POW veterans celebrated at VA luncheon

AMARILLO, TEXAS -- There are fewer than 30,000 POW veterans left in the United States, and about 50 of them were honored Monday at the VA Hospital in Amarillo. "These veterans have given in such a way to their country," VA Hospital Director Andrew Welch stated. "What they've done is they've stepped up for their country, gone to war, been captured during wartime and suffered in a POW camp and have made it back home. And we want to make sure that they know how much we appreciate them every single day." A report has shown that up to 2,800 of these POW veterans die each year, and soon none will be left. The VA Hospital hosts the luncheon twice a year to thank veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam for all they put on the line to ensure Americans could keep their freedom. "To preserve their memory before it's a memory...," Welch said. "In other words, to appreciate them right now while they can still hear us appreciating them and to let them know that we care about them, that we appreciate what they did for their country." The POWs hear it time and time again, but Welch said nothing can be done to completely thank the men for the services and sacrifices they provided. LINK

FLAG DAY

Here is a beautiful video honoring the flag for Flag Day. This flag has seen so much from its original design up to today. She has flown high over our troops and our county’s buildings for over 235 years. This video is narrated by Johnny Cash. It says it all. LINK, Via: Youtube

Flag Day June 14th

Here is a Flag Day video that gives you a good sense of the history behind that grand ole flag that means so much to all of us. It is more than a simple symbol. It has a noble history and stands for all that has made us a people. It is our history. LINK, Via: Youtube

The current United States flag was designed by a high school student

Robert Heft, born in Saginaw, Michigan, was the designer of the 50-star flag.
He designed the current U.S. flag in 1958 when he was 17 years-old for a class project. He unstitched the blue field from a family 48-star flag, sewed in a new field, and used iron-on white fabric to add 100 hand-cut stars, 50 on each side of the blue canton.

He originally received a B- for the project. After discussing the grade with his high school teacher, Stanley Pratt, it was agreed that if the flag was accepted by Congress, the grade would be reconsidered. Heft's flag design was chosen and adopted by presidential proclamation after Alaska and before Hawaii was admitted into the union in 1959. According to Heft, his teacher did keep to their agreement and changed his grade to an A for the project. Go to LINK to see the video.

Hundreds ride with boy to show support for his U.S.-flag-decorated bike after school banned it

Courtesy KOVR:

It wasn't this California boy's usual ride to school this morning!
Hundreds of other bike riders came along---
Many of them veterans, and some from out of state, all wanting to show support to 13-year-old Cody Alicea.
School officials had told Cody he shouldn't ride his American flag-decorated bike to school because some students were offended.
That kicked up a firestorm of protest.
The school superintendent has since apologized, and promised that something like that will not happen again. LINK: Youtube

But the school district is now facing a lawsuit from a civil liberties group.

Ragged Old Flag by Johnny Cash

Please enjoy. LINK: Youtube

Happy Birthday, America

Fourth of July Celebrations Database. LINK

Largest Flag Flying in Sky

A huge national flag of the United Arab Emirates flies over its capital Abu Dhabi, Dec. 2. This flag, measuring 50,000 square feet (about 4645 square meters) is said to be the largest flag ever flying in the sky. LINK