The Johnsburg, Illinois, 9/11 Ceremony-- Part 1

I am writing the 9/11 stories today since I wasn't able to yesterday.

Yesterday, the weather especially didn't cooperate.  It rained pretty much all day, at times quite hard.  Accumulation in Chicago was at 3 inches and I'm guessing from water collected in sone containers in my yard, about 4 inches here. 

And, it was quite windy.  On he morning I took my English flag down (Queen Elizabeth) and decided not to put the U.S. one up.  The wind blew down my NIU Huskies banner on the front porch.

I went out on the driveway and got my Sunday Chicago Tribune and paging through it, did not see one article about 9/11.   I was surprised.

I had read in the Northwest Herald newspaper (for McHenry County) that a group in Johnsburg, Illinois, were going to post U.S. flags between the bank on Johnsburg Road and the Johnsburg Library.  Since that is just four miles from home I decided to go to that.

Part 2  continued today on my Down Da Road I Go Blog.  

--RoadDog

20th Anniversary of 9/11, McHenry, Illinois, Ceremony-- Part 1

Just like twenty years ago, today was letter perfect.  Absolutely beautiful blue sky, comfortable September weather.  Twenty years ago sure didn't live up to expectations.  It was a terrible day in American history.  A sad day.  A day that needs to be remembered.

I went to McHenry, Illinois' Veterans Park for the 20th annual commemoration of that day.  Last year, they had it, but virtually because of you-know-what.

And remember it will judging by the number of young children who were there with their parents.  

Walking to the park, a woman complimented me on my eagle shirt and said that her husband had had one exactly like it.  I also had my USA hat on.  

Yesterday, I had replaced a small worn out U.S. flag by the grave statue with a veteran weeping over it.  Also, the 2 X 3 ft. U.S. flag out by the mailbox.  I already had a 3 X 5 flag flying in front of the house and another one on the gazebo.  

I remember.

Now, That's One Really Big U.S. Flag!!!

From the Feb. 25, 2021, The Drive "Navy destroyer pulls into San Diego  flying an absolutely gargantuan American flag" by Tyler Rogoway.

The USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112) made quite an appearance San Diego Bay with an absolutely huge U.S. flag.  I mean huge.

The ship flies the flag when entering a port.  It also flies a huge Bone Frog flag honoring its namesake, Navy Seal Michael Murphy  who received a Medal of Honor posthumously.

I'm impressed.

If you go to  The Drive.  "Navy destroyer pulled into San Diego flying an absolutely gargantuan flag" you cab read more about it and watch a video.

--RoadU.S.A.

Other Southern State Flags With Confederate Elements-- Part 2: Alabama, Arkansas and Florida Tennessee?)

ALABAMA, 1895

The St. Andrew's cross is a widely used  symbol, so the use on the Alabama flag might be a mere coincidence.  However, in 1915, the Alabama Official and Statistical Review , said, the flag "was intended  by the [state] Legislature to preserve in permanent form some of the more distinctive features of the Confederate battle flag, particularly the St. Andrew's cross."

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ARKANSAS, 1924

Though the Arkansas flag  is, overall, a cousin of  the Confederate battle flag,  it was actually designed in 1912 by a young woman from the town of Wannaseka.

According to the Arkansas state historian, the diamond represents the Arkansas diamond mine,  and the three star grouping inside the diamond represent the three nations Arkansas has belonged to:  Spain, France and the United States.

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FLORIDA,  1900

Before 1899, Florida's flag  was just the state's seal on a white background.  That year, voters  agreed to add the St. Andrew's cross to the flag.

Coincidence?  The change was first proposed by  then-governor Francis P. Flemming, a staunch secessionist who had fought in the Confederate 2nd Florida Regiment during the war and was very active in veterans groups afterwards.

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And, something might be said about Tennessee's flag.

I wonder when the SPLC will come out with their hit list.

These State Flags, No Doubt, Will Be the Next to be Changed.  --RoadDog

Other Southern State Flags That Resemble the Confederate Flag: Mississippi and Georgia-- Part 1

From the July 1, 2020, CNN  "Mississippi changing its flag isn't the end  of Confederate symbols on state flags" by A.J. Willingham.

Our good friends at CNN, always looking for another way to shear the Confederacy, had this article just a few days after Mississippi's legislature voted to remove the current state flag which features a Confederate symbol in the upper left hand corner (usually referred to as the Confederate battle flag).

CNN was quick to point out that there are other Southern (and former Confederate states) which have aspects of the Confederate flag in their state flags.  After looking at the pictures of the flags, I, unfortunately, have to agree with CNN to an extent.

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GEORGIA

By far, the most striking Confederate (if you will) state flag would be Georgia's, which incorporates most of the old Mississippi state flag as well as the Confederate First National Flag in the majority of it.

This new one replaces two other designs.  In 1956, the Confederate flag was placed on the state one as the legislature was battling integration.  In 2003, with pressure against the 1956 flag rising, a new, very unpopular, ugly looking-flag was proposed and voted on by the legislature in 2001.  People didn't like it.

A new design for the flag was voted on in 2003 and that is the one used today.

As Confederadication continues.

So, Don't Be Surprised to See New State Flags in These States.  --RoadDog

The Next Time You're in Mississippi or, Confederadication Strikes Again

The next time you're in the State of Mississippi, you will notice something different.  The state flag of some 120 years is no more.  It was changed by the state legislature and signed off on by the governor.

As you know, the flag featured a Confederate Army of Northern Virginia battle flag in the union and the rest of it was the three bars on the original Confederate National Flag, the one in reality called the Stars and Bars.

Of course, with all this Confederadication (Confederate eradication) going on in the United States these days, the flag came under attack.  And, of course, like every other Confederate thing, is getting swept away.

I am of the belief that the state flag issue of Mississippi should have been up to a referendum vote across the whole state instead of a group of politicians making the decision.

This issue was put up to a vote before and the people of Mississppi voted to keep the flag as it was.

Let the People Vote!!  --RoadDog

"Tattooed On Your Soul" 78th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor Tomorrow

Remember to put out your flags tomorrow to mark the 78th anniversary of Pearl harbor.

My World War II blog is titled "Tattooed On Your Soul,"  the words Frank Curre used to describe his Pearl Harbor experience.  He was on the USS Tennessee and died 70 years to the day after the attack, December 7, 2011.

Hang Those Flags.  --Pearl Harbor

9-11

**  Last week, I would have liked going to a commemoration of 9-11 somewhere in the local area.  After considerable looking in the internet, I did see that McHenry, Illinois, about ten miles away, had an event at Veterans Park, but couldn't find a time.  Come on, McHenry, you need to better publicize these events like this.

**  Also, I was listening to a cassette tape I had made of WVCO, 94.9, the Surf, out of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and saw the date on it.  It was June 28, 2001.  The terrorists would probably already have been in the United States and taking pilot lessons on that date.

**  I put up my U.S. flags (well, one was already up).  One is out by the mailbox, another is in the front flower bed and a third is actually a U.S. shield with an eagle on it which is hanging from the front porch eaves.

**  But, sadly, the date just about snuck up on me as I didn't remember it until our McHenry County Civil War Round Table president asked for a moment of silence at Tuesday's (September 10) meeting.

Not Forgetting.  --RoadDog

States That Joined the Union During the Civil War

Since today is U.S. Flag Day, there were three states that joined the United States during the war years, causing stars to be added to the union.

1859-1861--  33 stars when Oregon joined

1861-1863--  34 stars when Kansas joined

1863-1865--  35 stars when West Virginia joined

Wikipedia has Nevada joining October 31, 1864

--RoadDog

Hey, It's Flag Day

Hope you have one or more United States flags flying today as it is June 14th.  This became a day to fly the flag by President Harry Truman signing a bill making it a day to observe.

The flag stands for the United States, the greatest country ever to be on earth.

So Proud and Happy To Be In the United States.  --RoadDog

U.S. State Tidbits: Ice Cream School, German Capital and Pennant Flag

MISSOURI--  Ever since an 18-foot high ice cream cone sculpture was erected  out front, Mesnier Primary School in Affton (pop.20,307) has been known as "The Ice Cream School."  Built in 1942, the sculpture originally stood in front of a Velvet Freeze ice cream shop and was moved to the school in 1992.  I wonder if the kids get to have their ice cream and eat it too.

NORTH DAKOTA--  What does the state capital and a famous German warship have in common?  Both were named after German chancellor Otto von Bismarck.  The state capital in 1872.

OHIO--  The only state whose flag is in the shape of a pennant.  It is called the Ohio burgee with its blue field standing for the state's hills and lakes.  The stripes represent the roads and waterways (they have a lot of canals).  The 13 stars around the circle are the original 13 states and the four additional stars at the peak of the triangle are for Ohio being the 17th state.

Stuff You Didn't Know.  --RoadDog

Port O' Plymouth Museum

The September 9th Raleigh News and Observer had an article about Harry Thompson the curator of the Port O' Plymouth Museum in Plymouth, NC. It says he is a great story teller and quite a character; well worth a trip to the museum just to talk with him.

He has the ship's bell from the Confederate ironclad ram Albemarle as well a a huge US flag that flew over Plymouth during the Civil War (Plymouth was occupied by Federal troops). He got a northern town that had unceremoniously stored it to "lend" it to him. It is not likely they're going to get it back.

He has lots and lots of other stories to spin and often goes out to schools to tell the students.

Thompson said the Civil War decimated the population of young men in the Plymouth area who left to fight. But 3000 Union soldiers stationed in the region formed relationships with the Southern women. Many of these Union soldiers returned after the war, and, according to Thompson, "Now everybody in the county has one Confederate and one Union ancestor." I'm sure this story sets well with the local folks, especially the UDC and SCV.

Raleigh News and Observer "His stories make NC history come alive" by Jerry Allegood

I'm Going to Have to Look This Guy Up. Quite the Character.  --RoadDog

The Canadians are Coming. The Canadians are Coming.

Well, first it was the British, and now it's Canada's turn to invade the US. However, these people are dressed as tourists.

From a Northwest Herald article from July 18 titled "Canadian tourists pour into US" by David Sharp of the Associated Press.

Motels in Old Orchard Beach, near Portland, Maine, fly Canadian flags alongside the Stars and Stripes. Desk workers speak French, and fries are also offered Canadian style with vinegar, or gravy and cheese (sounds pretty close to a horseshoe to me).

Old Orchard has long been a destination for tourists from Quebec as it is an easy drive. However, this year, it is even more popular than ever.

The reason is the freefall of the US dollar's value on the international currency market. Right now the dollar is essentially on par with the Canadian dollar, making it more affordable than ever. Five years ago the "loonie", as Canadian dollar coins are called, were just 62 cents. (In case you're wondering, they get their name from the loon on the back of the coin.)

Plus, gas is a dollar more a gallon in Canada than in the US.

Canadians have always like the Coney Island feel of Old Orchard, which is known for its seven-mile stretch of sandy beach, pier, and carnival-like atmosphere.

We liked it so much, that Liz and I ended up staying an unplanned day at Old Orchard Beach several years ago on our coastal road trip along the coast from Boston to Lebec, Maine. We had a great time.

One other beach we've encountered large numbers of Quebec folk is Hollywood Beach between Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach in Florida during spring break. These people really know how to have a good time.

Bring us Your Loonies. --RoadDog

We don't EVEN want to discuss the relative merits of the Euro and Pound vs. the Dollar.