History Lessons

Rhode Island took decades to get flag

Rhode Island flag

In 1664, when it was a British colony, Rhode Island quickly came up with a one-word slogan: “Hope.” Then things slowed down. It just squeaked onto the list of the first states in the Union, and it took forever to design a state flag. Even then, R.I. couldn’t make up its mind. Rhode Island became… continue

History Lessons

Fly flags to honor wounded veterans

A volunteer writes a letter for a soldier wounded in WWI. (Smithsonian Institution)

Wars throughout the centuries – large or small, won or lost, justified or not – have two things in common: flags and veterans. The flags fly as veterans march away – and back home, many of them injured in mind or body. A common term for such men and women is “wounded warriors,” a phrase… continue

History Lessons

Flags at graduation and for first victim of WWII

Captain Losey in the cockpit

Over the four years of the Second World War, hundreds of thousands of U.S. servicemen were killed. Their bodies and coffins were covered with American flags, and Old Glory waved over cemeteries from New Guinea to France. But the first casualty, who was killed by a Nazi bomb, occurred nearly two years before Pearl Harbor… continue

History Lessons

Municipal flags bring glory to cities

New York City's seal

Everyone can picture the American flag. Many people can imagine their state’s banner. But how many can describe the municipal flag of the city they live in? Take New York City. While millions of residents, workers and tourists walk around there every day, it’s doubtful that any of them could identify the city’s flag. And… continue

History Lessons

Of firemen, a blind man and an American flag

Frank Auburn’s life was a classic American story that included an American flag waving from a staff, thanks to friendly firemen. In 1911, Auburn graduated from the Illinois State School for the Blind. Along with this peers, he was warned by the school that “the greatest problem that confronts the blind is…securing employment after their… continue