Happy Independence Day America!

The following was shared by Brother John Samaha, S.A.

THE FOURTH OF JULY AND
THE SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

    Have you ever wondered what happened to the fifty-six men who signed the Declaration of Independence?  They were not wild-eyed radicals.  They were dedicated mean of means and education.

    Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.

    Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.

    Nine of the fifty-six fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

    They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they?

    Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

    Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

   
    Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding.  His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

    Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

    At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters.  Nelson quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

    Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

    John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their thirteen children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste.  For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.

    Strangely, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the only Catholic signer and cousin of Bishop John Carroll, was among the very wealthiest in the colonies.  He was active in the political struggles of the day and later held Maryland and U.S. public offices.  Though he lost his fortune in those disturbing times, he lived to recover it and became one of the founders of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.  Carroll outlived all the other signers, and died in 1832.

    The signers of the Declaration of Independence valued freedom and God’s will more than their properties and more than they valued their own lives.  Standing tall and unwavering, they pledged for the support of this declaration, a firm reliance on the protection of the Divine Providence of Almighty God.  These are the persons who laid the foundations of our nation.

    Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't.  So, take a few minutes while enjoying your Fourth of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.

    Remember: freedom is never free!  It's time we get the word out that patriotism is not a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to it than beer, picnics, and baseball games.

    God bless America!

Happy Flag Day! - "I am the Flag"

Picture source

I AM THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
By Howard Schnauber

I am the flag of the United States of America.
My name is "Old Glory".
I fly atop the world's tallest buildings.
I stand watch in America's halls of justice.
I fly majestically over institutions of learning.
I stand guard with power in the world.
Look up and see me.

I stand for peace, honor, truth and justice.
I stand for freedom.
I am confident.
I am arrogant.
I am proud.

When I am flown with my fellow banners,
My head is a little higher,
My colors a little truer.

I bow to no one!
I am recognized all over the world.
I am worshipped -- I am saluted.
I am loved -- I am revered.
I am respected -- and I am feared.

I have fought in every battle of every war
for more then 200 years.
I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg,
Shiloh and Appomattox.
I was there at San Juan Hill,
the trenches of France,
in the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome
and the beaches of Normandy, Guam,
Okinawa, Korea, and Vietnam.
I was there. I led my troops.
I was dirty, battle-weary and tired,
but my soldiers cheered me
And I was proud.

I have been burned, torn and trampled
on the streets of countries I have helped set free.
It does not hurt, for I am invincible.

I have been soiled upon, burned, torn
and trampled on the streets of my country.
And when it's by those whom I've served in battle -- it hurts.
But I shall overcome -- for I am strong.

I have slipped the bonds of Earth
and stood watch over the uncharted frontiers of space
from my vantage point on the moon.
I have borne silent witness
to all of America's finest hours.
But my finest hours are yet to come.

When I am torn into strips
and used as bandages
for my wounded comrades on the battlefield,
When I am flown at half-mast to honor my soldier,
Or when I lie in the trembling arms
of a grieving parent at the grave of their fallen son or daughter,
I am proud.

MY NAME IS "OLD GLORY".
LONG MAY I WAVE.
DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN,
LONG MAY I WAVE.

Poem's source

US National Anthem by the Academy Choirs

This is from 2006 but it was so beautifully sung, I had to share it.

Mahalo to Sue Cifelli for sharing.

BTW, please say a prayer for Michael Douglas, who you will see in the video as he battles cancer of the throat.

Flag Day

From our friends at Patriotic Resistance:

Properly Display Our Flag

There is a right way and a wrong way to display the flag. The American
flag should be held in the highest of regards. It represents our nation and
the many people who gave their lives for our country and our flag. Here are
the basics on displaying the American flag:

* The flag is normally flown from sunrise to sunset.
* In the morning, raise the flag briskly. At sunset, lower it slowly. Always, raise and lower it ceremoniously.
* The flag should not be flown at night without a light on it.
* The flag should not be flown in the rain or inclement weather.
* After a tragedy or death, the flag is flown at half staff for 30 days. It's called "half staff" on land ,and "half mast" on a ship.
* When flown vertically on a pole, the stars and blue field , or "union",
is at the top and at the end of the pole (away from your house).
* The American flag is always flown at the top of the pole. Your state flag and other flags fly below it.
* The union is always on top. When displayed in print, the stars and blue
field are always on the left.
* Never let your flag touch the ground, never...period.
* Fold your flag when storing. Don't just stuff it in a drawer or box.
* When your flag is old and has seen better days, it is time
to retire it. Old flags should be burned or buried. Please do not throw it in the trash.


The Colors

There is no official assignment of meaning or symbolism to the colors of the flag. However, Charles Thomson, secretary of the Continental Congress, in describing the Great Seal, related its
colors to those of the flag.


According to Thomson,
"White signifies purity and innocence,
Red, hardiness & valor,
and Blue . . . vigilance, perseverance & justice."

Vigilance, perseverance &
justice
Purity and
innocence
Hardiness &
valor


So the Red and White stripes of 13 represent the link to the original ground of 13 states on which the nation has been built up. And the stars, representing the union of now 50 states, have been laid on the blue canton to bind all of them with the bond of vigilance, perseverance and justice.

The Flag's Birthday

Patriotic Rosary

I received this email from Brother John Samaha who in turn received it from a 101-year-old Marianist Brother Francis A Deibel:

Please consider praying this Patriotic Rosary for the United States of America. There are fifty states in the USA - and fifty Hail Mary's on the big loop of beads - so let each bead be a Hail Mary for one of the states. Fifty beads and Fifty states. Just like the beads would all fall on the floor and be scattered without the one loop holding them together - so it is with the US - without prayer and without God holding us together we too will split and fall apart and be scattered. May God save us.
Purgatory Project

Patriotic Rosary

Come Holy Spirit, and fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Your Divine Love. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth. Oh God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit instructed the hearts of the faithful, Grant, that by the same Spirit we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

The Apostle's Creed - For the Conversion of our Nation’s Capital

One Our Father - For the Holy Father

Three Hail Mary's - For Bishops, Priests, Religious

Glory Be - For the Conversion of our Country

The First Mystery:

“No one can rejoice more than I do at every step the people of this great country take to preserve the Union, establish good order and government, and to render the nation happy at home and respectable abroad. No country upon earth ever had it more in its power to attain these blessings than United America. Wondrously strange then, and much to be regretted indeed would it be, were we to neglect the means, and to depart from the road which Providence has pointed us, so plainly; I cannot believe it will ever Come to pass. The great Governor of the Universe has led us too Long and too far on the road to happiness and glory, to forsake us in the midst of it. By folly and improper conduct, proceeding from a variety of causes, we may now and then get bewildered; but I hope and trust that there is good sense and virtue enough left to recover the right path before we shall be entirely lost.” George Washington, June 29, 1788

Our Father - For the Presidency of the United States of America

To be prayed before each hail Mary: “We plead the Blood of Jesus over Alabama (name a different state for each Hail Mary) and every soul in that state.”

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia

For the Conversion of our Country

Glory Be

Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins; Save us from the fires of hell; Lead all souls to Heaven, Especially those in most need of Thy Mercy.

The Second Mystery:

“It may be the will of Heaven that America shall suffer calamities still more wasting and distresses yet more dreadful. If this is to be the case, it will have this good effect, at least: it will inspire us with many virtues, which we have not, and correct many errors, follies, and vices, which threaten to disturb, dishonor, and destroy us. The furnace of affliction produces refinement, in states as well as individuals. And the new governments we are assuming, in every part, will require a purification from our vices, and an augmentation of our virtues or there will be no blessings…But I must submit all my hopes and fears to an overruling Providence; in which, unfashionable as the faith may be, I firmly believe.”

John Adams, July 3, 1776

Our Father - For the Supreme Court of the United States of America

To be prayed before each Hail Mary: “We plead the Blood of Jesus over (name a different state for each Hail Mary) and every soul in that state.”

Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland

For the Conversion of our Country

Glory Be

Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins; Save us from the fires of hell; Lead all souls to Heaven, Especially those in most need of Thy Mercy.

The Third Mystery:

“Review the great scenes of history: you will find mankind has Always been obliged to pay bear for the blessings they enjoyed…The struggles of a great people have almost always ended in the Establishment of liberty....Such a people are spoken of with admiration by all futures ages….” “Their souls glow with gratitude for the virtue and self-denial of their forefathers. They consider them as patterns for their own conduct on similar occasions and are continually pointing them out to the reverence and imitation of their children. These are the glorious effects of patriotism and virtue. These are the rewards annexed to the faithful discharge of that great and honorable duty, fidelity to our country…. I pray to God that the fair character I have described may be that of America to the latest ages.” James Iredell, May 1, 1778

Our Father - For the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of America

To be prayed before each Hail Mary: “We plead the blood of Jesus over (name a different state for each Hail Mary) and every soul in that state.”

Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey

For the Conversion of our Country

Glory Be

Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins; Save us from the fires of hell; Lead all souls to heaven, Especially those in most need of Thy Mercy.

The Fourth Mystery:

“To the kindly influence of Christianity we owe that degree of civil freedom, and political and social happiness which mankind now enjoy. In proportion as the genuine effects of Christianity are diminished in any nation, either through unbelief, or the corruption of its doctrines, or the neglect of its institutions; in the same proportion will the people of that nation recede from the blessings of genuine freedom, and approximate the miseries of complete despotism.” “ All efforts to destroy the foundations of our holy religion, ultimately tend to the subversion also of political freedom and happiness.” “Whenever the pillars of Christianity shall be overthrown, our present republican forms of government, and all the blessings which flow from them, must fall with them.” Jedediah Morse, 1799

Our Father - For the office of the Governors of the United States of America

To be prayed before each Hail Mary:" We plead the blood of Jesus over (name a different state for each Hail Mary) and every soul in that state.”

New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina

For the Conversion of our Country

Glory Be

Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins; Save us from the fires of hell; Lead all souls to Heaven, Especially those in most need of Thy Mercy.

The Fifth Mystery:

“Soldiers! Let us humble ourselves before the Lord, Our God, asking through Christ, the forgiveness of our sins, beseeching the aid of the God of our forefathers in the defense of our homes and our liberties, thanking Him for His past blessings, and imploring their continuance upon our cause and our people.” “Knowing that intercessory prayer is our mightiest weapon and the supreme call for all Christians today, I pleadingly urge

our people everywhere to pray. Believing that prayer is the greatest contribution that our people can make in this critical hour, I humbly urge that we take time to pray-to really pray.” “Let there be prayer at sunup, at sundown, at midnight - all through the day. Let us pray for our children, our youth, our aged, our pastors, our homes, Let us pray for the churches.” “let us pray for ourselves, that we may not lose the word ‘concern’ out of our Christian vocabulary. Let us pray for our nation. Let us pray for those who have known Jesus Christ and His Redeeming love, for moral forces everywhere, for our national leaders. Let prayer be our passion. Let prayer be our practice.” General Robert E. Lee, 1863

Our Father - For all County and Municipal Offices of the United States of America

To be prayed before each Hail Mary: “We plead the Blood of Jesus over ( name a different state for each Hail Mary) and every soul in that state.”

South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

For the Conversion of our Country

Glory Be

Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins; Save us from the fires of hell; Lead all souls to Heaven, Especially those in most need of Thy Mercy.

St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do though O Prince of the Heavenly Hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl around the world, seeking the ruin of souls. Amen

Flag Day

You're A Grand Old Flag/ Yankee Doodle Boy

Words and Music- George M. Cohan

You're a grand old flag, you're a high flying flag;
And forever, in peace, may you wave.
You're the emblem of the land I love,
The home of the free and the brave.
Every heart beats true, for the Red,White, & Blue,
Where there's never a boast or brag;
But, should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.

(Boys)
I'm a Yankee Doodle dandy,
A Yankee Doodle do or die;
A real live nephew of my Uncle Sam.
Born on the Fourth of July.
I've got a Yankee Doodle sweetheart,
She's my Yankee Doodle joy.

(Girls)
Yankee Doodle went to London
Just to ride the ponies;

(Boys)
I am a Yankee Doodle Boy!

(Girls)
He is a Yankee Doodle Boy!

Lyric Source

Guardian of Honor

Guardian of Honor

‘Twas the “Night Before Christmas”
They lived all alone,
In a one bedroom house made of
Plaster and stone.

I had come down the chimney
With presents to give,
And to see just who
In this home did live.

I looked all about,
A strange sight I did see,
No tinsel, no presents,
Not even a tree.

No stocking by mantle,
Just boots filled with sand.
On the wall hung pictures
Of far distant lands.

With medals and badges,
Awards of all kinds,
A sober thought
Came through my mind.

For this house was different.
It was dark and dreary.
I found the home of a Soldier,
Once I could see clearly.

The Soldier lay sleeping --
Silent, alone –
Curled up on the floor
In this one bedroom home.

The face was so gentle,
The room in such disorder,
Not how I pictured
A United States Soldier.

Was this the hero
Of whom I’d just read?
Curled up on a poncho,
The floor for a bed?

I realized the families
That I saw this night,
Owed their lives to these Soldiers
Who were willing to fight.

Soon round the world,
The children would play,
And grownups would celebrate
A bright Christmas Day.

They all enjoyed freedom
Each month of the year,
Because of the Soldiers,
Like the one lying here.

I couldn’t help wonder
How many lay alone,
On a cold Christmas Eve
In a land far from home.

The very thought
Brought a tear to my eye.
I dropped to my knees
And started to cry.

The Soldier awakened,
and I heard a rough voice,
“Santa, don’t cry,
This life is my choice;

I fight for freedom,
I don’t ask for more.
My life is my God,
My Country, my Corps.”

The Soldier rolled over
And drifted to sleep,
I couldn’t control it,
I continued to weep.

I kept watch for hours,
So silent and still,
And we both shivered
From the cold night’s chill.

I didn’t want to leave
On that cold, dark night,
This Guardian of Honor
so willing to fight.

Then the Soldier rolled over,
With a voice soft and pure,
Whispered,
“Carry on Santa –
It’s Christmas Day –
All is Secure.”

One look at my watch,
And I knew he was right.
“Merry Christmas, My Friend,
And to all a Good Night.”


This poem was written by a Marine
stationed in Okinawa Japan.

Mahalo to Cathy Reilly for sharing this via email.

Red Skelton and the Pledge of Allegiance

Thanks to Barb for sharing this.

Happy Veterans Day

"Before You Go"....Thank You!

Tissue Alert for some of you.

I am posting this to honor my dear father in law Isidore and his generation. Thanks Dad!

Thanks to Faye for sharing.

Video

Happy President's Day

Picture from: this site

In God We Still Trust

Shared by my friend Mary Ann

December 7th - Pearl Harbor

Battleship Row - Pearl Harbor

PRAYER FOR DECEASED VETERAN

O God, by whose mercy the faithful departed find rest, look kindly on your departed veterans who gave their lives in the service of their country. Grant that through the passion, death, and resurrection of your Son they may share in the joy of your heavenly kingdom and rejoice in you with your saints forever. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Source for prayer: The Maritime Sentry: Remembering Pearl Harbor

Veteran's Day

Prayer on Veteran's Day

Dear Lord Jesus Christ,
those whom we honor today
are examples of your words:
"Greater love than this no one has:
that he lay down his life for his friends."
They gave up their lives in the defense of freedom
for their loved ones and their country.

Teach me to appreciate the virtue of patriotism-
a true and Christian love of country.
Let me love my country not to follow it blindly
but to make it the land of goodness
that it should be.
Let my patriotism be such
that tit will not exclude the other nations of the world
but include them in a powerful love of country
that has room for all others too.
Amen

From New Saint Joseph People's Prayer Book

Honoring Our Vets

Shared by John:

To Our Parents

Adopt a Military Chaplain

September 11 is Patriot's Day!

SPIRITUALLY SUPPORT OUR TROOPS ON THIS SPECIAL DAY!

ADOPT ONE OF OUR 325 U.S. CATHOLIC MILITARY CHAPLAINS TODAY!!!

Click Here to read Fr. Andrew Apostoli's, (C.F.R.
Vice-Postulator for Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen's Canonization Cause)letter.

My Beautiful America

Beautiful video shared by my friend Val

My Beautiful America

Send a Message of Thanks to the Troops -Corrected Link

H/T to BECCA

1-800-Flower has a message center set up at their website. Please send a message to our troops and thank them.

CLICK HERE
Thanks for pointing that out Barb ;-)

Honoring Our Fallen Heroes

Picture courtesy of NASA

The Honolulu Advertiser reports the following from the AP:

An Army sergeant complained in a rare opinion article that the U.S. flag flew at half-staff last week at the largest U.S. base in Afghanistan for those killed at Virginia Tech but the same honor is not given to fallen U.S. troops here and in Iraq.

ARTICLE

This blogger thinks it is an excellent idea so we are posting a flag at half staff in honor of all our brave military who have died, defending our freedom. May they rest in peace.