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The History of the Pledge of Allegiance Before today's version, there was a version that was created by Captain George T. Balch, a veteran of the Civil War and teacher of patriotism in New York City schools. Balch’s version, “We give our heads and hearts to God and our country; one country; one language; one flag!” was embraced by many schools, DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution), and GAR (Grand Army of the Republic). This version was used until 1923 when the National Flag Conferenc …

When as a kid, our parents used to hang the flag carefully from our front porch, it used to fill me and my siblings with all pride and excitement. The holiday and the schools are a great opportunity to teach your kids about the importance of the American flag. At the same time, it is important to make sure that you follow the rules of proper American flag etiquette - because its vital for all of us to know how to treat the American flag with respect.THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCEI pledge allegiance to …

The Ms. Veterans American Pageant is to be held on October 13th in Hollywood, California. By no means is this your average beauty pageant, since all proceeds go towards supporting homeless women veterans.The competition is judged based on four areas. They include interview, talent, military history, and advocacy. The contestant’s presentation affects the contestant’s score includes poise, grace, confidence, personality, as well as interaction and participation within the contest. Every judge is …

The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th, or 9/11) were a series of four suicide attacks that were committed in the United States on September 11, 2001, coordinated to strike areas of New York City and Washington, D.C. On that Tuesday morning, 19 terrorists from the Islamist militant group al-Qaeda hijacked four passenger jets. The hijackers intentionally piloted two of those planes, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, into the North and …

The Meaning Behind International Day of CharityOn September 5th, the globe will celebrate the International Day of Charity, also known as World Charity Day. Since its inception in 2012, declared by the UN General Assembly, the International Day of Charity has been observed annually. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness and provide a platform for charity related activities all over the world. This day is celebrated on all levels- local, national, and global- and is acknowledged by indivi …

Issued: August 4, 2019 Our Nation mourns with those whose loved ones were murdered in the tragic shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, and we share in the pain and suffering of all those who were injured in these two senseless attacks. We condemn these hateful and cowardly acts. Through our grief, America stands united with the people of El Paso and Dayton. May God be with the victims of these two horrific crimes and bring aid and comfort to their families and friends. As a mar …

Every July 4th, we celebrate the birth of our nation. It was on July 4, 1776 that the Continental Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence. That moment thirteen disparate colonies came together to reject being ruled by a tyrannical monarch and to begin the process of creating a revolutionary form of government.Even if you know the basics of the first Independence Day, here are a few facts that may surprise you.Who Else Contributed to the Writing of the Declaration o …

Many of us have witnessed or experienced a serious illness, an accident, personal assault, or other traumatic events. As time passes, the grief typically fades, the pain lessens, and life gets back to a seemingly normal state. Most people recover from these traumatic events, but some may experience severe distress, anxiety and depression for months or even years afterwards. Symptoms that can deeply affect the individual include reoccurring and intrusive thoughts, upsetting triggers, nightmares a …

Memorial Day is a day set aside to honor the men and women who sacrificed their lives while serving our country. It is observed on the last Monday of May. This year, Memorial Day falls on Monday, May 28th. Memorial Day became an official federal holiday in 1971, but has been celebrated long before it became official.  Memorial Day, then known as Decoration Day, came about after the Civil War. The leader of the Northern Civil War Veterans organization requested that there be a remembr …

For the past 150-some years, while the Confederate battle flag has monopolized attention with its corrosive symbolism and inflammatory bluster, a different, largely unknown Confederate flag -- the Confederate Flag of Truce, which the South used in the process of surrendering to the North -- has been quietly waiting for its moment in the spotlight. That moment is now.Hoping to start a new conversation around the Civil War artifact, textile and social practice artist Sonya Clark has conceived a ma …