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Showing posts with label Fifty Star Flag. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fifty Star Flag. Show all posts

Friday, August 21, 2015

HAWAII FIVE-O

HAWAII MAKES FIFTY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The territory of Hawaii* became the 50th state in the Union fifty-six years ago today, August 21, 1959.   President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who signed The Admission Act providing for the addition of Hawaii to the United States on March 18, 1959, unveiled the new 50 star Flag of the United States.

The flag would fly nationwide for the first time on July 4, 1960.  John F. Kennedy, who was elected in November 1960 and took office in January 1961 would be the first POTUS to serve his entire term under the 50 star flag of the United States.

In the words of Poka Laenui...

"Communities lit bon fires...cars blared their horns and people walked the streets with broad grins and greetings, seeing themselves as full-fledged Americans."

Hawaiians had been American citizens since 1900 when the Hawaii Organic Act passed by the Congress granted citizenship to all citizens of the Republic of Hawaii.  Statehood was both supported and opposed over the next 59 years.

The first statehood bill was introduced in 1921.  The attack on Pearl Harbor and WWII set the movement back but the admission of Alaska as the 49th state in January 1949 influenced Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to support Hawaii statehood.

*Hawaii is located 2000 miles SW of North America.  It is the southernmost state and the only one not located in North America.  Hawaii is composed of 8 major islands and is only one of four states other than the original 13 to have been a republic.

SOURCE

"Statehood: A Second Glance," by Poka Laenui, www.hawaii-nation.org


Iolani Palace, Honolulu
Photo by Jiang (2005)

JOE KENNEDY PROCLAIMS:  "I'M FOR ROOSEVELT"

New York City (JFK+50) Seventy-nine years ago today, August 21, 1936, New York publishers Reynal and Hitchcock released a 149 page book by Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. titled "I'm For Roosevelt".

At the time of publication, Mr. Kennedy was the director of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  According to blogger Tohu Bohu, Joe Kennedy "was writing specifically why he felt that Big Business should support the incumbent."

Bohu adds...

"It will take regulation, central planning and the New Deal to prevent mass unemployment...the greatest conceivable danger...to Free Enterprise (and) Democracy."

More than 60% of Americans agreed with Joe Kennedy.  On November 3, 1936, FDR was re-elected by an electoral margin of 523-8.  The Republican, Alf Landon of Kansas, carried only 2 states, Maine and Vermont.  Democrats corrupted the long standing GOP slogan "As goes Maine, so goes the Nation" to "As goes Maine, so goes Vermont."

SOURCE

"I'm For Roosevelt," by Tohu Bohu, October 25, 2012, www.kith.org/




NAT TURNER LEADS SLAVE REVOLT IN VIRGINIA

Southampton County, Virginia (JFK+50) Nat Turner**, along with seven followers, murdered his owner, Joseph Travis, along with his family, as a slave revolt began here in Southampton, 184 years ago today, August 21, 1831.

Turner then set out across the countryside hoping to rally other slaves to his cause.  Over the next two days, Nat Turner and 75 followers killed 60 whites before being overwhelmed by the state militia. 

Turner was not captured until late October.  He was tried, convicted, sentenced to death and hanged on November 11, 1831.  The rebellion was the largest slave revolt in US history.

**Nat Turner (1800-1831) was born a slave of Benjamin Turner of Southampton County, Virginia.  He learned to read and write and began preaching to fellow slaves.  Turner believed God called him to lead his slave revolt in 1831 against white masters.  After his death, "The Confessions of Nat Turner" was published by Thomas Ruffin Gray.


Capture of Nat Turner
Bettman Archives




Saturday, July 4, 2015

USA'S FIFTY STAR FLAG

FIFTY STAR US FLAG UNFURLED 55 YEARS AGO 

Baltimore, Maryland (JFK+50) Fifty-five years ago today, Independence Day, July 4, 1960, the Flag of the United States of America bearing 50 stars was unfurled here in the city of Baltimore.

The new flag included a star representing the State of Hawaii which had been admitted to the Union on August 21, 1959.  

The design for the 50 star flag was the work of 17 year old, Robert G. "Bob" Heft* of Lancaster, Ohio.  Mr. Heft had created his design for a high school class project.  

His teacher, not overly impressed, gave him a B-, but after discussing the grade with his student agreed to change the grade to an A if the Congress of the United States approved his design.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower made a telephone call to Bob Heft to personally inform him that Congress had indeed accepted his design for the Nation's new flag.

John F. Kennedy became the first President of the United States to be inaugurated under the 50 star flag and the first to serve all of his presidential years under it.


Fifty Star Flag of the United States


*Robert G. Heft (1941-2009) was born in Saginaw, Michigan.  He became a high school teacher, college professor, and served as mayor of Napoleon, Ohio for 28 years.


Robert G. "Bob" Heft
December 5, 2009
Photo by Gage Skidmore
CC SA 3.0



VICKSBURG CAPTURED ON FOURTH OF JULY

Vicksburg, Mississippi (JFK+50) 152 years ago today, July 4, 1863, the strategic port city of Vicksburg fell to the Union.  The capture came after
the city had endured many months under siege.

President Abraham Lincoln said:  

"And now the Father of Waters goes unvexed to the sea.*

It has been said that the people of Vicksburg did not celebrate the 4th of July for the next 100 years.


Siege of Vicksburg
Painting by Kurz & Allison (1888)
Library of Congress Photo


JOHN ADAMS AND THOMAS JEFFERSON DIE ON THE SAME DAY

On the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1826.two of the men most instrumental in its existence died just hours apart.

John Adams of Massachusetts and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, both former Presidents of the United States, who had been at times political allies, and at other times political enemies, passed on as friends and mutual admirers.

John Adams last words were "Thomas Jefferson still survives", but he did not know that his friend had passed away at Monticello a few  hours before.


Franklin, Adams & Jefferson
Committee to Draft 
the Declaration of Independence