Seven decades ago, Americans fighting World War II in Europe and the South Pacific paused at Christmas to send letters home. They were decorated with the usual symbols of the season, such as evergreens and stockings. But some of them contained something extra: an image of the U.S. flag. Most of these messages arrived in… continue
Perhaps the most famous march composed by John Philip Sousa, the celebrated March King, is “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” a tribute to the American flag. One of the least-known aspects of the tune is that it originated on Christmas Day in a mysterious fashion. Sousa’s childhood during the Civil War was marked by marches… continue
Most flags consist only of symbols, but about one-third of U.S. states have added something extra. Among others, California, Kansas, Montana and Washington let everyone know who they are by spelling out their name on their flags. Idaho is another example, but it also has a one-of-a-kind distinction. Its state seal, which is part of… continue
They were torn at the Battle of Gettysburg, shot full of holes at Bull Run and ruined by storms in encampments from Maine to Florida. They were the worn-out flags of the Civil War – Old Glory, the Stars and Bars of the Confederacy, and regimental colors. An example is a flag carried by the… continue
By James Breig In 1863, 150 years ago, the midpoint of the Civil War brought the Battle of Gettysburg, the Gettysburg Address – and a Thanksgiving proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln. Although written by his Secretary of State, the document went out as “by the President of the United States of America,” who invited “my fellow… continue