TODAY THE WORDS are FIREWORKS IN OUR SOULS. All over the country this weekend, we are celebrating our independence and one of the traditional signs is our American Flag. First we look at an article on the History of the American Flag
According to popular legend, the first American flag was made by Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia seamstress who was acquainted with George Washington, leader of the Continental Army, and other influential Philadelphians. In May 1776, so the story goes, General Washington and two representatives from the Continental Congress visited Ross at her upholstery shop and showed her a rough design of the flag. Although Washington initially favored using a star with six points, Ross advocated for a five-pointed star, which could be cut with just one quick snip of the scissors, and the gentlemen were won over.
Unfortunately, historians have never been able to verify this charming version of events, although it is known that Ross made flags for the navy of Pennsylvania. The story of Washington’s visit to the flagmaker became popular about the time of the country’s first centennial, after William Canby, a grandson of Ross, told about her role in shaping U.S. history in a speech given at the Philadelphia Historical Society in March 1870.
What is known is that the first unofficial national flag, called the Grand Union Flag or the Continental Colours, was raised at the behest of General Washington near his headquarters outside Boston, Mass., on Jan. 1, 1776. The flag had 13 alternating red and white horizontal stripes and the British Union Flag (a predecessor of the Union Jack) in the canton. Another early flag had a rattlesnake and the motto “Don’t Tread on Me.”
The first official national flag, also known as the Stars and Stripes, was approved by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. The blue canton contained 13 stars, representing the original 13 colonies, but the layout varied. Although nobody knows for sure who designed the flag, it may have been Continental Congress member Francis Hopkinson.
Excerpt from the article in Info Please. Read more: History of the American Flag | Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0875838.html#ixzz36V4j3DtH All rights reserved by Infoplease.com
How proudly it waves on this Independence Day! How proud are we concerning our Country and how we respond when we see the Stars and Stripes? Is our patronage visible in our every day life? Is our spiritual image as visible? Many fought for our independence; One died for our spiritual freedom and it is as important we show our “patronage” in both ways. Have a Happy Fourth of July and spark some fireworks in your soul! The Heavens will light up if you do!
FEATURED BIBLE VERSE:
Psalm 33:12-22 ESV
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage! The Lord looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds. The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
(c) copyright 2012-2016 Arline Lott Miller. The material here copyrighted, use only by permission. Third party reference material sourced to original location.
