"I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL."
Today the flag consists of thirteen horizontal stripes, seven red alternating with 6 white. The stripes represent the original 13 colonies, the stars represent the 50 states of the Union. The colors of the flag are symbolic as well: Red symbolizes Hardiness and Valor, White symbolizes Purity and Innocence and Blue represents Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice.
The flags you see above are truly unique. The largest one will be headed to EKU for a three day Military Art Symposium, scheduled from July 5th-7th, 2012. The event will consist of three goals and 100 “Healing Heroes” from all across our Nation. The goals are as such: To expand the type of one-on-one help provided to veteran contributors to The Journal of Military Experience to the masses. To celebrate veteran writing and art through a number of activities and events open to both veterans and the general public. To educate individuals about the healing capabilities of creative expression through testimonials and public lectures by experts in fields that provide veterans with creative, cathartic outlets for veterans to express themselves on their own terms. The second was gifted to Marie; Artist and spouse of Vietnam Veteran Walter Roth. It is our way of saying Thank You Patriot Roth & “Welcome Home!”
The “Patriotic Pillow Project” is humbled and Honored to be participating in this Healing and expressive initiative! Patriotic Pillows will be provided to all the Veteran attendees as a way for America to Thank them for their Service & Sacrifices. We would like to Thank Marie Roth of Historic Long Grove, IL for her Folk Art gift of this American Flag, the symbol of Freedom & Liberty recognized through out our World. The same flag that our Brave American G.I.s have served under since we became a Nation! Below you will find a informative read regarding this “Patriotic Flag,” that will be received by one recipient at this weeks symposium. What a Blessing for this Unique Strong Flag to be shared with a Warrior or Lioness from America’s Armed Forces!
***************************************************************************************************************************************
The wood for this flag comes from a barn first built in Whiteside County, Illinois c. 1855. In 1853 the railroad goes through southern Illinois and begins a great immigration of farmers from Canada and the East coast. Lewis and Clark had written of the great, flat prairies with stands of trees and soil so rich that if “salt were added it could be eaten with a fork.” This barn was built on Luther Road with oak trees that were felled on the property and taken to Milledgeville, Illinois to be milled at what was considered the finest mill in the country on Elkhorn Creek Bottom. The original pieces of siding were wide and thick and stood until a catastrophic storm struck the area in 1895.
The barn was severely damaged and the siding was removed and hauled back to the same mill to be planed and recut. At this time the mill had just installed equipment to make tongue and groove boards and a common practice, since this a very expensive process, was for the mill to make the tongue and groove siding for a portion of the barn with the agreement that the farmer would advertise their product and allow interested parties to examine the barn. The wood came to me from the son of the John Deere dealer in Whiteside County, who was urged to “Go and get the wood from the Sample Barn”. Not knowing the history of the barn, his son had no idea why his father had always referred to it as the “Sample barn” since he knew the last name of the owners was NOT Sample. What he stored for about 40 years was the front gable wall of the barn. He was so glad that the wood was going to be put to good use and will live on as ART.
#50 Star Flag donated by Creating Artist, Veteran’s Wife Marie Roth. Thank You Marie for this appropriate gift of Patriotic recognition. Respectfully The “Pillow Mom!”
