A note to the reader: My father showed me this page days before his passing. Although it was far from complete at the time, he was eager to show it to me. When he passed on Independence Day, I decided then and there to finish it and post it. I will continue to work on it, but my goal is merely to follow his lead.
Gallery 11
"Old Glory"
Memorial Day at New Jersey's Doyle Cemetery - May 2007
On Memorial Day weekend 2007, I went to visit New Jersey's first state sponsored Veteran's Cemetery down in Burlington County. I wasn't quite sure what I would find when I got there, but I was hoping to get some shots of American flags. I was not disappointed.
Every one of the more than five thousand headstones at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery were adorned with American flags gently waving in the breeze. It was quite a site to see. After returning home, I started thinking about creating an American Flag page for the website.
Arizona Memorial Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - September 1988
I've taken many shots with the American Flag in the frame but now I had a theme in mind and it seemed like a great way to show off the Stars and Stripes.
The Photos on this page have been taken over several years. Most were digital captures, but a few were taken back to the old film days. Along with these photos, I've included some facts about Our Flag, and the National Anthem.
BMW Corporate Building - December 2006
With it's simplicity, the National Anthem of the United States expresses the hopes and dreams of every American who holds freedom sacred.
The U.S. National Anthem was first published on September 8, 1892. It was written for school children, to help commemorate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' discovery of America. Since it was first penned, the anthem has been revised several times.
Although generally not used or known, the Star-Spangled Banner was written with four versus. In ages gone by, this final verse was sung at formal state engagements
O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation!
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the Heav’n-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our Trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
New York City - June 2007
The adoption of The Star-Spangled Banner was prompted by John Ripley in 1929 when he published a cartoon titled "Believe it or not, America has no national anthem." This popular cartoon led to panel discussions (on which J. P. Sousa was included) and eventually to a law signed by President Herbert Hoover on March 3, 1931 declaring the popular patriotic tune The Anthem.
From a road-side in Indiana - May 2006
Title 4 of the United States Code §4:
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag: "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.", should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove any non-religious headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute.
New York Stock Exchange - June 2007
Originally the Pledge of Allegiance was only 22 words long. It's last alteration came on June 14th, 1954 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower officially added the words "Under God" to the The Pledge. Those words were originally intended to be an allusion to Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Of the change Eisenhower stated:
These words [“under God”] will remind Americans that despite our great physical strength we must remain humble. They will help us to keep constantly in our minds and hearts the spiritual and moral principles which alone give dignity to man, and upon which our way of life is founded.
Listen to: Richard "Red" Skelton
recite the National Anthem January 14, 1989
Memorial Day at New Jersey's Doyle Cemetery - May 2007
More about the Pledge of Allegiance Below
http://www.homeofheroes.com/hallofheroes/1st_floor/flag/1bfc_pledge.html
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