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Holidays

The American Flag and Flag Day

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The American Flag from 1777 until 1960

The American Flag, somewhat in the form we know today, was adopted on June 14, 1777, when the Second Continental Congress passed a Flag Resolution. It stated, “Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.” Though somewhat descriptive, there were 27 variations from the first Stars and Stripes until the current flag adopted on July 4, 1960 with the admission of Hawaii to the United States.

Design of the American Flag

There are a few stories that are legend in the design and making of the U.S. Flag.

Francis Hopkinson

A signer of the Declaration of Independence and a naval flag designer, Hopkinson designed the naval flag and also the U.S. flag in 1777 – however, the public preferred the naval design for the national flag. It wasn’t until 1780 that a bill was sent to Congress for payment for his design. He requested a “Quarter Cask of the Public Wine” as payment for design of the U.S. flag as well as for the Great Seal of the United States and other seals. However in his following bills, he only mentioned the design for the naval flag, not the U.S., in addition to the other seals. He received no payment because he was paid a salary as a member of Congress at the time they were created.

Betsy Ross

The legend of Betsy Ross sewing the first flag from a sketch given to her by George Washington has no proof. It was never mentioned until her grandson suggested the scenario almost a century after the first flag was created.

Rebecca Young

Another rumor came from the family of Rebecca Young. They claimed it was she who sewed the first flag. There was flag-making in the family as it was her daughter, Mary Pickersgill, who sewed the Star Spangled Banner Flag. The family believed she was inspired by a 15th century window in Selby Abbey showing stars and stripes in the Washington family coat of arms.

The progression of the American Flag design started with the Union Jack as both have the seven red and six white stripes.

In 1818, Congress passed an Act that specified a new star would be added to the flag as each new state was admitted.

Until the 48-star flag adopted in 1912, there were no standard arrangements for the stars, except in the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy. Stars were in circles, rectangles, star patterns, almost any shape.

The History of Flag Day

Through all this history, there had been no day set aside to focus on the U.S. Flag. Today, Flag Day is unknown to most U.S. citizens, but June 14th is the day set aside to honor our flag.

The commemoration of the Flag originated in Wisconsin in 1885 when a schoolteacher, BJ Cigrand, had his students celebrate the day as the anniversary of the official adoption of the U.S. Flag which occurred 108 years previously. The first years, the day was known as the ‘Flag Birthday’ but later known as ‘Flag Day.’ It was observed through special commemorations at schools, articles in magazines, newspapers, and even public speeches. There were assemblies with patriotic songs, the gifting of small flags for children, and the request that all citizens in Wisconsin display the flag on that day.

In 1894, the mayor of New York proclaimed all public buildings should fly the flag on June 14th. That same year 300,000 children gathered at parks in Chicago to celebrate the day.

The first national celebration was established on May 30th, 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson officially proclaimed June 14th as Flag Day. Though it was celebrated in many communities across the nation in the following years, it was on August 3rd, 1949, when President Truman signed the Congressional Act designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day.

National Flag Day in 2018

Though the day shows up on most calendars and there are some who make it a practice to fly our flag at home and businesses, most people think little of the day and its history as they look forward to the Fourth of July. Today the flag is sometimes a controversial icon. Many have fought and died for this piece of cloth and the freedoms it represents, including the freedom to revere and respect it as well as the freedom to express differing opinions and even abuse it. Yet, the flag represents now – as well as in the past – a country founded on freedoms expressed in the First Amendment right to freedom of speech.

While there will be few, if any, events honoring our flag tomorrow, it provides the chance to reflect for a moment on this country and those who have defended the flag representing our rights.

Long may she wave.

The Cinco de Mayo Few Know

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While millions celebrate Cinco de Mayo, to many an obscure Mexican holiday, its significance to us in the U.S. is rarely known.

What does Cinco de Mayo commemorate?

On May 5, 1862, the Mexican army under the leadership of Gen. Ignacio Zaragoza, defeated the French army at the Battle of Puebla in Mexico. Mexico already won its independence from Spain 50 years prior to the battle, but this battle was a victory against the imperialism of Napoleon’s France and unified the various Mexican regions under one Mexican identity. It inspired enormous pride that the small Mexican army defeated the French army, considered the best army in the world according to Professor Margarita Sanchez of Wagner College.

To the French, they fought because Mexico defaulted on its foreign debt to France and other European countries. But, for Mexican Latinos living in the U.S. and California, the battle against the French was closely tied to the U.S. Civil War. Many Latinos joined the Union army or navy, or returned to fight the French in Mexico. David Hayes-Bautista, Professor of Medicine and Director of the Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture at the University of California Los Angeles, remarked that Mexican history and American history are tied together through these two wars. “It gives you a sense that our countries have had a shared history going back hundreds of years. It is something that extends to cultural and national ties as well as family ties.” Hayes-Bautista pointed out that Mexicans in the U.S. viewed the Civil War and the French invasion of Mexico as one war fought on two fronts. If the Battle of Puebla had been won by the French forces, it is quite possible the Civil War might have gone differently as the French backed the Confederacy.

Cinco de Mayo celebrations

Unfortunately, this history, and its relevance to U.S. citizens and even Mexican citizens, is lost to most. Jose Alamillo, professor of Chicano studies at California State University Channel Islands, was born in Zacatecas, Mexico before moving to the U.S. at the age of eight, but didn’t learn about this event until he was in a U.S. elementary school. “I thought, ‘Why would I hear about it in a classroom in the U.S., but my parents and uncles never heard about it in their schooling in Mexico?’”

Corporations began marketing the holiday in the 1980s to sell tequila and beer and to entice Hispanic customers to celebrate with their beverages and dine in Mexican restaurants. Cinco de Mayo is regularly and widely celebrated in the U.S., but not to any great extent in Mexico – except in Puebla, scene of the battle.

Alamillo summarizes his thoughts, “It’s not a Mexican holiday, not an American holiday, but an American-Mexican holiday.” Sanchez who wishes it provided more of an opportunity to learn Mexican history says, “But a day of celebration is a day of celebration – and that is good for everyone.”

It’s May Day!

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For some, May Day brings thoughts of children dancing around a May pole with streaming ribbons or baskets of flowers left secretly on a neighbor’s doorstep, but how did May Day actually start?

May Day history

Some may think it began with the huge demonstrations of military might seen in films of the old Soviet Union. In reality, for thousands of years many societies celebrated the welcome change of season on this day. The first known occurrence began with Beltane, a Celtic celebration of rebirth and fertility. When the Romans overtook the British Isles, their celebration of Floralia combined with Beltrane.

Maypoles probably originated in medieval times as villagers would dance around the pole – again as part of a fertility ritual. But in America, this was discouraged by the Puritans and never became a common occurrence.

May Basket Day, however, was celebrated by children delivering baskets of flowers and candies to neighbors and loved ones throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. These baskets were hung on the doors anonymously.

How did the current May Day begin?

In the early 1800s, workplaces were dangerous and the work was often long and hard, with many injuries and death – some jobs having a life expectancy in the early twenties. This led to the organization of labor unions. By 1884, the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions determined “eight hours shall constitute a legal day’s labor from and after May 1, 1886” at their national convention.

Many labor unions backed this, and some began jousting for other reforms. The political climate worried citizens that a revolution would follow. One proclamation, printed just prior to May 1, 1886, clearly demonstrated this thinking.

• Workingmen to Arms!
• War to the Palace, Peace to the Cottage, and Death to LUXURIOUS IDLENESS.
• The wage system is the only cause of the World’s misery. It is supported by the rich classes, and to destroy it, they must be either made to work or DIE.
• One pound of DYNAMITE is better than a bushel of BALLOTS!
• MAKE YOUR DEMAND FOR EIGHT HOURS with weapons in your hands to meet the capitalistic bloodhounds, police, and militia in proper manner.

Chicago was the center for all this activity and its citizens thought a violent clash would occur. The first May Day ‘celebration’ was held in that city on May 1, 1886. More than 300,000 workers representing 13,000 businesses walked off their jobs across the country. But, the violence didn’t happen until May 3rd, between the police and the Metal Workers’ Union and their supporters at Haymarket Square.

The crowd was much smaller than a day earlier due to bad weather, but 3,000 people, including families, were present along with the mayor of Chicago. The mayor later said the crowd was orderly, but rumors of unrest began filtering through the crowd and the police presence. There were rocks thrown and brawling, which led up to a bomb thrown into the police ranks. The police began firing into the crowd and eight officers died. The bomb thrower was never identified or caught.

The results of that day in Haymarket Square

May Day was established as an international Workers’ Day and is an official holiday in 66 countries, but is not officially recognized in the US where it all began.

Through those years of strife well over a hundred years ago, we benefit from their struggles and sacrifices with eight hour work days, Saturday as well as Sunday as a weekend, the end of child labor, and many more improvements including overtime and wage laws.

The Haymarket monument has these words from those who lived that era:
“The day will come when our silence will be more powerful than the voices you are throttling today.”

Today, most of this history been lost except in the memories of a few. Instead, May Day is a time of enjoying the weather, attending outdoor festivals, and planting gardens, but while enjoying these activities, take a moment to remember that without these “rabble rousers” of the past our lives might be much different.

Groundhog Day – the Movie. Is This Your Life?

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Do you continue to make the same resolutions with the same results? Do you have a daily routine that doesn’t vary? Do you wish something would change, but it doesn’t? You’re not alone. To make a change, we have to change ourselves and instead of thinking about it, take action.

What does this have to do with an attorney’s blog?
There are some things we put off that could improve life. An accident is less likely if preparations are made beforehand. Serious medical issues may be averted or treatment started if found and addressed as soon as possible. Have you checked your tires lately? Have you installed a carbon monoxide detector? When receiving a new prescription, do you read the instructions and the possible side effects? Do you go to the doctor for annual checkups, or more often if an unusual symptom arises? Most of these items land somewhere on a To Do list, but end up at the bottom, yet neglecting any of these can create serious, even fatal, problems.

The importance of a doctor visit
For example, if you were exposed to asbestos in a prior job, tell your doctor so that specific tests can be run. Even if you have no current symptoms of lung disease from asbestos, it is good to have a baseline scan. If you do have symptoms, there is no time to waste. Go to the doctor for a diagnosis and, if that turns out to be mesothelioma, it is important to start treatment and talk to an attorney immediately.

Remember, “Procrastination is the bad habit of putting off until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday.”
– Napoleon Hill

Do You Have A Dream?

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Today we commemorate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., who nonviolently protested racial discrimination in federal and state laws. After 15 years of debate, President Ronald Reagan signed a law in 1983 creating a holiday to honor Dr. King. It is observed on the third Monday of January to be close to King’s January 15th birthday. It was eventually officially observed in all 50 states in 2000.

His famous “I have a dream” speech was given in 1963, becoming one of the iconic speeches of American history. While many have never heard or read this speech in its entirety, this is a good day to consider his message. It reflects the words expressed in the US Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Emancipation Proclamation, that “all men (and women) are guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” He was determined that a day when all Americans would walk together is possible. “We cannot walk alone. And as we walk we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back.”

Dr. King recognized that a dream does not just happen, that there must be determination and action. To that end, the federal King Holiday and Service Act, signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1994, challenges all Americans to use this holiday as an opportunity to provide acts of service in his honor. Thousands of individuals and groups participate in various activities aimed at making a difference in their communities all over America, and at many locations throughout the world.

One man, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., made a difference in his short lifetime with his dream put into action. On this day, it is appropriate that each of us think of how we can make a difference to create a better world. One small change, one act, can ripple into affecting institutions – and people – never imagined. What action can you take, not just today, but into the future? What is your dream?

“When we allow freedom to ring – when we let it ring from every city and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, ‘Free at last, Free at last, Great God a-mighty, We are free at last.’”