Freedom's Flag -Postcard Friendship Friday #460

Today is Flag Day and this coming Sunday is Father's Day.  Dad will always be my hero. 

I love our country's flag.  My Father fought beneath it and for it during WW2.  He spoke of how that flag, those stars and stripes, symbolized his country and family--those things he loved best.  In the midst of blood and battle, when he saw our American Flag he took courage.

Dad is in heaven now--but I still remember the look in his eyes when he spoke of how our flag gave him courage to face the terrible things of war.

Happy Flag Day, Daddy.  I love you.

* LINKING UP:  You can put your link in any time between now and next Friday.  Postcard Friendship Friday is open for the entire week!

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Columbia, Gem of the Ocean -Postcard Friendship Friday #411

This is such a lovely postcard.  The little girl's jumper and starry apron are just charming, making it the perfect postcard to commemorate Flag Day.

However the title of this postcard had me baffled.  So, I did a little research. Columbia, Gem of the Ocean is the name of a song thought to have been composed by Thomas A Becket in 1843. 

For many years this song was the unofficial national anthem of America. However, in 1931 the Star Spangled Banner was officially adopted by Congress as the official national anthem of the United States.  Still, the song was very popular. So much so, in 1957, it was featured in the popular musical The Music Man.

I was also astonished to learn that in 1969, Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean was performed by a U.S. Navy Band aboard the USS Hornet, while the ship's helicopters recovered the Apollo 11 astronauts after they splashed down in the Pacific Ocean!  History is SO interesting and full of surprises. 

Have a lovely weekend, dear Friends.  Happy Flag Day and Happy Postcard Friendship Friday!

* LINKING UP:  You can put your link in any time between now and next Thursday.  Postcard Friendship Friday is open for the entire week!     

  * BADGE:  When you submit a postcard, be sure to put a link back to this page.  You can copy and paste the PFF badge, which has the link embedded.  Thank you! 

*  THEMES: You don't have to stick to the theme I choose each Friday. Just put up the postcards you love and tell us why you like them.

*  REMINDER:  If you post anything other than a postcard to share, your link will be removed.   Postcard Friendship Friday is specifically dedicated to postcards, both modern and vintage.  

Happy Flag Day -Postcard Friendship Friday #361

This coming Wednesday is June 14--Flag Day!  I have love seeing all the flags waving from the sidewalks and buildings on that day.  When I was a little girl, I actually thought the flags were put out especially to celebrate my birthday!  Imagine how disappointed I was when I realized that wasn't so.  But I still love the way the flags look on Flag Day. 


The idea of a yearly day to honor the American Flag originated in 1885, when BJ Cigrand, a schoolteacher, arranged for the pupils in the Fredonia, Wisconsin Public School, District 6, to observe June 14 (the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes) as 'Flag Birthday'. In numerous magazines and newspaper articles and public addresses over the following years, this innovate teacher continued to advocate the observance of June 14 as 'Flag Birthday', or 'Flag Day'.

 For 30 years, on June 14^th local and state celebrations unofficially celebrated Flag Day - the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777.  The holiday was officially establishedby the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30th, 1916. But it was not until August 3rd, 1949, that President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day.

* LINKING UP:  You can put your link in any time between now and next Thursday.  Postcard Friendship Friday is open for the entire week!     

* BADGE:  When you submit a postcard, be sure to put a link back to this page.  You can copy and paste the PFF badge, which has the link embedded.  Thank you! 

*  THEMES: You don't have to stick to the theme I choose each Friday. Just put up the postcards you love and tell us why you like them.

 

The Clustered Stars of Flag Day

This is a postcard from my "Cyber Postcard Collection." I adore the graceful composition of this lovely piece.

I was born on Flag Day. For years and years I believed flags were flown on Flag Day in celebration of my birth. (grin) As a child I was disappointed when I learned the truth. But as adult, I don't mind so much, that really--flags are flown on this day to honor our country's Flag.

Our Flag has stood for liberty and the pursuit of happiness for over 200 years! Compared to many countries America is quite youthful. I hope and pray our flag will stand and fly for hundreds of years to come. I pray that the courage, bravery, faith, truth and sacrifice this country was built upon will not falter.