Memorial Day

Memorial Day

Just a reminder that Memorial Day is here. It's so much more than swimming, hot dogs and super sales. Thanks
to all of you veterans who have served our country and to those who
have children or family members serving today. They are not forgotten.

Thank a soldier for your freedom, thank a soldier  for their sacrifice.  

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Your A Grand Old Flag

You're a Grand Old Flag

Happy Flag Day!

In the United States, Flag Day is celebrated on June 14. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened that day by resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1777.

In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day.

On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress of the United States approved the official design for the flag featuring 13 white stars in a circle on a field of blue and 13 red and white stripes – one for each state. President George Washington interpreted the symbolism of the United States Flag this way: "We take the stars from Heaven, the red from our mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her, and the white stripes shall go down to posterity representing Liberty."

Most American know that Betsy Ross created the first American flag in 1777 but did you know how the flag came to be known as "Old Glory?"

This famous name was coined by Captain William Driver, a shipmaster of Salem, Massachusetts, in 1831. As he was leaving on one of his many voyages aboard the brig CHARLES DOGGETT - some friends presented him with a beautiful flag of twenty four stars. As the banner opened to the ocean breeze for the first time, he exclaimed "Old Glory!"

He retired to Nashville in 1837, taking his treasured flag from his sea days with him. By the time the Civil War erupted, most everyone in and around Nashville recognized Captain Driver's "Old Glory." When Tennesee seceded from the Union, Rebels were determined to destroy his flag, but repeated searches revealed no trace of the hated banner.

Then on February 25th, 1862, Union forces captured Nashville and raised the American flag over the capital. It was a rather small ensign and immediately folks began asking Captain Driver if "Old Glory" still existed. Happy to have soldiers with him this time, Captain Driver went home and began ripping at the seams of his bedcover. As the stitches holding the quilt-top to the batting unraveled, the onlookers peered inside and saw the 24-starred original "Old Glory"!

Captain Driver gently gathered up the flag and returned with the soldiers to the capitol. Though he was sixty years old, the Captain climbed up to the tower to replace the smaller banner with his beloved flag. The Sixth Ohio Regiment cheered and saluted - and later adopted the nickname "Old Glory" as their own, telling and re-telling the story of Captain Driver's devotion to the flag we honor yet today.

Captain Driver's grave is located in the old Nashville City Cemetery, and is one of three (3) places authorized by act of Congress where the Flag of the United States may be flown 24 hours a day.

Be proud of the flag and all it stands for.

Remembering 9-11

Every generation has a defining moment that they will never forget. The rest of their lives they will be able to recall where they where when everything changed. I think the defining moment for my generation was 9-11. It forever changed my life even though it happened over 1600 miles away.
I remember that day starting out grey and dreary and something didn't feel quite right. I thought that it was just because I was have one of my student teaching observations that day. I was always weird and nervous when the university supervisor was there. However, looking back on this day I have a feeling it was something different. I remember having this sadness in my sole that I could not shake. This sadness just wouldn't leave me and it keep urging me to pray. I remember thinking to myself, "Lord I don't know what's going on, why I feel this way but whatever happens-I trust you." Little did I know how much my faith would be trusted-along with everyone else.
So I drove to the school. I was student teaching on Fort Hood in Kileen,Tx. Even on the way to school I could not shake that feel-but I kept saying "God I trust you!" Well I get to school and every thing is going great despite the way I felt. It was my tern to teach the reading lesson. My teacher leaves the room as I am teaching. No biggie I though-she might have gone to the restroom or something. Nothing to worry about right? Well She comes back white as a ghost. I wanted to ask her if she was okay but I was in teh middle of the lesson. Next, I heard the sound that I will never forget. ((((((((((ANNNNN)))),(((((ANNNN))))). I asked the teacher what that was. Then she told me that Fort Hood was on lock down! Oh my goodness! She told me and the students not to worry about anything and to just keep on doing what we had been doing. Yeah right. We all tried but we were definitely on edge after that. Well, after I had finished my lesson the university supervisor pulls me off to the side and says that the World Trade Center had been attacked and collapsed. I was speechless! Then she said that since Fort Hood is the largest military base in the world that we were on lock down as a precaution. Then she stressed not to let the kids know. Well, second graders are not idiots and kept asking what was going on and we couldn't tell them. Finally it's lunch time. The principals are talking to the kids and all the teachers are huddled around the tv in the lounge. I will never forget the first time I saw the planes hitting the tower and the Trade Center collapsing. Well, the rest of the day passed in a burr. I remember driving home thinking-God how could you let this happen? No sooner than I said it than my prayer from earlier popped in my mind "Lord I don't know what's going on, why I feel this way but whatever happens-I trust you."
It's been eight years since that fatefully day. I don't know if American society has improved or worsen since then but I do know for a fact that this country will never be the same. We must never forget the men and women who lost their lives that day. Thank the military for keeping us safe! America forever!
4-planes
19-hijackers
2-110 story towers
1-pentagon
1-farm field in Pennsylvania

246-deaths on the planes
2603-deaths in the World Trade Center
125-Deaths at the Pentagon

17,400-people were in the World Trade Center at the time of the attack

1366-deaths came on floors above the impact

200-jumped to their deaths

411-emergency workers died at the scene