Carrot Top

The American bald eagle, once nearly extinct, is making a comeback, so much so that the revered bird was taken off the federal government’s list of protected species recently.

Conservationists have hailed the successful recovery of the eagle as clear evidence that the Endangered Species Act can work.

Government biologists have documented nearly 10,000 nesting pairs of bald eagles, including at least one pair in each of the 48 contiguous states.
This compares to only 417 such pairs in 1963, when the bird was on the verge of disappearing everywhere in the country except for Alaska.

While no longer declared endangered, the bald eagle will continue to be protected by a 1940 federal law that will make it illegal to kill the bird.

Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service also is preparing guidelines for protecting the bird’s nesting habitat under the 1940 law and developing a permitting process that landowners will have to use if eagles are found on property they want to disturb.

Despite its status as the country’s national symbol, the bald eagle over the years has been killed by hunters. Yet the bird’s decline accelerated when it became the victim of DDT , the insecticide widely used after World War II on plants to control mosquitoes. The DDT found its way into lakes and streams and into fish, bald eagle’s favorite food.

The bird was listed as endangered in 1967.

Independence Hall is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Independence Hall was built between 1732 and 1756 as the State House or capitol. At this building, colonial leaders met to plan the future of the new nation.

Many of the most important documents in U.S. history were written at Independence Hall. The Declaration of Independence was adopted here on July 4, 1776 (Independence Day). The Articles of Confederation were ratified here in 1781. The Constitution was written here and signed on September 17, 1787.

Independence Hall was also the home of the Liberty Bell for over 200 years

Howard Michael Madaus who was 63, died on July 22 after a brief illness. He was known as an expert on American flags as well as dealt with military weapons. He wrote many books on US Civil War flags and wrote many articles on the subject. He was also involved in many museums. Some called him the “the godfather of Confederate Vexillology”.

From the Flaginform #203 newsletter from the Flag Research Center

What is the most popular color on flags?
Red is the most popular color being found on approximately 75 per cent of all national flags of the world. White is present on about 70 per cent of the flags and blue is common on approximately 50 per cent of the flags.

Why are flags hoisted on the left hand side?
It is common to read from left to right, but in some Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia, where reading is done from right to left, the hoist is on the right side of the flag.

Where is the biggest flag in the world and how big is it?
The largest flag ever flown was a flag of the USA which measured 255 ft. by 505 ft. (78m by 154m). It was hoisted vertically on cables across Hoover Dam to celebrate the 1996 Olympic Torch Relay. According to Dr. William Crampton, the largest flag that constantly flies is the flag of Brazil, in Brasilia; the country’s capital. This flag is 230 ft. by 328 ft. (70m by 100m).

Why do some national flags have a coat of arms on some versions of the flag but not on other versions?
Many countries with flags that display a coat of arms use that version as a state flag and they remove the coat of arms to make their civil flag, to be used by the country’s citizens. Examples of this include Spain and Ecuador.

Why are the proportions of flags so different throughout the world?
There isn’t a correct or universal proportion for any flag as each one is unique. There are a few trends in flag proportions based on some influential flags. Flags based on the French flag copy its proportions of 2:3, German flags are 3:5, U.S. flags are 10:19, and Russian, Commonwealth of Nations, and communist flags use 1:2.

Why do some country’s flags look the same as others?
Some flags look the same out of pure coincidence and other flags are similar because of the nation’s geographical location or religious beliefs. Many colonial flags, such as British Commonwealth countries are also similar to each other. Eg. Many flags of Islamic nations will use the color green to signify their religious beliefs while many British Commonwealth countries may have the British Union Jack incorporated into their national flag.

When was the first flag made?
Ancient flags were made out of materials such as wood, metal and stone. The oldest preserved textile flag is a crude Roman cloth that was found in Egypt and historians figure it dates back to the third century AD.

June 14 is Flag Day! This year, it marks the 225th birthday of the US Flag! It may seem like just another day to you, but it’s a great chance to learn a little about US history, and to take the time to get to know a little about flags from other countries, too! Sorry, but most people don’t get out of school and work for Flag Day. In Pennsylvania though, it is an official state holiday.

On June 14, 1777, the United States Continental Congress officially declared the Stars and Stripes the US flag. Then, one hundred years later, public buildings started displaying the flag to recognize the 100th Birthday of the US Flag.

But what’s cool is that it was mostly one guy, a schoolteacher in Wisconsin, who started the idea that everybody should celebrate Flag Day. In 1885, B.J. Cigrand had the kids in his school observe Flag Day, or, as he called it, Flag Birthday. The idea caught on, and soon more teachers had their students celebrate Flag Day with special activities.

It wasn’t until 1916 that Flag Day was officially named as a holiday. And it wasn’t until 1949 that the National Flag Day bill was signed.

Flag Day also marks the middle of the Patriotic holidays. It starts with Memorial Day and ends with Independence Day. You can keep flags and flag motif up through most of the summer with the holidays falling one after the other.

The historical origin of flags dates back to around 1000 BC, when the Egyptians used primitive versions of flags - some were even made out of wood or metal. Flags were originally used for the purpose of identification or to signal to others. Although flags are still used for many of those reasons today, flags have also come to be used for much more.

Flags have also been important symbols on land as well as on sea. Ships started using flags at sea to signal to each other and to harbors, often to let them know they had an infectious or diseased crew aboard. Flags are still used today to let sailors know what weather conditions await at sea. The military also made use of flags to rally its troops. In military times, capturing an enemy’s flag was considered an honorable seizure.

Although the most popular use of flags today is to identify the world’s countries, the use of national flags didn’t become commonplace until the 18th century. National flags are now used to identify each country and their symbolism.

When Mount Everest and the moon were conquered, and when new found lands were discovered, explorers would raise flags as signs of their being the first to tread these unchartered lands. Flags have also been used historically, many with negative consequences. For example, ancient pirates used flags decorated with the feared skull and crossbones emblem, and the Nazis used a flag decorated with a swastika.

Today, flags are still used to signify crucial events. For example, if you are offside in a soccer game, the linesman raises his flag, or when an auto race begins a flag is traditionally waved to start the race.

In fact, the numerous uses for flags and their examination have become so popular that the practice of ‘vexillology’, which means the academic study of flags, has been developed.

Each year on June 14, we celebrate the birthday of the Stars and Stripes, which came into being on June 14, 1777. At that time, the Second Continental Congress authorized a new flag to symbolize the new Nation, the United States of America.

Adults, too, participated in patriotic programs. Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior, delivered a 1914 Flag Day address in which he repeated words he said the flag had spoken to him that morning: “I am what you make me; nothing more. I swing before your eyes as a bright gleam of color, a symbol of yourself.”

In 1916 President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation calling for a nationwide observance of Flag Day on June 14. It was not until 1949 that Congress made this day a permanent observance by resolving “That the 14th day of June of each year is hereby designated as Flag Day. The measure was signed into law by President Harry Truman.

Although Flag Day is not celebrated as a Federal holiday, Americans everywhere continue to honor the history and heritage it represents.
The name “Old Glory” was given to our National Flag August 10, 1831, by Captain William Driver of the brig Charles Doggett.

Francis Scott Key, a young poet-lawyer, witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry while under British guard on an American truce ship in the Patapsco River. Seeing his country’s flag still flying over the Fort the next morning, he was moved to pen these immortal lines.

Fort McHenry is located in Baltimore, Maryland. This low citadel overlooks the entrance to Baltimore harbor and it is where the Americans defended the city against British land and naval attack on September 13-14 in 1814. It was during this battle that Francis Scott Key began the draft to “The Star-Spangled Banner” after seeing the flag still flying after a day and night of bombardment.

The fort continued in active military service for nearly a century after the battle but changing technology eventually made it obsolete as a coastal defense system. Today the 43-acre fort is preserved as a national monument and historic shrine. The property is managed by the National Park Service and the flag is flown over the fort 24 hours a day.

The Flag House is located on the northwest corner of Albemarle and Pratt Streets in Baltimore, Maryland.

It was the home of Mary Pickersgill from 1807 to 1857, and it was where she made the original “Star-Spangled Banner,” which measured 30 by 42 feet. The stripes were two feet wide and the stars were two feet from point to point. Mrs. Pickersgill was paid $405.90 for her services. The flag was delivered to Fort McHenry on August 19, 1813, a full year before the Battle of Baltimore.

The flag bears the autograph of Lt. Col. George Armistead as well as the date of the British bombardment. It remained in the Armistead family for many years and then loaned to the Smithsonian for an official display in 1907. On December 19, 1912, it was donated to the Smithsonian where it is now on permanent exhibit. Although the flag was reduced in size in order to repair and preserve it in 1914, the reinforcement technique used has preserved its existence.

The Flag House is a National Historic Landmark, and is operated by an independent non-profit association.

Today’s flag consists of thirteen horizontal stripes - seven red stripes alternating with 6 white. The stripes represent the original 13 colonies. The stars represent the 50 states of the Union. The colors of the flag are symbolic as well:

• red symbolizes hardiness and valor
• white symbolizes purity and innocence
• blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.