Facts About Flag Day

1. George Morris held the first unofficial Flag day in 1861, but the idea didn’t catch on. (source)
2. In 1885 Bernard J Cigrand from Waubeka, Wisconson held the first recognized Flag Day
3. The Flag Day Association was founded in 1888 in Western Pennsylvania.
4. June 14 was proclaimed as the first Flag Day by President Woodrow Wilson.
5. School teacher Bernard Cigrand is credited by the National Flag Day Foundation for leading the charge, resulting in a Congressional declaration in 1949 by President Harry Truman
6. Pennsylvania is the only state to have Flag Day as a state holiday.
7. Fairfield Washington has the longest running Flag Day Parade and has held it every year (but one) since 1909.
8. Flag Day is also the birthday of the United States Army, founded on June 14, 1775.
9. Only the president and governors of a state can order flags on government buildings to be flown at half staff (23 Facts About the Flag)
10. The original American flag had 13 stars; there have been 27 additions between 1777 and 1960.
11. According to the History Channel., the date of Flag Day was picked according to the date the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution stating that “the flag of the United States be 13 stripes, alternate red and white” and that “the union be 13 stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”
12. According to PBS: Red symbolizes hardiness and valor; white symbolizes purity and innocence; blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.

While not necessarily a fact on the American flag I though it interesting that the study of flags is called vexillogy

There shouldn’t be a perfect day, or week, to fly the American flag and show patriotism in the United States. It should be a feeling of every American to show their pride in the country in which they live every day. I am proud to live in this great country of ours. We have freedom and opportunity around every corner if people would just take advantage of their own skills and talent.

The below video includes my photography of average Americans celebrating their pride and patriotism in America. The song was written by my friend Steve Raybine, a jazz musician from Omaha Nebraska.

“America, how I love you, long may our flag ever wave..”

Americans are a gracious and generous people. We are proud of our country and the ideals for which we were founded. Religious freedom, freedom of speech, freedom to bear arms, freedom to congregate, and freedom of free press. The internet and technology has given millions of people a vehicle to exercise that freedom and this is my platform.

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In Elmwood Nebraska, a town of just slightly over 800 people, we celebrate Memorial Day like many towns across the country. The local VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) coordinates volunteers to met in the cemetery to place flags on the memorial crosses and markers. I’ve learned this event is often called “Flaging In”

Community helps place flags

A time of 7 o’clock pm was sent out for anyone who wanted to help decorate the cemetery. I got there about 7:05 and the people were already milling about with bundles of flags. All of the small flags had already been taken so a friend and I were given a basket of large flags to raise on the poles.

Boy Scout placing flags on Memorial Day

Each pole was at least a two person job, one to hold the flag to make sure it didn’t touch the ground, and the other to raise the pole. The flag wanted to fly free in the wind and I can’t describe the feeling I had as I released the flag into the wind and watch it unfurl. Maybe a sense of pride crept over my face along with a smile. It felt good.

Raising the flag on Memorial Day

Raising flags on Memorial Day

American Flag Ready to fly

This was truly a community event with people of all ages helping.

American flag unfurls at half staff

It’s pretty amazing to gather with a group of people who feel the same way. Who want to remember veterans and those that died serving their country. People need to remember, never forget what makes the United States great.

Take time out this weekend from your barbecues, family get togethers and shopping to visit a military museum, take part in a Memorial Day ceremony at a church or cemetery. Look at the names and dates on the headstones and remember.

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• Memorial Day: A Humphrys Holiday (humphrysflagco.wordpress.com)
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When American citizens are left alone, without government intervention we help each other out and stand side by side during tragedies such as the recent Oklahoma tornadoes.

In this week leading up to Memorial Day I want to remind people the greatness of the American people outside  the Washington Beltway. Memorial Day is not only a day to remember our veterans and those who died serving our country, but to gather together as families worship and celebrate life, and remember those who have died and left an impact on our lives.

I’ve wanted to create a patriotic video that includes the many photographs I’ve taken over the years that have a military theme, or veterans theme, but didn’t have the appropriate music. This song “America, I Love You” was written by my friend Steve Raybine, a jazz musician in Omaha, Nebraska. I first heard it last fall and fell in love with it and he graciously allowed me to use it for the video.

Veterans of all our wars deserve our thanks for making the sacrifice and serving their country. This includes not only the modern wars in Afghanistan and Iraq during Operation Enduring Freedom, Desert Shield and Storm, but the often forgotten Vietnam and Korean Veterans, along with those veterans from WWII and WWI.

Marine Corps Graduation, San Diego CA

It is the men and women of the Marine Corps, the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and our National Guard that spend days away from family and friends, whether abroad on stationed in the United States, that serve to protect our freedom. We owe them our thanks for volunteering for a job many would never consider.

As you participate in Memorial Day celebrations, parades and picnics, stop by a cemetery and read the inscriptions on the War Memorials of soldiers from the French Indian War and even the Civil War. If you are lucky enough to live in New England search out the Revolutionary War cemeteries. Those soldiers truly fought for our freedom and Independence. They are the reason we celebrate the 4th of July.

If you recognize some of the photos it’s because they are some of my favorites from my Washington DC trip when my kids marched in the Memorial Day Parade and include the World War II Memorial, United States Marine Corps Memorial, Veterans Memorial, Korean War Memorial and other images of freedom and sacrifice.

The Flag Still Stands For Freedom

I was really quite surprised I had so many photographs of the American Flag and color guards taken at various parades. It never fails to give me a chill when the American Legion leads a parade with the flags and people stand to applaud, salute or put their hand over their heart.

My goal is to create a national sensation with this song. Patriotic pride needs to once again resonate through the land. So reblog this post, tweet it, post it to your Facebook page and PIN it on PINTEREST, let’s see how far this video and song can spread.

So post this for Memorial Day, Flag Day, 4th of July, Veterans Day and all other patriotic holidays.

Thank you and God Bless you.

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With each experience comes an increased appreciation for music and how it impacts their life. Each clinician and conductor teaches the students an improved breathing technique, a new warm up routine, or even how posture and carriage affects the sound and tone.

My life as a choir and band Mom is ending with the close of my daughters senior year in high school. Last week was the Nebraska district music contests across the state and I made the trek down to Nebraska City to listen to the band and choir perform. I have been honored to be a part of a program where 75% of the students participate in either band, choir, or both. What other high school can make that claim? I’d challenge any school in the country.

The first song the choir sang at the District Music contest was Ani Ma’amin and although the students could say it and sing it they couldn’t spell the title.  They could tell me it was a Jewish Hebrew song sung during the Holocaust. During the warm up director Betty Colbert recited the translation before they started. What a great way to teach multiculturalism, and history.

English Translation: 

“I believe with complete faith in the coming of the Messiah, and, though he may tarry, I wait daily for his coming.”

Hebrew:

“Ani Ma’amin be’emunah shlaima bevias haMoshiach, ve’af al pi sheyismame’ach im kol zeh achake lo b’chol yom sheyavo. Ani Ma’amin.”

It is not unusual for our choir selections to be religious or in another language, but I had not heard Hebrew before and the history of this song interested me. Ani Ma’amin is a song created and sung in the horrors of a cattle car full of Jewish prisoners. In one boxcar the sound of singing could be heard and it spread throughout the whole train.

The history of this song is stirring, inspirational, a song of faith and hope. From the Chabad.org website I learned the full story and it’s worth a visit.

I am partial to the choir, only because I sang in choir in high school and was the piano accompanist for several years, but I will post  the band performance later this week.

The day was especially moving for the seniors who will be graduating in just a few weeks. Their graduating class is only 32 students and in this small community most have been together since preschool. Out of the eleven students below eight of them started in preschool together. At this point it’s almost their whole lifetime.

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I have photographed all of these tulips you see here. I love all colors and I’m trying to see how many different varieties of tulips I can photograph.

1. Tulips are the 3rd most popular flower (roses are the most popular)
2. Originally from Turkey, tulips were brought to Europe during the 16th century and introduced into Holland.  Facts About Tulips
3. Over 100 species and 4000 varieties of cultivated tulips. Majority of tulips are grown and exported from Holland. Tulip Facts
4. Average height of a tulips is 10-70 centimeters, each flower has 6 petals,  and the flower life span is 3-7 days.

5. National flower of Turkey and Iran is the tulip. (History of the Tulip)
6. Tulip flowers are supposed to be a token of passion, love, romance, and a perfect lover. (So why is the rose given at Valentines day?)
7. Tulips are classified into 15 different classes based on floral charateristics, time of blooming and other traits.
8. Tulips belong to the same botanical family as onions and lilies  (20 Facts About Tulips)The most popular color of tulips is red, Red tulips mean “Declaration of Love”  (20 Facts About Tulips)

9. Tulips Should be planted in the fall
10. Although tulip flowers  are edible, and eaten during WWII, tulip bread is “…not very good…” according to a survivor of the war in the Netherlands (20 Facts About Tulips)
11. Tulip wine, however is supposed to be very good and makes a lovely white wine Making Tulip Wine
12. Albany New York has one of the largest Tulip festivals with over 100,000 tulips in bloom

13. The largest Tulip grower in the United States is RoozenGaarde in Mount Vernon Washington. Owned by the Roozen family who has been growing tulips in Holland and the 14. United States since the early 1700′s
15. Tulips will bend and twist towards the light, even when placed in a vase (Interesting facts About Tulips)
16. When buying Tulips for planting the bigger the bulb the bigger the bloom. (The Flower Expert)
17. The origin of the word Tulip might be from the Turkish word “tulbend” for turban (The Flower Expert)
18. Tulip Mania occurred in the 1600′s and people have been known to trade livestock for tulips (History of the Tulip) Inflated prices caused the Tulip bubble to burst and left many Dutch bankrupt.
19. The tulip is the official symbol or the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation. (Tun Facts About Tulips)

I’m sure there are many other facts. Add your tulip fact below in the comment and please feel free to share this post or images on Pinterest. I LOVE Pinterest and find my biggest photography inspiration there. So stay tuned for some macro flower images once they start blooming here.

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Yes, you heard right. Sixty thousand plus fans come out every year just to watch the Red: White game where the first team scrimmages against the second team in the final spring practice before the pre-season practice in late summer. The highest attendance of any NCAA team in the country. Why are Nebraska fans so loyal? You will soon find out.

I have attended four spring games and this one will stick out in my mind as the best one yet. Not only were “special” drills sprinkled in throughout the quarters as a “game break” to give the fans a taste of creative drills such as the “Good Hands” and the “Never Give Up” drill, but a special 4th quarter touchdown was made my a special seven year old player, Jack Hoffman.

Jack gets his dream, score a touchdown for the Huskers.

Jack has been a special fan and friend of Rex Burkehead for two years and the whole team has gathered around him and supported him in his fight against pediatric brain cancer called Team Jack Foundation. Saturday he wore Burkehead’s number 22 and ran 69 yards for a touchdown which actually went on the board for the Red team.

There were very few dry eyes in the stadium and the entire team rushed the end zone and held Jack high on their shoulders. Watch for yourself and maybe, just maybe, the lesson that sports is more than just winning will be apparent. Sports is about more than winning, team is more than just individuals. Support Team Jack as the Nebraska Huskers help raise money for pediatric brain cancer with a donation or an official Nebraska licensed brain tumor shirt.

Nebraska Husker football is not just a game, it’s an event. Even during the spring game the carnival environment is in full force with food, tailgating and getting together with family and friends.

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If you are a musician, a music teacher, or a lover of jazz, head over to Steve’s website, it’s packed with all kinds of information on practicing, and teaching tips. Guarantee if you are a student of music you will spend hours reading.

Steve has now branched off  and is now creating digital art in coordination to his musical art. Just like his music, the art ranges from abstract, to surreal,  provocative, and just down right “groovy”.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Steve at Hamilton Color Lab and printing over 100 different pieces of his digital art. On a personal level we have been creating a video to an upcoming jazz piece.  Can’t give any more information than that yet, but I promise an update when the sneak peak is released.

The “Jazz Hipster” was created by Steve Raybine and and and available for sale as signed  8×10 photographic print, matted to  an 11×14″ frame.

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Reblogged from Hamilton Color Lab:

High school graduation season is upon us and seniors are looking for fresh designs to showcase their announcements.  Hot off our Photoshop  desk is a classy black and white design 4x8 photo card design which will compliment any color photography.

As a gift to you we are offering this free Photoshop template as one of several we will be offering throughout the year.

Read more… 172 more words

My third shake of the season…

I do believe I’m one of the first people to ever try a McDonald’s Shamrock Shake. I grew up in East Hartford Connecticut and my Dad loved mint everything mint. As a little girl going to McDonald’s was a treat, not an every day occurrence. Until we were ten we were not allowed to drink pop or soda so my parents ordered shakes for us at McDonald’s.

Normally I got strawberry, but I have vague memories of drinking from my Dad’s straw a tangy green shake, and later it was a yearly trip to get a green shake. There was a pony ride in Enfield during the 1970′s and we would stop at the local Mickey D’s for french fries and a shake.

Here are a few facts and trivia about the Shamrock Shake.

1. Invented at an Enfield Connecticut McDonald’s  in 1966 (although the McDonald’s website claims 1970)
2. First called the St Patrick’s Day Green Milkshake
3. Started selling nationally in 1970 in response to a Ronald McDonald House fundraiser
4. Calorie Content: 420, Small, 740 Medium, 820 Large (but who really cares?)
5. Large Shamrock shake provides up to 60% of your daily calcium requirement (oh yeah!)
6. Available only for a limited time around St. Patrick’s Day
7. A Shamrock sundae was proposed and tried in 1980, but was a failure (wonder why?)
8. You can post  Shamrock Shake sightings and  reviews at  Shamrock Shake Locator

This year the Shamrock Shake phenomenon and cult following has taken to Twitter with a photo contest on Twitter sponsored by the Branford Patch. Here are the rules according to their website

1. Follow @McD_CTWMA on Twitter
2. Make sure your account is set to public so we can follow you back
3. Watch for weekly ‘Caption That Shamrock Shake’ photos
4. Submit your caption, tag @McD_CTWMA, and include #CaptionThatShamrockShake hashtag
5. At the end of each week in March we will choose a winner for a $25 Arch Card
6. At the end of March we will choose a grand prize winner for a $50 Arch Card

If you can’t find a Shamrock shake at your local Mickey D’s, or it’s not  St. Patricks  season, here is a recipe to make your own minty shake. But, it’s not the same memory or experience. There is just something about those McDonalds straws and sharing with your Dad when you’re six you can’t duplicate.

Shamrock Shake recipe

* 2 cups vanilla ice cream
* 1 cup milk
* 1/4 cup half & half
* 1/2 teaspoon mint extract (spearmint, not peppermint)
* 8 drops green food coloring

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Covered bridge in Woodstock Vermont

Last week I crossed this off my bucket list when I visited Woodstock Vermont and walked across Middle Bridge. I had another surprise as we took the scenic route down Rte 106 and found this picturesque bridge over a small creek.

Covered Bridge south of Woodstock Vermont

The most famous bridges are those of Madison County in Iowa, so I really didn’t need to travel far from Nebraska to find covered bridges, but there is something special, romantic, and mystical about covered bridges in Vermont.

Facts About Covered Bridges

1. First covered bridge was built in 1808 over the Mohawk river in New York
2. Vermont contains 100 authentic covered bridges
3. At one time the United States has over 10,000 covered bridges, 750 remain today
4. Covered bridges are painted red because iron ochre was an inexpensive pigment.
5. Bridges were covered to prevent the wood dry and prevent rot (not to keep horses from spooking over the water)
6. Town Lattice is the most popular style of covered bridge
7. There are only 8 railroad covered bridges in the United States, only 2 still function during tourist events.
8. Only six covered bridges still carry two way traffic all the rest are one way only.
9. Covered bridges can be found in 30 states in the United States

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