Welcome to Flag Steward's
Be a Stud Citizen - Reminders from Our Flag
for Monday, February 22, 2021
Washington's Birthday
[ Public domain image of George Washington serving as the Constitutional Convention President (leader) ]
Be a Stud Citizen - Reminders from Our Flag
for Monday, February 22, 2021
Washington's Birthday
[ Public domain image of George Washington serving as the Constitutional Convention President (leader) ]
[ 3 Ways for Students to Experience today's 'Be a Stud Citizen - Reminders from Our Flag': ]
[ 1) Scroll down this page and read it to yourself or perform it aloud for your school / classroom. If reading the page to a classroom, skip any text in [ brackets ].
2) Play & listen to the 'BASC' podcast as you or your classroom follow along while scrolling down this page on a device or classroom projection
or, 3) Play & watch, by yourself or with your classrooom on a projector, the screen captured short video performance of this page ]
[ 1) Scroll down this page and read it to yourself or perform it aloud for your school / classroom. If reading the page to a classroom, skip any text in [ brackets ].
2) Play & listen to the 'BASC' podcast as you or your classroom follow along while scrolling down this page on a device or classroom projection
or, 3) Play & watch, by yourself or with your classrooom on a projector, the screen captured short video performance of this page ]
[ Note: Flag Steward's 'Be a Stud Citizen' podcasts are available on nearly all podcast platforms for you to listen and enjoy however you prefer. ]
[ Note: If you can't access or play videos from YouTube in your school, then GO / CLICK HERE to watch today's stories from Our Flag on Loom. ]
Where is Our Flag, the U.S. Flag, at half-staff today?
[ CLICK HERE to see Half-Staff alert details, including pics, of Honorees ]
Today's Historical Moment from Our Flag
... focuses on Washington's Birthday and life because ...
... focuses on Washington's Birthday and life because ...
Duh, of course, today is not Presidents Day. It was celebrated last Monday - a National Holiday that the majority of citizens believe to be a celebration of all Presidents, particuarly Washington and Lincoln. In reality, the federal holiday established by Congress in 1879 to celebrate "Washington's Birthday" has never been officially renamed to Presidents Day. So, today, is the true holiday, although not a day-off, that honors George Washington - the Father of Our Nation.
[ General Washington leading Colonial Army troops against the British as the Battle of Monmouth (1778 in NJ) = public domain image]
On February 22nd, in 1732, George Washington was born in Popes Creek, Colony of Virginia, British America. Since we've covered many of the basics about his life in past yearly Reminders from Our Flag for Washington's Birthday, we're going to focus this year's post on his political affiliation.
The current political affiliations (parties) have created great polarity in America because of the loyalty and strength of two opposing political groups. And, Washington, way back in the late 1700s, saw problems forthcoming from a 2-party political loyalty system. In this time of divisive political extremism, it is interesting to note that the 'Father of Our Country' was an Independent. He had no political party affiliation and expressed his concerns about party influence negatively affecting America - as shown in the quotes from his Presidential farewell speech below.
On February 22nd, in 1732, George Washington was born in Popes Creek, Colony of Virginia, British America. Since we've covered many of the basics about his life in past yearly Reminders from Our Flag for Washington's Birthday, we're going to focus this year's post on his political affiliation.
The current political affiliations (parties) have created great polarity in America because of the loyalty and strength of two opposing political groups. And, Washington, way back in the late 1700s, saw problems forthcoming from a 2-party political loyalty system. In this time of divisive political extremism, it is interesting to note that the 'Father of Our Country' was an Independent. He had no political party affiliation and expressed his concerns about party influence negatively affecting America - as shown in the quotes from his Presidential farewell speech below.
Today's Enlightening Quotes from Our Flag
"The common and continual mischief's of the spirit of (political) party
are sufficient to make it the interest and the duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it."
... and ...
"The alternate domination of one faction over another,
sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to (political) party dissension,
which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities,
is itself a frightful despotism."
(Which basically means that a 2-party political system,
that alternates in power and regularly tries to take revenge on the other party when in power,
is a type of tyranny )
-Stated in President Washington's Farewell Address
[public domain image of General Washington lighting the first cannon shot at the Battle of Yorktown ]
are sufficient to make it the interest and the duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it."
... and ...
"The alternate domination of one faction over another,
sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to (political) party dissension,
which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities,
is itself a frightful despotism."
(Which basically means that a 2-party political system,
that alternates in power and regularly tries to take revenge on the other party when in power,
is a type of tyranny )
-Stated in President Washington's Farewell Address
[public domain image of General Washington lighting the first cannon shot at the Battle of Yorktown ]
Today's Black History Month Reminder from Our Flag:
... highlights the connection between George Washington and slavery ...
George Washington was a slave owner for 56 years because he was willed 10 slaves from his deceased father at the age of 11. Despite his estate's (large amount of land) dependence on slaves, especially while he was away fighting and leading the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, George Washington did not like slavery and talked often about ending it. And, he did so on a personal level. Upon his death in 1799, his will revealed that all the slaves he owned should be set free. He was the only slave-owning Founding Father to do this righteous act.
... highlights the connection between George Washington and slavery ...
George Washington was a slave owner for 56 years because he was willed 10 slaves from his deceased father at the age of 11. Despite his estate's (large amount of land) dependence on slaves, especially while he was away fighting and leading the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, George Washington did not like slavery and talked often about ending it. And, he did so on a personal level. Upon his death in 1799, his will revealed that all the slaves he owned should be set free. He was the only slave-owning Founding Father to do this righteous act.
[ Public domain pic from Mount Vernon Historical Site of one of Washington's slaves, Phillis Wheatley, who wrote him a congratulatory poem when he was named the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army ]
Today's Fun from Our Flag
... isn't a joke. It really happened! ...
... isn't a joke. It really happened! ...
Rather than a joke, pun, or riddle, today we recall how much FUN it was to beat the Russian National Hockey team at the 1980 Winter Olympics.
[ Sports Illustrated cover = fair, educational use ]
On this date, Feb. 22, in 1980, the USA Hockey team, the youngest in the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, upset the heavily favored, 4-time defending Olympic champion Russia hockey team. It is still considered one of the greatest sports upsets ever and is referred to as, "The Miracle on Ice." The US and Russia were in the middle of the bitter Cold War at the time of the game, so there was deep hatred for the Russians playing against Team USA on our home ice in Lake Placid, NY.
And, now it's time to ...
Recite the Pledge of Allegiance
Recite the Pledge of Allegiance
Students across America, at school or at home, inspired by the leadership of George Washington, as a War General and President, and fired-up by the underdog 1980 US Olympic Hockey team upset of Russia, please unite and recite the Pledge.
Thanks for participating in today's U.S. Flag tribute.
This is Sean Sweeney, a fellow Flag Steward, signing-off:
Go out and 'be a stud citizen' today
Keep America Beautiful, and remember,
In God We Trust
This is Sean Sweeney, a fellow Flag Steward, signing-off:
Go out and 'be a stud citizen' today
Keep America Beautiful, and remember,
In God We Trust
In God We Trust
(Official motto of the United States of America)
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FINALLY! - TEXT (National & State) Half-Staff Alerts:
CLICK HERE to sign-up for National and State-targeted Half-Staff Flag Alert TEXT Notifications
(Many prefer this text alert service because within the Flag Steward app we CANNOT effectively deliver state-targeted notifications)
This is a FREE service powered by Flag Steward's nonprofit
CLICK HERE to sign-up for National and State-targeted Half-Staff Flag Alert TEXT Notifications
(Many prefer this text alert service because within the Flag Steward app we CANNOT effectively deliver state-targeted notifications)
This is a FREE service powered by Flag Steward's nonprofit
Flag Steward (formerly known as Beacon of Honor and originally incorporated as GivingVu.org, Inc. in 2013) is a nonpartisan, student-inspired, Veteran-led 501(c)(3) tax-deductible nonprofit organization based in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Tax ID# 46-2457373