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The 4th of July also means that it is a time to Celebrate Americas Birthday!
The day of our Independance as we now know it!
It also means its time for a party!
BBQ's with Family and Friends, outdoor games, playing with the kids, swimming, drinking, vaping and at the end of the night....
It is time to watch Spectacular Fireworks and a time to reflect on all of those that ensured our Freedom and Given their lives for us to have a better life!!
The day of our Independance as we now know it!
It also means its time for a party!
BBQ's with Family and Friends, outdoor games, playing with the kids, swimming, drinking, vaping and at the end of the night....
It is time to watch Spectacular Fireworks and a time to reflect on all of those that ensured our Freedom and Given their lives for us to have a better life!!
Yet, another reason why I love America and being an American.....
Today, I had the honor of participating in a flag folding ceremony. In this ceremony, the flag-bearer carries a folded flag before the audience with respect and a true sacredness of it's meaning. With great care and precise movements, two individuals unfold the flag...present the colors...then re-fold it and present it to the honoree. All of this is done while the following script is read:
(unfolding of the flag begins)
For more than 200 years, the American flag has been the symbol of our nations unity, as well as a source of pride and inspiration for millions of citizens. Born on June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress determined that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternating between seven red and six white; and that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field representing a new constellation.
Between 1777 and 1960, the shape and design of the flag evolved into the flag presented before you today.
(the unfolded flag is displayed to the audience in full glory)
The 13 horizontal stripes represent the original 13 colonies, while the stars represent the 50 states of the Union. The colors of the flag are symbolic as well; red symbolizes hardiness and valor; white signifies purity and innocence; and blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.
(folding of the flag is at its first triangle)
Traditionally, a symbol of liberty, the American flag has carried the message of freedom, and inspired Americans, both at home and abroad.
In 1814, Francis Scott Key was so moved at seeing the Stars and Stripes waving after the British shelling of Baltimores Fort McHenry that he wrote the words to ―The Star Spangled Banner. In 1892, the flag inspired Francis Bellamy to write the ―Pledge of Allegiance, our most famous flag salute and patriotic oath. In July 1969, the American flag was ―flown in space when Neil Armstrong planted it on the surface of the moon.
(first fold into the union of the flag)
Today, our flag flies on constellations of Air Force satellites that circle our globe, and on the fin flash of our aircraft in harms way in every corner of the world. Indeed, it flies in the heart of every Airman who serves our great Nation. The sun never sets on our U.S. Air Force, nor on the flag we so proudly cherish. Since 1776, no generation of Americans has been spared the responsibility of defending freedom. Todays Airmen remain committed to preserving the freedom that others won for us, for generations to come.
(flag dressing begins)
By displaying the flag, and giving it a distinctive fold, we show respect to the flag and express our gratitude to those individuals who fought, and continue to fight for freedom, at home and abroad. Since the dawn of the 20th century, Airmen have proudly flown the flag in every major conflict on lands and skies around the world. It is their responsibility and our responsibility to continue to protect and preserve the rights, privileges and freedoms that we, as Americans, enjoy today.
(flag is presented to honoree and a salute is rendered to the colors)
I have always admired the beauty displayed and rich history spoken at these ceremonies...it never dulls. Actually performing this ceremony, however, brought forth such honor and great pride in not just our flag but in our country. We've been through so much....and we're bound to go through much more...but we have ALWAYS preservered and we will ultimately continue to do so.
Today, I had the honor of participating in a flag folding ceremony. In this ceremony, the flag-bearer carries a folded flag before the audience with respect and a true sacredness of it's meaning. With great care and precise movements, two individuals unfold the flag...present the colors...then re-fold it and present it to the honoree. All of this is done while the following script is read:
(unfolding of the flag begins)
For more than 200 years, the American flag has been the symbol of our nations unity, as well as a source of pride and inspiration for millions of citizens. Born on June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress determined that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternating between seven red and six white; and that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field representing a new constellation.
Between 1777 and 1960, the shape and design of the flag evolved into the flag presented before you today.
(the unfolded flag is displayed to the audience in full glory)
The 13 horizontal stripes represent the original 13 colonies, while the stars represent the 50 states of the Union. The colors of the flag are symbolic as well; red symbolizes hardiness and valor; white signifies purity and innocence; and blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.
(folding of the flag is at its first triangle)
Traditionally, a symbol of liberty, the American flag has carried the message of freedom, and inspired Americans, both at home and abroad.
In 1814, Francis Scott Key was so moved at seeing the Stars and Stripes waving after the British shelling of Baltimores Fort McHenry that he wrote the words to ―The Star Spangled Banner. In 1892, the flag inspired Francis Bellamy to write the ―Pledge of Allegiance, our most famous flag salute and patriotic oath. In July 1969, the American flag was ―flown in space when Neil Armstrong planted it on the surface of the moon.
(first fold into the union of the flag)
Today, our flag flies on constellations of Air Force satellites that circle our globe, and on the fin flash of our aircraft in harms way in every corner of the world. Indeed, it flies in the heart of every Airman who serves our great Nation. The sun never sets on our U.S. Air Force, nor on the flag we so proudly cherish. Since 1776, no generation of Americans has been spared the responsibility of defending freedom. Todays Airmen remain committed to preserving the freedom that others won for us, for generations to come.
(flag dressing begins)
By displaying the flag, and giving it a distinctive fold, we show respect to the flag and express our gratitude to those individuals who fought, and continue to fight for freedom, at home and abroad. Since the dawn of the 20th century, Airmen have proudly flown the flag in every major conflict on lands and skies around the world. It is their responsibility and our responsibility to continue to protect and preserve the rights, privileges and freedoms that we, as Americans, enjoy today.
(flag is presented to honoree and a salute is rendered to the colors)
I have always admired the beauty displayed and rich history spoken at these ceremonies...it never dulls. Actually performing this ceremony, however, brought forth such honor and great pride in not just our flag but in our country. We've been through so much....and we're bound to go through much more...but we have ALWAYS preservered and we will ultimately continue to do so.
I finally found the party, thanks to Stoneface! Thing is, I can't party right now! I'll be back to join in the fun, later, though! 
DNC: Tina, there is a contest running now. See Gormly's post about it. This is the beginning of the contest too, so you can read through the responses. I am saving up "fun non-contest" posts until after it is over.I finally found the party, thanks to Stoneface! Thing is, I can't party right now! I'll be back to join in the fun, later, though!
Ohhhh thanks for the reminder of the flag folding ceremony... My Dad, the one that raised me, had a military funeral. I'm crying now. He's buried in Mt. Tahoma National Cemetery and my mom is buried right on top of him. It's true what they say when you hear those guns go off it shakes you to the bone.
I love my country. I don't always like or agree with what our government does and I still think it's the best place in the world to live. I've thought about what would happen to me if I lived elsewhere and I'm pretty sure I'd be burned at the stake. I can say out loud my objections to policies and belief systems and not go to jail. If I'm not careful I could get beat up or something. I have the right to say it though.
One of my favorite quotes is "I may not agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it." Evelyn Beatrice Hall from Friends Of Voltaire 1906
This is the belief of our first amendment.
Ree
Vaping since 5/12/12
I love my country. I don't always like or agree with what our government does and I still think it's the best place in the world to live. I've thought about what would happen to me if I lived elsewhere and I'm pretty sure I'd be burned at the stake. I can say out loud my objections to policies and belief systems and not go to jail. If I'm not careful I could get beat up or something. I have the right to say it though.
One of my favorite quotes is "I may not agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it." Evelyn Beatrice Hall from Friends Of Voltaire 1906
This is the belief of our first amendment.
Ree
Vaping since 5/12/12
I love America, even though I've never lived in any other other country. I don't think I'd want to. I appreciate what freedoms we do have, due to the troops and other Americans who fought for them. Despite how some things seem to be going downhill, politically, I appreciate the fact that we have freedom of religion; of any religion or no religion. I hope that we will progress, even further, as a country, especially with freedom of marriage and equality for all. I know, I talked a lot about freedom, but I do appreciate what we do have. I only hope to someday contribute to the causes that are important to me, in some way, no matter how small my contribution may be!
I was looking at recipes and saw that people from other countries were tripping on our seasonally colored M&M's. I guess they don't have them in other places.
So I'm grateful America has festive M&m's
So I'm grateful America has festive M&m's
I know we aren't supposed to just say freedom, but that's what I like. The freedom to go and do whatever we want, when we want (as long as it's legal! LOL) The freedom to love who we want to love, to marry who we want to marry, to have none or 50 kids if we want. The freedom to pick our own career path, and be able to afford to educate ourselves.
One last entry... We've been invited to an Odfellows 4th of July picnic and celebration tomorrow and the opportunity to join. This group, from what I'm told, is a charity organization. That's one more thing that makes this country great! We have the freedom and opportunity to help others that are less fortunate than us and also when we fall on hard times to receive help. I'm so very fortunate to live in not only this great country but this time and age where and when freedom comes so freely to so many and every day opens up to include even more opportunities to more groups of people!
Ree
Vaping since 5/12/12
Ree
Vaping since 5/12/12
We have a winner.. 1w15h1w45m0ngu
This one spoke to me right away
1w15h1w45m0ngu , Please send me your details and I will get it out to you.
send me an email at orders at discountvapers dot com
Have a great 4th everyone!
This one spoke to me right away
1w15h1w45m0ngu , Please send me your details and I will get it out to you.
send me an email at orders at discountvapers dot com
Have a great 4th everyone!
Congrats, 1w15h1w45m0ngu!
Hope everyone in the US has a great 4th of July! Everyone else, have a great day/night!
Hope everyone in the US has a great 4th of July! Everyone else, have a great day/night!
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