History lessons is a grouping of historical stories and tidbits. The topics range from the American Civil War through interesting items from around the world. Please use the comments area to ask questions and make suggestions for future topics.
Eighty years ago, a tradition began in Washington, D.C., that continues to this day. Called the Capitol Flag Program, it’s a unique celebration of the star-spangled banner that anyone can take part in. An American flag, at your request, will be lifted above the Capitol, flown briefly and then sent to your home as a… continue
A century and a half ago, Nebraska became the 37th member of the Union. And then it took a long time for the state to get its own flag to wave. The Cornhusker State almost didn’t join the U.S. at all. The roadblock was Andrew Johnson, who became president after Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. In 1867,… continue
Most people can identify the national flags of the U.S., Great Britain and the Soviet Union. But hardly anyone can describe the unusual banners of the following countries: NAURU What does Nauru’s flag look like? The first response should be, “Where’s Nauru?” The answer to that gives a tiny clue to the flag’s design. An… continue
A previous article about American flags and Inauguration Days through the decades described how presidential ceremonies have often featured multiple banners and plenty of bunting to decorate the special day. An example in that article was Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address in 1865. His short, 700-word speech is renowned for his offer of reconciliation toward… continue
The inauguration of President Donald J. Trump calls to mind many flag-bedecked ceremonies of the past. Here’s a sampling: 1865 Abraham Lincoln’s second inauguration brought out flags, partly to salute him and partly to celebrate the upcoming end of the Civil War. A Washington newspaper reported that “the national flag in some shape, mammoth or… continue