Support Our Troops This Armed Forces Day

April 12, 2010

On May 20, 1950 President Harry Truman proclaimed the first Armed Forces Day as a way to consolidate a holiday for every branch of the Military. Since then Armed forces day has been celebrated the 3rd Saturday of May. This year it falls on May 15th and we will be celebrating it’s 60th Anniversary.

Armed Forces Parade

Armed Forces Parade

In the United States we generally celebrate armed forces day by having parades, military open houses, receptions and air shows. This is a day to salute those in the military. In times of war or peace, they spend their days and risk their lives devoted to our freedom and safety. Our Military men and women have trained diligently mentally and physically to prepare for any mission that lay ahead. It is important to recognize what the military has done for our country and for you. There are a number of things you can do to support our troops and give back, especially if you have a family member actively serving.

Ways you can honor our troops on Armed Forces Day:

Memorial in Washington DC

Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC

• Use the day to put together a care package to be sent to troops that are serving.

• Create a Military related fundraiser collecting money for veterans in your area.

• Write letters to serving troops or veterans that may not have family of their own.

• Plan a community wide event with a flag ceremony or parade.

• Create a blog sharing inspirational stories about military experiences.

• Submit a military member to a Wall of Honor to remember those serving or those who lost their life.

• Plan a trip to Washington DC or other military memorials

Fly Your American Flag

Fly Your American Flag

• Visit a veteran.

• Write a poem or patritic song.

• Fly a Military Flag or Support our Troops flag.

• MOST IMPORTANTLY:
Fly your American Flag!

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Posted by customkim

A Tribute to SSG Justin Whiting

February 23, 2010

Recently a customer purchased a flagpole and American flag from us, but it wasn’t until I saw the photographs and video footage of this flag did I realize what it was truly standing for.

Our main website has a Virtual Wall of Honor, where we post not only names and information about soldiers, but really any information their friends or family members want to say about them. Over the years I’ve managed to get quite a few stories that touched me deeply and made me realize there’s never too much honor you can give a soldier. Unfortunately not a lot of people have gotten to hear these stories, see the faces of our brave soldiers and learn just who we’ve had fighting for our freedom. Now, I’m hoping to share some of these stories about these brave soldiers with you as often as I can so you can recognize the bravery and honor I’ve had a privilege to hear about.

I want to tell you about Justin Ryan Whiting. Justin’s father was kind enough to share not only his sons story, but also photographs that should be honored and seen by those who appreciate everything our Military does.

From Justins father Randy….

Justin working as a medic

Justin was a US Army Green Beret “Special Forces” Medic.  He served three tours in Iraq.  He got out of the Army for about six months but went back in because he missed it and felt he was needed there. Justin grew up on my farm in Hancock, New York.  It was a dairy farm for many years.  I now raise beef cattle – my barn burned in 1991.  Justin was a true outdoorsman.  He loved to hunt, fish and trap as well as work on the farm. The flag was raised on Memorial Day of 2009.  It sits along the rolling hills of  NYS Route 97 overlooking the farm.  We constantly get comments of what a beautiful and inspiring sight it is.  After Justin’s death there was little that could ease my sorrow.  Since I raised this flag the sight of it always makes me feel better.

Here are some photos and a video Randy sent of the American flag memorial on his farm:

Below is part of the eulogy that Justins Team Captain wrote:

….. Justin was a true patriot, evident by his two tours in Iraq and his decision to re-enter the Army to go back to combat with his buddies. Justin’s character embodied the finest and noblest qualities of our great nation that he held so dear, and died defending. Being able to stand beside people like Justin was what made me proud to wear the Green Beret.

Justin had spent the last three months in Iraq working to help build a democracy and to make this country a better place for those who have never known freedom. His efforts in this noble cause ranged from training Iraqi soldiers, to treating sick civilians and leading Iraqi troops during combat operations. …… Justin was killed instantly when his vehicle was hit by an Improvised Explosive Device, which also wounded two other Soldiers in his vehicle. His final moments were spent in laughter and camaraderie, as so many moments with Justin were, and he died surrounded by his friends.

In the time that I knew Justin, he quickly became one of my favorite people. Few Soldiers ever matched Justin’s remarkable work ethic along with his keen intellect and constant desire to excel. With his tremendous personality and charisma, Justin could have succeeded at anything in the world. He chose to be a Soldier; to serve America with dignity and pride, and to apply the simple values of hard work, dedication, and patriotism, to earn the respect and admiration of everyone who knew him. To know Justin was to love him. He was one of the finest young men I have ever known and his prowess as a Soldier and a medic placed him in a class by himself Justin was a tremendously hard worker, a man who met challenges head on, wasn’t afraid to do the right thing no matter what the circumstances, and who loved, above all, being amongst his teammates. He made everybody around him a better person.

The front of the headstone

The back of the headstone

I want to say Thank You  to Justin Whiting, and all of the soldiers who fight and have fought for our freedom.

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Posted by Lexi the Vexillologist

The Holiday we all need to recognize, Pearl Harbor Day

November 30, 2009

Tis the season to be merry, jolly, and joyous!  It’s the big holiday season.  A time for joy, cheer, good will toward men (and women!), and definitely some serious sales!  I bought the cutest pair of shoes last week at a Black Friday sale… ya, I know, I was supposed to be doing my holiday shopping for everyone else who I want to give gifts, but I thought I’d treat myself to something flashy.  I also think I was in a shoe mood because I was on my feet all morning and afternoon.  I figured that my feet do so much for me all year round, they deserve a little something special for the holidays.

While on my shopping adventure to find big holiday bargains (and of course my cute new shoes), I found the time to be generous and charitable.  I gave some pocket change to the bell ringers, and I also gave a donation to war veterans.  They were a couple of cute older men that reminded me of my grandpa, sitting at a table in the mall, collecting donations for the needy.  I took a few minutes to stay and talk to the men, who were the nicest of nice… I wanted to take them home with me!  Anyway, cuz you all know about my love of our American history, I gabbed with the gentlemen for a while before moving on cuz I thought I might’ve been talking their ears right off.  Before I left them, they reminded me to fly my American Flag at half staff on December 7th in remembrance of Pearl Harbor.  I smiled and said, “yes, sir!”

View from USS Arizona Memorial

Those cute older gents I talked to in the mall were alive in 1941 and remember the December 7th Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.  It’s fair to say that most of us today have to read about it in history books, or see TV shows about it on The History Channel.  Regardless of how just much knowledge some people may have about that day, it’s a pretty good guess that most would recognize the Pearl Harbor Memorial if they saw it.  First of all, it’s in Hawaii, so if you ever went to Hawaii for a vacation, you probably, almost certainly, had visited the Memorial site of the USS Arizona, and it’s truly an unforgettable place.  When I was just a little bitty my family went on vacation to Honolulu and visited the site.  And even as young as I was at the time, I knew I was somewhere important.  I can remember the beautiful bridge and viewing areas from my memory, but I had to get a little older before I could comprehend and truly understand the place I had been, that events that unraveled this place where I planted my very little feet, is where the United States’ involvement in World War II began.  Here’s just a couple quick and interesting facts about this important site:

USS Arizona

On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on the United States.  The intention of unexpected strike by the Japanese, which came in three waves, was to cripple the U.S. Pacific Fleet. The objectives were to prevent the United States from interfering with Japan’s plan to conquer the Dutch East Indies, and also to strike a blow at American morale. At the end of the fighting, 18 of the 99 ships in the U.S. Pacific fleet were damaged or destroyed, and nearly 3,700 American soldiers and civilians were injured or killed.  The attack on Pearl Harbor is the reference point to the most famous of wartime quotes, as President Roosevelt declared December 7th as “a date which will live in infamy.”

Following more than a year of operations to salvage war ships sunken at Pearl Harbor, it was decided that two ships could not be moved. The USS Arizona and USS Utah sustained too much damage and were left at the bottom of the Harbor.  Desire grew in the mid-1940′s to establish for a Memorial at the site of the The USS Arizona Memorial, but it was not until 1950 that official recognition was reached: Admiral Arthur Radford, Commander in Chief, Pacific, ordered that a flag staff be erected over the sunken battleship. On the ninth anniversary of the attack, a commemorative plaque was placed at the base of the flag staff.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who helped achieve Allied victory in Europe during World War II, approved the creation of the national Memorial in 1958. Its construction was completed in 1961 with private donations and public funds appropriated by Congress and was dedicated in 1962.  In 1980 The National Park Service opened the USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center, associated with the Memorial, where guests can read historical information about the attack, and catch a boat to access to the Memorial which sits above the USS Arizona.  The sunken remains of the battleship were declared a National Historic Landmark on 5 May 1989.

Pearl Harbor USS Arizona Memorial

The USS Arizona Memorial consists of a beautiful, stark white bridge in the middle of the Harbor.  The bridge is 184 feet long, and spans the sunken hull of the battleship without touching it.  It’s aesthetically beautiful design is not without meaning: the bridge has two peaks at each end connected by a sag in the center of the structure. The design represents the height of American pride before the war, the sudden depression of a nation after the attack and the rise of American power to new heights after the war.  While I say it’s aesthetically beautiful, some people didn’t always think so.  Some people criticized the bridge’s design when it was built, saying it resembled a “squashed milk carton.”  To those people I say, “pthh!”

Tears of the Arizona

The main part of the USS Arizona Memorial is The Central Assembly Room.  It features seven large open windows on either wall and ceiling, to commemorate the date of the attack. The total number of windows is 21, symbolically representing a 21 gun salute, or 21 Marines standing at eternal parade rest over the tomb of the fallen. To this day, oil can still be seen rising from the wreckage to the surface of the water. The oil seeping is sometimes referred to as “the tears of the Arizona,” or “black tears.” The floor of the Memorial features an opening which overlooks the sunken decks of the USS Arizona.  It is from this opening that visitors come to pay their respects by tossing flowers in honor of the fallen sailors.

USS Arizona Interior

The area below the Memorial is the resting place of 1,102 of 1,177 sailors who served and lost their lives on the USS Arizona during the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor by Japanese imperial forces, and the names of the dead carved in marble on the Memorial’s walls.  More than a million people visit the USS Arizona Memorial each year.  And here ends the lesson.

I will remember this holiday season for a long time, probably forever.  The two wonderful gentlemen I met at the mall last week were as sweet as could be, and they helped me to remember that this time of year is not just a time for rosy cheeks and twinkling lights and holly wreaths, but it’s also about kindness, generosity, reflection and remembrance.  On December 7th, make sure you raise your American Flag to half staff, and take some time to honor the fallen heroes at Pearl Harbor.  And, sometime in your future, you have to make a trip to Honolulu, and the USS Arizona Memorial.  I know I will.  Maybe we’ll see each other there.

Happy Holidays, my lovelies.  I hope you get everything you ever wanted!

Lexi!

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Posted by Lexi the Vexillologist

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:

  • 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…

thelastcastle

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.

SavingPrivateRyan

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_sullivans

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.

nomandy_american_cemetery

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

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

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 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

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.

korean_war_veterans

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.

ww2_memorial

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

City of Belton flag in Iraq

October 28, 2009
military_custom_flags

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

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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History of the Medal of Honor

September 15, 2009
Army Medal of Honor

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

US Navy

  • LT Michael Murphy (SEAL) – Operation Enduring Freedom
  • MA2 Michael Monsoor (SEAL) – Operation Iraqi Freedom

USMC

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/

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Posted by Lexi the Vexillologist

U.S. Marine Corps Flag

April 9, 2009
U.S Marine Corps Flag

U.S Marine Corps Flag

The U.S. Marine Corps flag consists of a red base with an emblem of the world showing North and South America, in gold, in the center. The world is placed on the top of a gold anchor, with the top and bottom of the anchor being visible. Sitting on top of the globe is a gold eagle. Below the world the words United States Marine Corps are written in scarlet on a white or grey scroll, which is outlined in gold.

The Marine emblem of the eagle, globe and anchor represents distant service under the American eagle by air, land and sea, representing America’s interests “in every clime and place.” The symbol was adopted in 1868.

As with most U.S. Military flags the Marine Corps flag comes in two versions; one for indoor/parade use and one for outdoor use. The flags are similar, but the indoor flag has a gold border around its edges.

The Marine Corps is a part of the Department of the Navy, therefore it isn’t a part of the U.S. Navy, however they work closely together. The Marine Corps, like other US military divisions, often places streamers on its flags representing the battle history of the Corps.

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U.S. Navy Flag

April 8, 2009

U.S. Navy Flag

U.S. Navy Flag

The U.S. Navy Flag consists of a dark blue base with the Navy seal in the center. The words United States Navy are written in dark blue on a yellow scroll below the seal. The flag measures 4 feet 4 inches wide by 5 feet 6 inches in length. The Navy’s official colors are blue and gold and the indoor version of the flag has a gold border around the outer edge.

The U.S. Navy flag doesn’t fly from ships as the national flag and other signal flags are flown instead. The flag is basically used as a ceremonial symbol and is only carried by honor guards in parades and other ceremonies.

The U.S. Navy still uses the international nautical flags, even in this technological age of radio and satellites.

The flag is always displayed with a set of streamers commemorating the battles, campaigns and service of the US Navy, since 1775. There are currently 28 authorized streamers, plus three to recognize awards of the Presidential Unit Citation, the Navy Unit Commendation and the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation.

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U.S. Army Flag

April 8, 2009

U.S. Army Flag

U.S. Army Flag

The original U.S. Army Flag was made of white silk and measured 4 feet 4 inches by 5 feet 6 inches. The flag featured the national colors of red white and blue with the official war seal, in blue, in the center of it. Beneath the seal the words “United States Army” are written in white, on a scarlet scroll, and the year 1775 is written in blue below the scroll. The original War Office seal was authorized by the Continental Congress on May 8, 1779.

The US Army flag seal features a cannon in front of a drum with two drumsticks; below the cannon there are three cannon balls, a mortar on a trunion and below the mortar two powder flasks. In the center of the US Army flag seal is a Roman breastplate over a jupon (leather jacket). Above the breastplate rises a plain sword with the pommel and guard supporting a Phrygin cap between an esponton (pike). It has a organizational color on one side and a musket with a fixed bayonet and the national color on the other side. Above is a rattlesnake holding in its mouth a scroll inscribed, ‘This We’ll Defend.’

The Phrygian cap is the traditional symbol of liberty.

The flag as designed by the Heraldic Branch Office of Research and Engineering, Office of The Quartermaster General. Work on the flag began in July 1955, when the Secretary of the Army expressed a desire for a flag representing the army. Several flags were designed and this one was selected by Secretary of the War Brucker. The flag that Vice President Nixon presented to Secretary Brucker was hand embroidered by women needle workers at the Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot.

The flag has 175 streamers, each 2 3/4 inches wide and 4 feet long, attached to the staff. Embroidered on each streamer is the year (s) of each campaign. The streamers represent the number of campaigns the US Army has fought during the country’s history. However, the campaign in Iraq is not included in the 175 number. The idea of using streamers originated in the US Civil War. The practice was stopped in 1890 and revived in 1921.

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U.S. Air Force Flag

April 8, 2009

U.S. Air Force Flag

U.S. Air Force Flag

The U.S. Air Force flag consists of an ultramarine blue, which is the air force’s branch color. The flag is 4 feet 4 inches wide by 5 feet 6 inches in length. The indoor version of the flag has a 2 ½ inch yellow/gold border around the outer edge. The coat of arms of the Department of the Air Force is in the center of the flag.

The flag is always carried with streamers commemorating the air force’s battles and campaigns, starting with the Mexican Expedition in 1916-1917. The air force was a part of the army until 1947 and its battle streamers from that period are also flown with the US Army flag.

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American Flag Folding Ceremony

April 8, 2009

Flag Folding Ceremony

Flag Folding Ceremony

Have you ever noticed how the color guard pays meticulous attention to correctly folding the American flag 13 times? Did you think it symbolized the original 13 colonies? It actually represents something different.

The 1st fold of our flag is a symbol of life.

The 2nd fold is a symbol of our belief in eternal life.

The 3rd fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing our ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of our country to attain peace throughout the world.

The 4th fold represents our weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in time of war for His divine guidance.

The 5th fold is a tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, “Our Country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong.”

The 6th fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that We pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.

The 7th fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country and our flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.

The 8th fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day.

The 9th fold is a tribute to womanhood, and Mothers. For it has been through their faith, their love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great, have been molded.

The 10th fold is a tribute to the father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since they were first born.

The 11th fold represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies in the Hebrews’ eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The 12th fold represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in the Christians’ eyes, God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.

The 13th fold, or when the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost reminding us of our nation’s motto, “In God We Trust”.

After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat.

From the US Air Force Academy

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How to Obtain a Burial Flag for a Veteran

April 8, 2009

Dept. of Veterans Affairs

Dept. of Veterans Affairs

Any honorably discharged veteran is entitled to a burial flag. The funeral director can make the arrangements. The flag may be used to cover the casket and it is presented to the family as a keepsake.

The local office of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs can also provide information on the procedure for obtaining a flag for a deceased veteran.

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Let’s not forget our Military flags!

March 23, 2009
Military Appreciation Day in Raleigh, NC

Military Appreciation Day in Raleigh, NC

I was listening to the radio earlier this week. Well, in all honesty, I listen to the radio nearly every day of my life. But, the particulars in this story happened a couple days back. It wasn’t anything significant, really, and in fact it was something rather regular. Another listener called the deejay and asked him to play a song they’d wanted to hear. A request! That got me to thinking a little bit, because people request songs on the radio all the time, but no one ever calls TV stations to request shows they’d like to see. Haha! Wouldn’t that be incredible if we could do that?!?! Then something ironic happened to me. Not long after I’d heard the caller request a song, I opened an email from a friend who read my last blog, and they made a request to me! I was like, whoa, man, get off my brain wave! Anyway, my friend told me that she enjoyed reading about the origins of the individual branches of the military, and wanted to hear a little bit more about the Army, Navy, and Marines. So… out by request… hee hee!!!

In my last blog, I talked about Armed Forces Day, and how it’s kind of a consolidated birthday for the five branches of the U.S. military. Of the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps, the Army is the first to celebrate a birthday. It was founded on June 14, 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized enlistment of riflemen to serve the United Colonies for one year. But the Army has sort of an unofficial birthday as well. Just a couple years earlier, on March 3, 1773, The Continental Army was created by the Continental Congress as a unified army for the states to fight Great Britain during the Revolutionary War, with George Washington as its commander. It’s the branch of the armed forces responsible for land-based military operations. In June, 1784, Congress created the United States Army to replace the Continental Army, which was disbanded at the conclusion of the war. Today, the U.S. Army is the largest of our military branches, behind the strength of over one million soldiers between the Regular Army, National Guard, and Army Reserve.

Not so long after the creation of the Continental Army, a Navy was also established. Not long at all, in fact. A little less than four months separate the birth of the U.S. Navy (October 13, 1775) from the U.S. Army. George Washington was also integral in the creation of the Navy. Seeing that the English were arriving to North America by boats, it made tactical sense to protect shipping routes in the early stages of the Revolutionary War. The Navy also shares a similar history to that of the early Continental Army. Not long after the conclusion of the war, the Navy was all but disbanded in order to save money.

The roots of the U.S. Marine Corps go hand in hand with the Navy. Logically, you would have to think so, right? Marine. It’s an adjective meaning, of the sea. In fact, the word “marine” means “navy” in several European languages. The Marine Corps was founded to serve as an infantry unit aboard naval vessels, responsible for the security of the ship and crew. Formed by Captain Samuel Nicholas, two battalions of Continental Marines (the early predecessor to today’s USMC) were established on November 10, 1775. The mission of the Continental Marines had multiple purposes, but their most important duty was as a security force, protecting the Captain of a ship and his officers. During naval engagements surrounding the Revolutionary War, Marine sharp shooters sat at the tops of the ships’ masts, and were supposed to shoot the opponent’s officers, gunners, and helmsmen. Like the Continental Navy, the Continental Marines were dissolved shortly after the conclusion of the war, and 15 years would pass before our second President, John Adams, would reestablish the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.

As far as flags are considered, each branch of the military have different designs.

dont_tread_on_meOf these three branches, the Navy is probably the most interesting of all of the lot. In fact, many of the flags flown on the early naval ships adorn designs that inspired our American Flag. The alternating red and white stripes of the American Flag were part of the Continental Navy Jack flag, which is believed to have flown aboard the Continental Fleet’s flagship, Alfred.

flag_us_navy_polyesterThe official flag of the Navy is interesting in itself; It’s used primarily on land (in offices), parades, and ceremonial occasions. It is never flown by ships at sea. It does feature the Seal of the Department of the Navy in the center drawing attention to the naval fleets of the past.

Flag_Marine_CorpsThe flag of the USMC is pretty jazzy in itself. It’s hot red! YAW! Just kidding. It’s actually called “battle colors.” A solid red background, with the seal of the Marine Corps, and a flowing banner below which reads “United States Marine Corps.”



flag_us_army_12x18If the Army had a boat in the early going, the Army would probably have flown their flag onboard. If they had a flag, that is! As odd as it may sound… seeing as the Army is the oldest of the branches, prior to 1956 the Army was the only armed service without a flag to represent the entire service. The creation of a flag was requested in 1955 to represent the Army in joint service ceremonies. The design was a simplified version of the Army Seal, with a scroll below that reads “United States Army,” with the numerals 1775 which was when it was commissioned.

flag_air_force_polyesterThe flag of the United States Air Force consists of the Air Force Seal which includes the Coat of Arms in the center and 13 white stars which represent the 13 original colonies. The 3 stars above the eagles head represent the Departments of the National Defense Establishment which are the US Army, Navy and Air Force.

Flags_Coast_Guard_NylonThe flag of the United States Coast Guard features the Great Seal of the United States sillhouetted in dark blue in the center. The shield on the eagle’s breast has a blue chief over vertical red and white stripes. Inscribed in an arc above the eagle is the name of the Coast Guard and below the eagle is the Coast Guard motto, “Semper Paratus”, which means Always Ready.

Playin’ the hits… takin’ your requests… call me now at 555-FLAG. LOL! Haha! Seriously though, I do love history, reading about it, and retelling it. So, if any of you, my faithful readers, would like to “request” a topic, gimme a shout. ;-) I’m always up for learning some new flag or Patriotic information so send me your feedback or leave me a comment!

Lexi

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Don’t forget to fly your flag half-staff December 7th!

December 2, 2008

Pearl Harbor Memorial

Pearl Harbor Memorial

Greetings, all. And happy holidays! Gosh, it feels like it’s been such a long time since I last posted an update on everything. So much has been going on lately, What with all of the holiday celebrating and world events, past and present, it’s been a jam-packed few weeks. This girls needs a nap, y’all! :-)

So, did you do some shopping, the day after Thanksgiving, on Black Friday? I sure did. You know, the holiday decorations go up sooner and sooner every year, but there’s a different feel to it once Thanksgiving has passed. We see all kinds of decorative window displays and arrangements in a bevy of stores and advertisements. And it’s almost as if we start to see the garland and tinsel being strung shortly after Memorial Day. Before you know it, dressing up as Santa Claus will be the hot costume to wear on Halloween. Not me, though! I can’t quite fill that one out. Hopefully I never will. Maybe a cute little elf costume for me? Seriously, though, if I keep eating like the way I’ve been this holiday season, I’ll need to start working out like a reindeer pulling a sleigh! Ha-ha!!

All that aside, I noticed a couple things that gave me a warm feeling – a feeling beyond what the holiday’s bring – at every shopping center I visited. Many cars in the parking lots and ramps displayed patriotic support car magnets. There were all kinds of different ones: magnets shaped like ribbons to show support for out troops, ribbon magnets to recognize a POW/MIA soldier, and others that showed support causes like breast cancer.

Inside the shopping areas, where all the people were looking for the best shopping deals, it was almost as if I could identify each shopper with the cars I spotted in the parking lots. So many people wore awareness ribbon lapel pins on their jackets and sweaters that mirrored the magnets outside. Seeing all of the support for our ongoing causes, and the proud display of our patriotic red, white, and blue colors of our American flag, reminded me of an historical anniversary this December. It’s a date on the calendar that falls ahead of the holidays, and one that is not so joyous, but demands remembrance and observance: it’s the anniversary of the December 7 attack on Pearl Harbor. That surprise military strike was the key event in 1941 that thrust the United States in to World War II.

Pearl Harbor Memorial Window

Pearl Harbor Memorial Window

The intention of unexpected strike by the Japanese, which came in three waves, was to cripple the U.S. Pacific Fleet. The objectives were to prevent the United States from interfering with Japan’s plan to conquer the Dutch East Indies, and also to strike a blow at American morale. At the end of the fighting, 18 of the 99 ships in the U.S. Pacific fleet were damaged or destroyed, and nearly 3,700 American soldiers and civilians were injured or killed.

It’s believed by some that the United States engaged to fight in World War II because of the events at Pearl Harbor. While it propelled American participation with the Allies, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt already had intentions to end U.S. isolationism as the threat of conflict became unavoidable. The surprise attack on the morning of December 7, 1941 forced the hand of the United States, and what followed was one – if not the most – famous wartime quotes, as President Roosevelt declared December 7th as “a date which will live in infamy.”

Salvage of sunken war ships at Pearl Harbor continued for a year following the attack. The USS Arizona and USS Utah sustained too much damage and could not be salvaged. Both were stripped of their armaments and left at the bottom of the Harbor. Today, the site where the USS Arizona lies a Pearl Harbor visual memorial to the brave soldiers and civilians who fought and died that day.

Each year it’s important to remember those who fought during Pearl Harbor and World War II by observing the day and flying your American flag at half-staff on December 7th. I know my Grandpa has a few friends who perished during the war and each year he goes to where they were laid to rest toand put up a World War II grave marker and American cemetery flag along with adorning the area with fresh flowers. As a noble Veteran, my Grandpa has always loved his country and those who have fought for it, as do I. For I love the American flag and if we don’t remember those who fought to protect it, we’ll never understand the true glory of it’s beauty!

I feel my nap calling me!

Lexi

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Gold Star Mothers Day

September 20, 2008
Gold Star Service Banner

Gold Star Service Banner

Grace Seibold lost her son in WWI and organized a group of mothers who were going through the same grief which was named the American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. This name came from the custom of families of servicemen hanging a banner called a Service Flag in the window of their homes. The Service Flag had a star for each family member in the military. Families hung a blue star on the Service Flag for those that were living and a gold star in honor of the deceased veteran. On May 28, 1918, President Wilson approved that American women should wear a black band on the left arm and a yellow star on the band for each member of the family who had died while serving in the military.

Congress approved on June 23, 1936 that the last Sunday in September be designated as Gold Star Mother’s Day due to the “American Gold Star Mothers suffering supreme sacrifice in the loss of their sons and daughters in World Wars” as it is said in the Public Resolution 123.

Membership today is open to any American woman whose son or daughter has died in the line of duty while in the US Armed Forces. Stepmothers and adoptive mothers are eligible for membership too. Husbands and childrenla of American Gold Star Mothers can become Associate Members who do not vote or pay dues.

The Gold Star Mothers provide emotional support for each other and they have a huge sense of patriotism. They have always been involved in a lot of volunteer work and continue to do so.

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What is the origin of the 21 Gun Salute?

May 20, 2008
21 Gun Salute

21 Gun Salute

The gun salute system of the United States has changed considerably over the years. In 1810, the “national salute” was defined by the War Department as equal to the number of states in the Union–at that time 17. This salute was fired by all U.S. military installations at 1:00 p.m. (later at noon) on Independence Day. The President also received a salute equal to the number of states whenever he visited a military installation.

In 1842, the Presidential salute was formally established at 21 guns. In 1890, regulations designated the “national salute” as 21 guns and redesignated the traditional Independence Day salute, the “Salute to the Union,” equal to the number of states. Fifty guns are also fired on all military installations equipped to do so at the close of the day of the funeral of a President, ex-President, or President-elect.

Today the national salute of 21 guns is fired in honor of a national flag, the sovereign or chief of state of a foreign nation, a member of a reigning royal family, and the President, ex-President and President-elect of the United States. It is also fired at noon of the day of the funeral of a President, ex-President, or President-elect.

Gun salutes are also rendered to other Military and civilian leaders of this and other nations. The number of guns is based on their protocol rank. These salutes are always in odd numbers.

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