemonade. I like that. Maybe I’ll put up stand at the end of my block. I promise not to tax you too much. LOL!

Tune in next week when I’ll be touching on the Tea Party signifigance going on right now in our current times.
Lexi

2 Comments | American History, Lexi's Flag Blog | Tagged: boston tea party, boston tea party history, samuel adams, tea party, tea party history | Permalink
Posted by Lexi the Vexillologist

It’s time to wear pink this October

October 12, 2009

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

We’re nearing the midway point of October and, if you haven’t noticed by now, the planet is draped in pink. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and pink is the color worn by everyone who shows his or her support to rally for a cure. Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death in women, and working toward finding a cure could save the lives of an estimated 190,000 women (and men) each year. Yes, I said men! While breast cancer is a disease that more commonly targets women, it does not discriminate by gender, and about one percent of men are at risk as well.

Showing your support to find a cure for breast cancer is simple, and you can take a cue from Hollywood stars, major sports stars, and probably any one of a number of people driving near you with a pink ribbon magnet stuck to their car! The first step is to get the facts. Breast cancer is the number-one cancer found in women, and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in women (after lung cancer). About one in 13 women will suffer from breast cancer during their lives, and the fight against breast cancer begins with awareness. The more knowledge one can have about the disease, and the more done to check for early warning signs, the better chance for survival and overall wellness. The next step is to become educated about the risk factors of breast cancer. Anything and everything should be scrutinized, including age, personal and familial health histories, diet, and fitness. The following step is mammogram screening, and finally, if necessary, treatment options.

Medical advances in recent years in research, prevention, and the treatments of breast cancer have revolutionized the fight to save lives. We know so much more today than we ever before, including the revelation that researchers and doctors now recognize that breast cancer is in fact several diseases, and that the treatment of breast cancer is different for each person. Breakthroughs in surgical procedures have also become less traumatic on patients, and recovery time has also improved.

So, now I bet you’re asking yourself how you can help? Here’s how: wear pink! If a big NFL linebacker can look good in pink, you can, too! Making a donation to organizations like Susan G. Komen for the Cure, or to any number of area hospitals or organizations is a great first step to get involved. Every dollar raised by these groups goes straight to research for a cure. After that, show off your support with pink. The universal symbol that you are supporting the cause is by wearing a pink ribbon. There are all kinds, too. There are magnets for cars in the shape of pink ribbons, lapel pins, and well of course, a ribbon! I’ll be wearing pink every day I can, if not in my wardrobe, then at least a pink ribbon lapel pin to symbolize I am in support for a cure. And I actually keep a pink ribbon magnet on my car year round… while October is breast cancer awareness month, breast cancer doesn’t wait around. Showing your support day in and day out will help the cause by injecting awareness throughout the community. Everyone needs to know about how they can get involved to find a cure.

I hope what I’ve shared today has inspired you to become involved. Of course, while I gave out a lot of information, there is a lot more that you need to know to be fully informed. To get more educated, get on the Internet and start reading. To get you started I’ve included a few informative website links:

http://www.breastcancer.org

http://nbcam.org/index.cfm

http://ww5.komen.org/

Thanks for reading about this very, very important issue. And remember, while October is awareness month, your support is needed every day.

Take care, Lexi

Leave a Comment » | Lexi's Flag Blog | Tagged: breast cancer awareness month, breast cancer blog, breat canscer information, pink ribbon, pink ribbon magnet, pink ribbon pin | Permalink
Posted by Lexi the Vexillologist

American Flags should be MADE IN THE USA!

October 7, 2009

Carrot-Top.com Made in USA logo

I have seen many of my fellow flag dealers resort to offering quality (or sometimes not quality) American flags made in China or any other host of countries. I see the public relations spin that the value and price make it affordable for schools, veterans and cities under budgetary constraints. The simple fact of the matter is that most of these dealers are opportunist, who have either entered the market or gained market share following September 11, 2001. The spirit, emotion and understanding of the true meaning of the American flag is lost.

At Carrot-Top Industries the American Flag is not a product of doing business it is a dedication to what it stands for, those who have fought for it and those who protect it. It is a symbol of unity, freedoms and what is possible with the power of people. We look for the opportunity to educate people about the flag’s history, symbolism and standards. Now you could make the argument that any display of the American flag shows support or as I stated before that the costs drive customers to imported American flags. I say if you believe that you really miss the point behind the flag. Only an American making the flag can give the flag the respect, appreciation and dedication that each flag deserves – this is not just any other product.

I personally have not heard of a school, veteran or city that called, emailed or faxed and asked us if we have imported American flags because they want to fly the flag, but do not have the budget. To the contrary we often receive very vocal calls, emails and faxes demanding that our flags are made in the USA. Let’s clear the air about costs, our 3’x5’ Nylon American flag is $24.80 each, after searching the price range for a 3’x5’ Imported Polyester American Flag online (the imported polyester material is comparable to the US made nylon) the price is around $16.95. Even the better quality imported flags do not have four stitch fly ends and embroidered stars, however strictly on price is it really worth $7.85 every six months to a year not to buy American?

I know we are in one of if not the worse economic situation of our lifetime and that the world has become a global marketplace, but when you purchase an American flag really think about what it means to you and the others who have served it. We hang the flag as a symbol over places like Iwo Jima and the World Trade Center, pledge allegiance to the flag, and honor fallen soldier’s caskets and families with the flag.

To be fair we do carry a very few imported flags, though never American, state, POW or official military flags. I would also like to add we always look for American sources first and clearly label imported products in our catalog and on our web site.

Share with me what the American flag means and symbolizes to you and if you feel that it should be Made in the USA – scates@carrot-top.com.

Thank you,

Steve A. Cates

2 Comments | Executive Blog | Tagged: american flag, american made flags, american made us flags, buy american, buy american made flags, imported flags, imported us flag, made in the usa, nimported american flags, us flags | Permalink
Posted by VP of Multi-Channel Marketing

Top 10 American Military Movies

September 29, 2009

I was at home with flu like symptoms this week and sort of a ritual for me is to watch Black Hawk Down when I am home sick. This is for multiple reasons 1) My wife can’t handle the movie it is too intense and she has two bothers in the service, so the emotions of what those kids go through is too close to the heart 2) it inspires me to see what our military handles when in harms way and makes me feel bad for being home sick 3) it is a really good movie. Well this week, it dawned on me we come in contact with many service men and women, their spouses, families through our Virtual Wall of Honor, social media, charities and various other projects. So I started thinking what are the best American military movies of all time and what would other service members think? Here is my top 10; keep in mind these are actually movies I have seen…

The Civil War by Ken Burns

1. The Civil War by Ken Burns: Ok, I know tough to rank a documentary as #1, but this is really a fascinating film. The commentary of Shelby Foote and George Will, the voices of Sam Waterston and Morgan Freeman give life to history. The insights and stories of the conflict between North and South not in the text books are intriguing. This is a long film (5 DVD’s) and should be watched in phases, though I have watched it at least 4 times.

Black Hawk Down

2. Black Hawk Down: I think it is because it is a film about a military action during my time and that I related to; others may not rate this movie this high. This movie is non-stop walk through the events in Somalia in the 1990’s – the action just does not stop it will drain you to watch. No man left behind – strength of the Rangers. Don’t miss the extras with a Frontline show about the actual events on the disc.

Tour of Duty

3. Tour of Duty: Ok, I am cheating a little, because this is a three year TV series available on DVD. I can’t remember much about the show, so you may ask why is it so high. The answer my father who is a retired CWO3 and toured in Vietnam said this show was authentic down to the “33” beer bottles. Who am I to disagree with my father?

The Patriot

4. The Patriot: Mel Gibson before everyone turned on him for some unfortunate comments, and a young Heath Ledger. This was a good movie and story line of how the revolution impacted the colonies and the methods that changed war.

Saving Private Ryan

5. Saving Private Ryan: Starring Tom Hanks this movie takes a look at World War II and the search for a soldier. This soldier was the last male of his family as his brothers had been killed on the same day in World War II. A tradition to secure the future of the nation and individual families called for the last surviving male to come out of harms way. The reading of a letter written by Abraham Lincoln sent to a family in a similar situation is stirring.

Gettysburg

6. Gettysburg: Again like Black Hawk Down some of the characters inspire you with their bravery and actions in the face of death. I am not a big fan of Martin Sheen as Robert E. Lee, but the movie is good for people interested in history.

Flags of Our Fathers

7. Flags of our Fathers: Directed by Clint Eastwood and starring among others Ryan Phillippe. This is a slow movie and a little hard to get into, not the action of the other movies on the list. It does take an interesting look at the men behind the image of the American Flag flying over Iwo Jima and how that fame impacted their life.

Patton

8. Patton: George C. Scott’s standout role as Patton and look inside the general and into World War II. Though I have not seen the movie in some time, I instantly remember two scenes – the first is when Patton slaps a soldier I a hospital for suffering from bad nerves in the midst of soldiers physically hurt in combat and the other was him on an ancient battle field and thinking he had been there before. The Army may never see a personality like Patton again.

Men of Honor

9. Men of Honor: Cuba Gooding, Jr., Robert De Niro and Charlize Theron in a movie about the first African American driver in the military. The courage of this individual is amazing, probably a story that would be buried in history if not for this movie.

Top Gun

10. Top Gun: Ok maybe stretching it as a military movie, but one of the best movies of all time centered on a Navy pilot should make the list right? Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer and Kelly McGillis (what happened to her) star in this movie. Don’t think I have to explain more everybody has seen this movie!!

I am sure you will not totally agree with my top 10; what would you change or what movies did I miss? Email me at scates@carrot-top.com.

4 Comments | Executive Blog, Military Flags & History | Tagged: army movies, black hawk down, civil war, military movies, navy movies | Permalink
Posted by VP of Multi-Channel Marketing

Sail the Ocean Blue October 12th for Columbus Day

September 28, 2009

Christopher Columbus

Ahoy, mateys! I can’t begin to tell you how fast this year has been moving for me. Every day seems to have gone by at a blinding pace since the start of the New Year. It seems like only yesterday that I was finding the cutest sandals for the beach, preparing my wardrobe for the summer season. Summer is now behind us (where did it go?!) and there’s only a few months left to go in 2009. Goodness gracious! But before we get to the party streamers and midnight kisses of New Year’s Eve, we’ve got to batten down the hatches and swab the decks on October 12 to observe Columbus Day.

In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Talk about time passing by in a blur; Columbus was charting maps and getting seasick over 517 years ago on his trip to “The New World.” Here’s the quick skinny on our pal, Chris: he was an Italian sailor and also believed to be the first European to sail the Atlantic and land on the American continent. I think that information should be fairly elementary to us by now, especially as we all learned it in elementary school!

While we all know the 1492 ocean blue part, some of the history behind Columbus that you might not remember is that he was a career sailor, tradesman, and explorer. He sailed to many places for the Portuguese (because he relocated to Portugal from Italy in his mid-20’s). He’d traveled to England, Ireland, and the Azores, Cape Verde, and Madeira islands off the coast of Africa. Through his travels he met sailors who believed islands existed to the west of areas already charted. In 1484, he had asked King John II of Portugal to back his voyage west, but had no luck and the King told him to take a flying leap. And that wasn’t the only time that those in power told Columbus to take a long walk off a short plank. They thought he was crazy and didn’t want to financially back his trips. Finally, In January of 1492, Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain supported Columbus. And the rest is, dare I say… history.

Here we are now, 517 years after Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue, and we hear his name every year. Well, not all 517 years. The first recorded celebration that commemorated Columbus’s discovery of America took place on October 12, 1792, in New York City. It was the 300th anniversary of Columbus’ landing in the New World. So for those first 300 years, the name Christopher Columbus was probably one of those obscure types of names that you only heard if you were a scholar of the day, a big shot in the sailing community, or something like that. Another 100 years would go by before, in 1892, President Benjamin Harrison asked people to participate in the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ voyage. Now, here’s a tidbit that even I didn’t remember… It was during this 400th anniversary event that the Pledge of Allegiance was recited publicly for the first time. In closing with the history of our observances, in 1937 President Roosevelt proclaimed October 12 as “Columbus Day,” and, in 1971, President Nixon declared the second Monday of October a national holiday.

While observing Columbus Day and studying his travels is a way that all of us can learn about the Age of Exploration, the story of Columbus himself does not exist without increasing amounts of controversy and conjecture. This is something for a whole other blog that would go on for days but, in short, there’s the whole issue of “discovery” that some would argue (rather successfully) that The New World was already inhabited. It’s a fact that the once sunny-skies-way in which we learned about Columbus is now party cloudy with a chance of skepticism.

I can’t say too much about it, but really, history is continually being amended. We learn new things about past events almost daily and history needs to be retold to include the new facts. While the real Columbus may have not been the image of a dashing hero that some of us learned about once upon a time in school, there is something to be said for having your name remembered 517 years after you did something. I can only hope that, 517 years from now, that my name could become synonymous with something grand. Perhaps even something, Presidential?

Till we meet again,
Lexi

Leave a Comment » | American History, Lexi's Flag Blog | Tagged: american holidays, christopher columbus, christopher columbus day, columbus day, october 12th holiday, patriotic holidays | Permalink
Posted by Lexi the Vexillologist

History of the Medal of Honor

September 15, 2009

Army Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor is regarded as the highest decoration given to American soldiers when valiant efforts are given against American enemy forces. It was designed honor the brave men and women who show the courage and selflessness during military combat. It serves as a symbol of respect and valor to those who have received it.

Today, there are 3 types of Medals of Honor, the Army, Navy, and Air Force medals respectively. Presently, there have been 3,467 which include one woman, Mary Walker, and 19 double recipients. They have been presented to the likes of William “Buffalo Bill” Cody, Douglas Macarthur, and Theodore Roosevelt.

Congress originally proposed a “certificate of merit” for military bravery and action on March 3, 1847; yet the MOH would take 15 years to become formally created. The medal was officially established on July 12, 1862 by President Abraham Lincoln and having 2000 medals “minted”, 88 soldiers were awarded from previous battle actions.

Receiving the award gives many more benefits than just receiving the medal:

Privileges:

Each Medal of Honor recipient may have his or her name entered on the Medal of Honor Roll. Each person whose name is placed on the Medal of Honor Roll is certified to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as being entitled to receive the special pension of US$1,027 per month above and beyond any military pensions or other benefits for which they may be eligible. As of December 1, 2004, the pension is subject to cost-of-living increases.

Enlisted recipients of the Medal of Honor are entitled to a supplemental uniform allowance.

Recipients receive special entitlements to air transportation under the provisions of DOD Regulation 4515.13-R.

Special identification cards and commissary and exchange privileges are provided for Medal of Honor recipients and their eligible dependents.

Fully qualified children of recipients are eligible for admission to the United States military academies without regard to the nomination and quota requirements.

Recipients receive a 10% increase in retired pay under 10 U.S.C. § 3991.

Those awarded the medal after October 23, 2002, also receive a Medal of Honor Flag. The law also specifies that all 103 living prior recipients also receive the flag.(14 U.S.C. § 505).

As with all medals, retired personnel may wear the Medal of Honor on “appropriate” civilian clothing. Regulations also specify that recipients of the Medal of Honor are allowed to wear the uniform “at their pleasure” with standard restrictions on political, commercial, or extremist purposes; other former members of the armed forces may do so only at certain ceremonial occasions.

Saluting:

It is customary for a Medal of Honor recipient to always be saluted, no matter what the rank.

Recipients are always greeted and saluted before non-recipients are greeted or saluted.

Other privileges and courtesies:

Many states offer distinctive Medal of Honor vehicle license plates to recipients without additional charges or fees.

Living Medal of Honor recipients are often invited to Presidential Inaugurations and accompanying festivities.”

The awards are more than just a medal though; they are symbol of dedication to their country and fellow soldiers. Often times, the recipients have made great sacrifices for the men and women around them, many times giving the ultimate sacrifice to protect them. These incredible badges of courage are many times given to the families of these heroes due to the fact that their lives are often given up in battle. They deserve our sincerest appreciation and gratitude.

FAQ’s about the Medal of Honor:

Who was the first person to be awarded the Medal of Honor?
The first person (chronologically) to earn the Medal of Honor was Colonel Bernard JD Irwin, an army surgeon who rescued 60 men and a young boy who had been captured by an Apache Chief Cochise. He did this using only 14 other men in his squad. The event took place on February 13, 1861, but the Medal of Honor was not awarded until January 21, 1894.

Who was the last person to be awarded the Medal of Honor?
SPC Ross McGinnis is the most recent recipient of the award. He was awarded for saving 4 of his fellow soldiers lives. Instead of jumping out of the gunners hatch (where he was manning) and risking the other 4 men’s lives in the vehicle, SPC McGinnis decided to jump on the grenade and take a majority of the impact directly to his body. He saved the lives of the other 4 men that day. The event took place on December 4, 2006 and he was awarded the Medal of Honor on June 2, 2008 by President George W. Bush. Learn more about SPC MCGinnis here.

Updated Sept 17, 2009: SFC Jared C. Monti was awarded the Medal of Honor on September 17, 2009 for his actions on June 21, 2006. SFC Jared C. Monti was mortally wounded when making 3 attempts to rescue one of his men from an intense battle despite extremely heavy fire from enemy forces. The man he was attempting to rescue survived the attack but later died being returned to the rescue helicopter. President Obama will honor the soldier. There is a website dedicated to Jared, including a Memorial fund here.

What is the official name of the medal, Medal of Honor or Congressional Medal of Honor?
The official name is the Medal of Honor. The reason many people call it the Congressional Medal of Honor is because it is awarded by the President “in the name of Congress”.

Has anyone in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom earned the Medal of Honor?

US Army

SFC Paul Smith – Operation Iraqi Freedom

SPC Ross McGinnis – Operation Iraqi Freedom

SFC Jared C. Monti – Operation Endouring Freedom

US Navy

LT Michael Murphy (SEAL) – Operation Enduring Freedom

MA2 Michael Monsoor (SEAL) – Operation Iraqi Freedom

USMC

Crpl Jason Dunham-Operation Iraqi Freedom

Who was the only Coast Guard Medal of Honor recipient?
Douglas Albert Munro was awarded the Medal of Honor during World War 2 in the Guadalcanal campaign.

Has anyone been awarded the Medal of Honor twice?
Yes, actually 19 men have won the award twice, 5 of them for the same action. The way that this happens is that you are recommended by separate branches of the military. For example, one of the last double recipients was Cpl John Henry Pruitt, a Marine Corps member, who has been awarded both the Army and Navy Medal of Honor for the same action.

What is the breakdown of Medals of Honor given by war?
Civil War – 1,522
Indian Wars – 426
Korean Expedition – 15
Spanish-American War – 110
Samoan Civil War – 4
Philippine-American War – 86
Boxer Rebellion – 59
Mexican Expedition – 56
Haiti (1915-1934) – 8
Dominican Republic Occupation – 3
World War I – 124
Occupation of Nicaragua – 2
World War II – 464
Korean War – 133
Vietnam War – 246
Battle of Mogadishu – 2
Iraq War – 4
Afghanistan War – 2
Peacetime – 193
Unknowns – 9

Sources:

*Medal of Honor. (2009, September 16). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 06:42, September 16, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Medal_of_Honor&oldid=314290700

**Congressional Medal of Honor Society (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2009, from
http://www.cmohs.org/

5 Comments | American History, Military Flags & History | Tagged: air force medal of honor, army medal of honor, history of the medal of honor, medal of honor, military medal of honor, moh award, navy medal of honor | Permalink
Posted by Lexi the Vexillologist

Remembering 9/11

September 15, 2009

This past week I am sure many people reflected upon the events of 9/11 as did I. September 11, 2001 was the tragic event of my generation much as Pearl Harbor was for my grandparents and the Kennedy assignation was for my parents. This weekend I recounted my whereabouts, I was a stock broker with Edward Jones at the time, working out of my house. Unfortunately the company had several people and many friends in the World Trade Center that day. I remember the shock with the first plane’s impact, the horror of the second plane hitting and the fear as the Pentagon was struck and disbelief as a plane crashed in Pennsylvania. I recall thinking of my son and the world he would grow up in and how it was now different from mine. Then I remember the American flag placed over the rubble by firefighters that once was the Twin Towers and a since of pride and unity replaced fear.

Now you may really be wondering why this post is on the “executive section” of Carrot-Top Industries blog? The answer is simple, I have great pride in the products we offer and the emotions they invoke. I remember interviewing and thinking wow American flags, that is cool – I can have a lot of pride in the product I am marketing! The years have gone by and that emotion has not changed, it is cool to offer American flags to people who have their own story and sentiment as to why the flag is important to them.

I have gained a ton of knowledge about flag etiquette, flag facts and American flag facts. This exposure has only increased my appreciation for the meaning of the American flag, respect for what it represents and again the emotion that it creates. I am very fortunate to work in a place that allows me to hear customers share their stories and experiences with the American flag, which is a constant reminder of what the flag does for people.

Being the son of a retired Army CW3 and being interested in history, 9/11 was not my first exposure to American pride. However as a defining time of my generation it did and does shape my emotions and meaning of the American flag.

Steve A. Cates

Carrot-Top Industries, Inc.

VP of Multi-Channel Marketing

1 Comment | Executive Blog | Tagged: american flag, army flag, united-states-flag, U.S. flag, flag, Carrot-Top Industries, carrot-top.com, flag etiquette, Flag Facts, September 11, retired army flag, U.S, American flag facts, U.S. flag facts, American flag etiquette | Permalink
Posted by VP of Multi-Channel Marketing

NIFDA Show in Charlotte

September 15, 2009

My first experience at the NIFDA annual meeting and it was nice to meet and discuss the industry with competitors and vendors. Though I could only attend one day it was a busy and informative day. There were two sessions focusing on digital printing and the presenters were very knowledgeable of not only the flag industry, but of textile and print application as a whole. This was very helpful as we are always looking for ways to push our products to new limits to offer customers better quality.

Eco friendly products were also a topic of conversation. Our owner is a “green” person and always has been, so it was nice to hear the flag industry looking to explore more environmentally friendly flag products. This concept is still developing as the types and forms of eco friendly products and options continue to take shape. We should have a high quality recycled U.S. flag on the market next year. After the U.S. flag other flags are sure to follow.

Look forward to next year’s show.

Steve A. Cates

Carrot-Top Industries, Inc.

VP of Multi-Channel Marketing

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Posted by VP of Multi-Channel Marketing

Don’t forget to celebrate Constitution Day!

September 14, 2009

The Constitution of the United States

Recently I took a trip to Washington D.C. and I visited the sites in that grand, All American tourist tradition. I was a regular Clark Griswold, minus the slapstick foolishness. While Clark and I differ on an IQ level, what we do share is unbridled enthusiasm to see the sites of our country. I made no effort to hide my excitement when I experienced the monuments and museums. My favorite place was the National Archives. Inside the Archives is a grand room called the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom where, on permanent display (that mean forever and ever and ever), The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights can be seen. I spent the better part of an hour gazing, in awe, at the original documents inside their airtight, bulletproof casings.

You know, The Constitution of the United States is an amazing document. I don’t think you need to hear that from little old me, but it’s true. Did you know that over one hundred countries have used it as a model for their own Constitution? And did you also know that as times have changed, advanced, modernized, and grown, the basic ideas and principles of the Constitution have remained virtually unchanged, and unchallenged as well? All that is true. Could you just imagine being one of the founding fathers who put the Constitution together? Do you think that any one of them though that, 222 years later, it would be virtually the same document that they wrote? It’s hard to believe that anything could remain unchanged for that long a period. Let’s do a little time traveling…

On September 17, 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention met for a final time. Only one item of business that day was to sign the Constitution of the United States of America, which starts out just like this:

“We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessing of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, to ordain and establish the Constitution of the United States of America.”

After it’s signing, Congress sent copies of the Constitution to the state legislatures for ratification. By June 21, 1788, nine states (the minimum number of states required) approved the Constitution.

Today we celebrate the Constitution every day by waking up within the borders of the United States of America, by raising our American Flags, by living free, and by having the rights granted to us within. All that aside, we do celebrate the Constitution another way, and that is by observing Constitution Day (or Citizenship Day). Every September 17th is an American federal observance that recognizes the ratification of the United States Constitution and those who have become U.S. citizens. September 17th was chosen because that was the day the U.S. Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution in 1787.

When I was little, my dad always watched a show called “Cheers” on television. On the show there was a character named Cliff who was always full of information he wanted to share with the rest of the group. He would lead in to all of his charming footnotes by saying, “you know, it’s a little known fact that….”. Cliff’s little known facts were likely “little-known” because they, in fact, had no factual truth to them. Poor Cliff was chock full of useless knowledge. I thought of that just now because, while touring Washington D.C. and visiting the National Archives, I learned a few things about the Constitution that I thought were interesting little facts. So, I thought I’d share a few tidbits of knowledge I learned with you in classic Cliff Claven flavor. Here goes… You know, it’s a little known fact that:

The U.S. Constitution was prepared in secret, behind locked doors that were guarded by sentries. The document consists of 4,543 words (including the signatures). Including the 27 amendments, the Constitutioncontains 7,591.
Two of America’s “founding fathers” didn’t sign the Constitution. At the time of the Constitutional Convention John Adams and Thomas Jefferson (U.S. Presidents #2 and #3 respectively) were overseas, representing the United States in France and Great Britain.
In 1791, amid concerns that the original Constitution lacked a description of individual rights, Americans added a list of rights to the Constitution. The first ten amendments became known as The Bill of Rights.
George Washington originally created national “Thanksgiving Day” as a way of “giving thanks” for the Constitution. And you thought it was about turkey and football!
When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, The Constitution was moved to Fort Knox for safekeeping.
Vermont ratified the Constitution on January 10, 1791, even though it had not yet become a state.
The word “democracy” does not appear once in the Constitution.
The term “others” is used in the Constitution to categorize ethnic minorities.
Four of the signers of the Constitution were born in Ireland.

And there you have it… Lexi’s Little Known Constitutional Facts. I have to close this up now… I have a lot of planning to do for Constitution Day, but I want to power up the flux capacitor and travel back in time once more. This time, we’re going back to hear a quote from George Washington, who spoke these words upon submitting the Constitution for consideration by the Continental Congress:

“It is at all times difficult to draw with precision the line between those rights which must be surrendered, and those which may be preserved; and, on the present occasion, the difficulty was increased by a difference among the several States as to their situation, extent, habits, and particular interests . . . thus, the Constitution which we now present is the result of a spirit of amity, and of that mutual deference and concession, which the peculiarity of our political situation rendered indispensable.”

Lexi

Leave a Comment » | Lexi's Flag Blog | Tagged: constitution, constitution day, history of the constitution, washington dc trip, we the people | Permalink
Posted by Lexi the Vexillologist

American Flag at Sunset

September 3, 2009

Submitted by: Joseph N. D’Amico

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Posted by Lexi the Vexillologist

American Flag on the Farm

September 2, 2009

“Attached is a picture of our third Carrot-Top flag. We love the way it finishes off the look of our farm.”

Submitted by: Rae Niles

Leave a Comment » | Customer Flag Photos | Tagged: american flag, farm flag, flagpole, Niles farm, us flag, us flag on farm | Permalink
Posted by Lexi the Vexillologist

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A little more insight into great Military Medals

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History of the Medal of Honor

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Remembering 9/11

NIFDA Show in Charlotte

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American Flag at Sunset

American Flag on the Farm

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