*** 'STARS&STRIPES SALUTES` BIRTHDAY OF US INDEPENDENCE DAY`1776`***
'THIS VIDEO 'FREEDOM IS NOT FREE'
NARRATED BY FORMER PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN'
STARTS A PLAY LIST OF VIDEOS HONORING ALL AMERICAN VETERANS
THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF USA BATTLES OF SUNG AND UNSUNG HEROES
IT IS LENGTHY, BUT WELL WORTH THE TIME SPENT IN VIEWING...........
'Veteran Poet `Betsy Ross'
'STARS&STRIPES SALUTES` BIRTHDAY OF US INDEPENDENCE DAY`1776`
IN HONORING BETSY ROSS AND THE FIRST AMERICAN FLAG,`OLD GLORY`!
Betsy would often tell her children, grandchildren, relatives,
and friends of the fateful day when three members of a secret committee
from the Continental Congress came to call upon her. Those representatives,
George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross, asked her to sew
the first flag. This meeting occurred in her home some time late in May 1776.
George Washington was then the head of the Continental Army. Robert Morris,
an owner of vast amounts of land, was perhaps the wealthiest citizen
in the Colonies. Colonel George Ross was a respected Philadelphian
and also the uncle of her late husband, John Ross.
Naturally, Betsy Ross already knew George Ross as she had married his nephew.
Furthermore, Betsy was also acquainted with the great General Washington.
Not only did they both worship at Christ Church in Philadelphia,
but Betsy's pew was next to George and Martha Washington's pew.
er daughter recalled, "That she was previously well acquainted with Washington,
and that he had often been in her house in friendly visits, as well as on business.
That she had embroidered ruffles for his shirt bosoms and cuffs, and that it was
partly owing to his friendship for her that she was chosen to make the flag."
In June 1776, brave Betsy was a widow struggling to run her own
Upholsterers in colonial America not only worked on furniture
but did all manner of sewing work, which for some included making flags.
According to Betsy, General Washington showed her a rough design of the flag
that included a six-pointed star. Betsy, a standout with the scissors,
demonstrated how to cut a five-pointed star in a single snip.
Impressed, the committee entrusted Betsy with making our first flag.
Until that time, colonies and militias used many different flags. Some are famous,
such as the "Rattlesnake Flag" used by the Continental Navy, with its venomous challenge,
"Don't Tread on Me."
Another naval flag had a green pine tree on a white background.
Other flags were quite similar to Britain's Union Jack or incorporated elements of it.
This is not surprising. Many colonists considered themselves loyal subjects of Britain
— many colonists came from Britain, and King George III ruled over the colonies.
On January 1, 1776, the Continental Army was reorganized in accordance
with a Congressional resolution which placed American forces under
George Washington's control. On that New Year's Day the Continental Army
was laying siege to Boston which had been taken over by the British Army.
Washington ordered the Grand Union flag hoisted above his base at Prospect Hill
"in compliment of the United Colonies."
In Boston, on that New Year's Day, the Loyalists (supporters of Britain)
had been circulating a recent King George speech, offering the Continental forces
favorable terms if they laid down their arms. These Loyalists were convinced
that the King's speech had impressed the Continentals into surrendering —
as a sign of the Continentals' "surrender," the Loyalists mistook the flying
of the Grand Union flag over Prospect Hill as a show of respect to King George.
In fact, however, the Continentals knew nothing of the speech until later.
Washington wrote in a letter dated January 4, "By this time, I presume,
they begin to think it strange we have not made a formal surrender of our lines."
Obviously a new flag was needed.
According to Betsy Ross's dates and sequence of events, in May the Congressional
Committee called upon her at her shop. She finished the flag either in late May
or early June 1776. In July, the Declaration of Independence was read aloud for
the first time at Independence Hall. Amid celebration, bells throughout
the city tolled, heralding the birth of a new nation.
Much suffering and loss of life would result, however, before the United States
would completely sever ties with Britain. Betsy Ross herself lost two husbands
to the Revolutionary War. During the conflict the British appropriated her house
to lodge soldiers. Through it all she managed to run her own upholstery business
(which she continued operating for several decades after the war)
and after the soldiers left, she wove cloth pouches which were used
to hold gunpowder for the Continentals.
On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress, seeking to promote national pride
and unity, adopted the national flag. "Resolved: that the flag of the United States
be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars,
white in a blue field, representing a new constellation."
`For God To Continue His Blessing On America
`We Must Place Our Trust In Him!
The United States flag today.
The 50Th star was added on July 4, 1960 for Hawaii,
which entered the Union on August 21, 1959.
The American flag, also nicknamed as "Old Glory"
or "star-spangled banner", has changed
designs over the centuries.
It consists of 13 equal horizontal stripes
of red (top and bottom) alternating with white,
with a blue rectangle in the canton
bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars.
Each of the 50 stars represent the 50 states
in the United States and the 13 stripes
represent the original 13 colonies
that became the first states in the Union.
'STARS&STRIPES SALUTES` US INDEPENDENCE DAY`04/JULY/2014`
IN HONORING BETSY ROSS ANS THE FIRST AMERICAN FLAG,`OLD GLORY`!
With Prayers For The Well~Being Of All US Troops!
`May Everyone Have A Safe & Blessed 4Th Of July In Celebrating
`The Birthday of Our Great Nation!