He was born into the United States and, being but a boy, had little choice when his mother chose to dress him in a sailor uniform, cart him off to a photographer’s, and have him pose with a sword before a large flag-draped portrait of William McKinley (who must have been his mother’s political hero). Continue reading
Tag Archives: patriotism
Mending the Flag
EVERY FOURTH OF JULY, my head is filled with an unruly melange of memories: bits and pieces of our history, recalling the brilliant beings who charted a treacherous course away from kingly rule toward liberty, and the many subsequent Independence Day celebrations when orations, rather than fireworks and explosions, were the order of the day. Continue reading
A Serious Problem For Patriots
Men holding a wind-ripped flag taken down from atop the US House of Representatives.
Photograph by Harris & Ewing, January 16, 1917.
Image from this source.
Betsy Ross of the Capitol
“Washington, D.C. Mrs. Georgeieanna Higgins. Official title is Seamstress to the United States Senate, but for years has been called the ‘Betsy Ross of the Capitol.’ She is responsible for keeping the flag that flies over the Senate wing of the Capitol in proper flapping order. This is no mean job since the flag flies night and day when the Senate is in session, which means a terrific beating from the elements, an average of 12 Flags is used each session” (March 2, 1937)
Image: from this source.