Hawaii State Flag

History states the Hawaiian Islands were discovered by Captain James Cook in 1778. He called them the “Sandwich Islands”. After being discovered by Cook, other American and European explorers and traders began making stops and settling in Hawaii.
This may be true but I believe the Spanish “discovered” it over 2 centuries earlier. There are Spanish maps of the time in which islands are shown at the same latitude, but a little further east. A sea chart dated 1551 and signed by Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Italian and French cartographers shows an archipelago (island chain) located at points close to the location of the Hawaiian Islands as we now know them. 

By 1816, Kamehameha the Great had united the islands under one ruler and commissioned the Hawaiian Flag.
There are conflicting reports on who actually designed it but its symbolism is clear. The design of Hawaii’s flag was a compromise between the flags of England and America. The Union Jack was used to show the king’s friendship with England. The stripes were said to represent the red, white and blue of the American flag. There are eight horizontal stripes that represent the eight main islands of Hawaii. It was a good way of showing a combination of Hawaii’s growing bond and loyalty with England and the United States.

The Flag of Guam

The Flag of Guam was designed by an American Naval Officer’s wife, Mrs. Helen L. Paul. It is dark blue in color, which represents the ocean with a red border. In the center is the Coat of Arms that is almond shaped which mimics the slingshot stones that were used by ancestors. In the background of this shape is the Punto Dos Amantes Cliff, and in the foreground is a proa sailing and the word Guam written in red. This flag was adopted on February 9, 1948.

Flag of Guam

Wyoming State Flag

Miss Verna Keays designed the Wyoming state flag in a competition for $20. With the help of Dr. Grace Raymond Hebard, a professor at University of Wyoming the design was perfected. The flag has a blue base trimmed with a red and white border. In the center is a white bison, the Wyoming state mammal and in the center of the bison is the seal of Wyoming. The blue base on the flag signifies the mountains and skies and is symbolizes fidelity, justice, and virility. The red represents the Indians who loved the country before the settlers came and the pioneers who died fighting to reclaim their land. The white symbolizes the purity and uprightness of the state. The state flag of Wyoming was adopted on January 13, 1917.

Georgia State Flag

The Georgia state flag has been the subject of controversy resulting in many changes over the past century. The current design sheds any racial implications by removing any use of the Confederate Battle Flag.The current flag signed into law by Governor Sonny Perdue on May 8, 2003 combines elements of Georgia’s previous flags incorporating the Confederate First National flag, known as the Stars and Bars instead of the controversial Confederate Battle Flag.

Georgia State Flag

The current design consists of three horizontal bars of equal width, two red separated by a white bar in the center. In the upper left corner is a square blue canton the width of two bars. In the center of the canton is a circle of 13 white stars, symbolizing Georgia and the other 12 original states that formed the United States of America. Within the circle of stars is Georgia’s coat of arms (the central design on the state seal) immediately above the words “In God We Trust” — both in gold.

History Behind the Semaphore Flag

Optical “telegraphs” or signaling devices have been traced back to ancient times (using torches) and were the fastest systems to convey messages over long distances. These “telegraphs” could have since been in the form of torches, smoke signals and eventually semaphore towers.

Semaphore towers used large blades/paddles to convey messages. These messages were decoded based on the fixed positions of these arms and could transmit signals up to 150 miles in two minutes using multiple towers.

The semaphore tower/semaphore line design was first thought up by Robert Hooke in 1684 and submitted to the Royal Society. The system was not implemented though due to military concerns. However, this did lead to Claude Chappe developing the first visual telegraph in 1792 - eventually covering much of France via 556 stations. In France, this was the primary source of communication for military and national applications, until it became more widely used in the 1850′s. Designs varied between using shudders open and closed to holes being open and closed, but Chappe’s design became the most widely used semaphore design.

Chappe’s design used large towers that had a single crossbar with large pivoting “arms” at the ends and were spaced as far as part as the eye could see. The crossbar could be used in 4 different positions while the arms could be in 7 different positions each, for a combination of 196 (4x7x7) characters. These 196 characters could be combined to create a multitude of messages and phrases. Some have estimated that there were as many as 9,999 different “codes” created.

Many other takes of semaphores became created, including the naval signaling code flags which are still used today. These flags could be used in combination to become different words and messages and thus not have to spell out each word since messages were usually needed to be displayed quickly. This system however proved to be slow during battle since these flags were hoisted to the top of the ship for display.

Even Napoleon used one design to communicate to his army strategies and locations of his enemies. These semaphore stations were so successful that the French government rejected Samual Morse‘s first proposals of the electrical telegraph, citing that its design was flawed by wires being able to be cut easily.

These visual messaging systems eventually led to semaphore flags. These flags were used in the same way that the arms were used on the semaphore towers – different fixed positions mean different messages. Semaphore flags were primarily used for naval applications to communicate message between boats. It proved to be a very useful tactic during battles, most famously the Battle of Trafalgar during the Napoleonic Wars.

Today these flags have become smaller and are usually mounted to small dowels or poles to allow them to be seen easier. Maritime use flags are red and yellow (or the OSCAR) flag and while in land use, the flags are blue and white (or the PAPA) flag. Even though they are not in use much anymore, they still serve for some boats and ships.

So why did we get rid of them?

Well, there were two critical downfalls of all the systems:

1. They had no secrecy. Everyone within visual distances could see the message and therefore react to it. This proved to be one of the design’s most fatal wartime attributes.
2. They were practically invisible at night time and during heavy fog and rain.

Both of these reasons lead to the electrical telegraph and Morse Code, both “invented” by Samuel F.B. Morse.

So, the next thing you know, we went to electrical telegraphs, pony express, telephone, radio, television, computers, fax machines, satellite televisions, cellular phones and the internet. What is next to come in communication? I for one can not even begin to imagine all of the amazing devices we will see in the future. The one thing I do know is that ultimately semaphore flags and towers inspired all designs since. To see how basic letters are signaled with semaphore flags, please check out this video:

Where did the POW/MIA flag come from?

The Prisoner Of War/Missing In Action symbol is one of the most distinguished designs in American history. It was formed to honor and give thanks for the brave men and women of the US military who have been captured and held by enemy forces in the times of battle.

During the Vietnam War, Mary Hoff, a wife of a Missing In Action soldier and member of the National League of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia, decided that there was a great need for a symbol to honor the approximately 1,350 POWs and approximately 1,200 MIA soldiers who had been injured yet whose bodies had not been recovered. She contacted the Annin Flag company, the United States’ largest flag company, who in return contacted Newton “Newt” Heisley, an artist in the National League of Families to help with the design.

Newton Heisley

Newton Heisley was a former pilot in WWII and father of Jeffrey Heisly, a Marine soldier who eventually went, fought, and returned home from Vietnam. At the time of design, Jeffrey had just returned home from Basic Training before his departure for Vietnam and had been suffering from a case of hepatitis, emaciating his body and face. At the sight of his son, Newton imagined what the POWs overseas must look like. Jeffrey became the silhouette for Newton’s design. He then added a watch tower and barbed wire to the background which were characteristics of the many prisoner camps during Vietnam.

For the slogan “You Are Not Forgotten”, Newton remembered the feeling he had as he was flying a mission over the Southeast Pacific during World War II and thought that he could end up being “taken prisoner and being… forgotten”. He designed the slogan to let soldiers know that despite their circumstances, they were not forgotten and the National League of Families would dedicate their mission to the rescue and return of these heroes.

Newton had originally drawn the design out with pencil only and was going to add in color later, presumably a deep purple, but by the time he could get back to add it in, Annin had already begun printing and distributing the white and black designed flags. The black and white logo stuck and became the official design of the National League of Families.

The POW MIA flag has intentionally never been copyrighted due to Newt’s belief that it is everyone’s flag. It was designed to give thanks to the many men and women we may never see, many we may never be able to give thanks to, many we will forever be grateful for. It acts as a symbol of hope for soldiers, a symbol of dedication for civilians, and a symbol of duty for our government.

On September 16th, 1988 on POW/MIA Recognition Day, the flag was proudly flown over the White House for the first time ever. Later on March 9th, 1989, the same flag was raised on the Capitol’s Rotunda and is still the only flag every flown in the Rotunda.

Today, give thanks for the many Prisoners of War and soldiers of whose fate are unknown. Hope that their families heal and that time eases the pain. Be proud to be an American and don’t ever look at the POW/MIA flag without saying thank you for these sacrifices. From everyone at Carrot-Top Industries, we give thanks and salute all of our soldiers, POWs, MIAs, and families of these brave men and women.

History of the Gadsden Flag

Gadsden Flag

Lately on the news I have been seeing people lining up at town halls, mayor offices, and government buildings rallying for their causes. One thing I have noticed at most of these rallies is a weird looking yellow flag with a rattlesnake…what I have found out to be the Gadsden flag. I decided to do a little investigation into the history of this flag so we can all understand the exact meaning. Hope you guys (and girls) enjoy!

So what is the significance of the rattlesnake? The US colonies were first depicted as a rattlesnake in a political cartoon in 1774 by…Benjamin Franklin. In his cartoon, the US colonies were depicted as an 8 sectioned snake with the saying: “Join, or Die”, referring to the “disunited state” of the colonies. This was designed to inspire unity in the defense against France but was later used in defense from the British.

Christopher Gadsden

This is where Christopher Gadsden comes in. Now Christopher Gadsden was a true man’s man. He was a founder and leader of the Sons of Liberty and a delegate on the First Continental Congress before leaving to become a colonel in the Continental Army. Between Gadsden and the Continental Congress, they chose Esek Hopkins as their commander-in-chief of the US Navy. Believing in the importance of Navy commanders to have their own “distinct personal standard”, Gadsden created what is now called the Gadsden Flag or sometimes the Hopkins Flag. The flag was presented in Charleston, South Carolina, where it is still proudly flown today, among many other places.

Since the creation, it was altered to become two other separate important flags in US history…the Culpeper Flag and the First Navy Jack Flag. The Culpeper Flag, which was used during the American Revolution by the Culpeper County, VA minutemen. This flag however was white instead of yellow and bore an added slogan “Liberty or Death”. Also, it is correctly spelled Culpeper, not Culpepper.

First Navy Jack Flag

Also, the First Navy Jack Flag has adopted the Rattlesnake design and was first distributed as fleet signals by Hopkins. This flag features 13 red and white alternating stripes with an uncoiled rattlesnake with “Dont Tread On Me” on the 12th stripe. These stripes represent the first 13 colonies and was probably first introduced as a US Navy flag following the 1777 adoption of the First Stars and Stripes Law. This law said that the flags of the United States consist of 13 red and white alternating stripes symbolize the 13 colonies. The First Navy Jack has been flown on the oldest serving ship in the Navy, with the last as the USS Kitty Hawk. Then, in May 31, 2002 the Secretary of Navy ordered all Navy ships to fly the First Navy Jack during the War on Terrorism.

The Gadsden Flag started as a military flag to inspire unity, to inspire change, and to inspire freedom amongst all Americans. Now, after 235 years, it still serves as a symbol to stand up for the things we believe in and stand firm to our positions. Be true to yourself, your country, and your beliefs and don’t let anyone tread on you!

9/11/11-Ten Years Later

I can’t believe it has been 10 years since September 11, 2001. I remember being in Calculus class in High School when our teacher came in with the news about the first plane hitting. Her husband was nearly retired from the military, but she was quickly realizing that everything was changing. I didn’t understand what she did at the time. To me, terrorism only existed elsewhere. This was not possible in the US.

I watched as the second plane hit…

That day became a haze. We were running around trying to figure out what was going on. Many of my friends left school to be with their families.

One thing I will never forget is seeing images of Manhattan that afternoon and it was covered in a huge cloud of dust and debris.

That day, 2,752 individuals lost their lives, including 343 firefighters, 60 police officers and civilians from 70 different countries. We eventually found out 19 terrorists had hijacked 4 commercial airliners. 2 of these hit the World Trade Center towers, 1 hit the Pentagon and 1 was brought down by the passengers in Shanksville, PA. This plane was suspected to be heading for the Capitol building or the White House.

At the time, I never thought anything good would come of the attacks…I was wrong. I remember watching the Chicago Cubs/New York Yankees game when Phyllis Arnold sang the National Anthem. To see the support that was displayed made me realize that things were going to get better. It was going to take a long long time, but it WAS going to get better.

So here we are…10 years later. The US has seen many changes in the last 10 years, but one thing that hasn’t changed is our spirit to continue onward. We have become a stronger and much more united country. People rushed to help out; giving time, money and support to the many families and friends that lost loved ones that day. We have begun our international war against terrorism and freed countries and countless people from the oppressive rule of unjust leaders. We have recently caught Osama Bin Laden, the terrorist behind the attacks of 9/11 and we are once again a worldwide beacon of freedom and hope.

September 11 Memorial Flag

We at Carrot-Top Industries want to help out as much as possible. That is why we are introducing multiple 9/11 commemorative flags, including our exlclusive Carrot-Top Memorial flags. These are available in both standard and customizable options. The customizable flag allows your company, city, family, fire department, police department or rescue squad to show your support and remembrance to all of our fallen heroes, friends and families who have given the sacrifices of time, freedom and lives since that fateful Tuesday morning.

We wanted to do more than just make a Memorial flag. We wanted to put our money where our mission is…so, we are proud to announce that we have teamed up with the Fisher House Foundation. Proceeds from the sales of our 9/11 Memorial Flags will go directly towards this wonderful charity. The Fisher House Foundation donates and builds “comfort homes” for soldiers and their families and they currently have at least one Fisher House at every major military medical center! These homes allow the family of service men and women to stay with their loved ones during times of unexpected illnesses, disease, injury etc. free of charge. Each year, they house approximately 11,000 families and have made available 3 million days of lodging since their start in 1990. If you would like to donate separately, please visit the site here.

Ground Zero Memorial

If you are in New York this September, try and visit the 9/11 Memorial. This memorial sits directly where the twin towers sat before. Designed in 2003, the Memorials will be dedicated to the many men and women lost that day. The main feature of the design are two large waterfalls and reflecting pools. The reflecting pools are surrounded by bronze parapets with the names of the heroes that day inscribed upon them. To learn more about the Memorial, please visit 911Memorial.org. If you are unable to attend the dedication on this upcoming Patriot Day, we ask that you fly your flags at half-staff and give thanks to the men and women who allow us to live in the best country in the world.

If you are looking for a new American, Military, Support Our Troops or September 11th Memorial flags, please visit www.carrot-top.com.

Bonnie Blue Flag & History

The Bonnie Blue Flag

The Bonnie Blue flag was originally created as the flag of the Republic of West Florida. In 1810, settlers in the Spanish territory of West Florida revolted against the Spanish government. At the time, West Florida was made up of 4 states which are now: Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi. They declared West Florida to be an independent republic and raised the Bonnie Blue flag over the Spanish Fort of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. When Mississippi seceded from the Union in 1861, the Bonnie Blue flag was flown over the capital building. Mississippi did eventually create their own flag which included the Bonnie Blue design in the top left section and a magnolia tree in the center and it became the Magnolia flag. The flag was eventually accompanied with a song: The Bonnie Blue song. The flag becamme the unofficial flag of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War and the Bonnie Blue song was a favorite marching song amongst the soldiers. The chorus are:

“Hurrah! Hurrah!For Southern Rights, Hurrah!Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue FlagThat bears a Single Star!”

Bonnie Blue Flag

Design
The Bonnie Blue flag is made up of a single white star on a blue background (similar to but not to be confused with the Somalia flag). The flag inspired many common flags throughout the history of America, including the Burnet flag (first flag of the Republic of Texas), State flag of Texas, the Magnolia flag as well as some military flags.

Bonnie Blue Today
Today the Bonnie Blue is still flown in many parts of Louisiana and Florida. It is featured on Interstate 12 which is commonly known as the Republic of West Florida Parkway. The Bonnie Blue song has been in the recent movies: Gods and Generals as well as Sahara. I hope this helps give you a little better understanding of this rare but sometimes seen flag. If you would like to see some other historical flags, please check out Carrot-Top.com!

St. Patrick’s Pot-O-Information

I will admit it, I have no idea about most of the traditions that are regarded with St. Patrick’s Day. However, since it is fast approaching, I have decided to do a little investigation!

First, lets get some of the basics out of the way…Who is St. Patrick and why is he famous?

-St. Patrick is generally regarded as the most well known patron saint of Ireland. What is a patron saint? I’m glad you asked! A patron saint is any saint that generally guards or defends a certain people, object, illness, nation, or idea. Okay, that makes more sense.

-St. Patrick was born in Scotland in the year 387 AD and (allegedly) died MARCH 17, 493…thus marking March 17th as St. Patrick’s Day. This would make him 105-106 years old!

-His father, Calpornius, was a deacon. His grandfather, Potitus, was a priest.

-Only two writing of St. Patrick have survived until today, “The Declaration”, which gives an account of Patrick’s life and mission, and “Letters to the Soldiers of Coroticus”.

-At the age of 16, Patrick was captured in Britain by Irish “marauders”, or treasure hunters. He was taken to Ireland for 6 years where he was forced into slavehood and became a herdsman…looking over the master’s sheep. It was in slavehood that he began praying daily and according to his writings, was the leading cause for the life he would lead as an apostle. Following a dream he had with a voice telling him he would soon escape, he left and traveled nearly 200 miles to catch a ship where he returned home, then in his early 20′s.

-He eventually returned to Ireland in his mid 40s and became an apostle, teaching the ways of Christianity and converting many of the chiefs to Christianity.

-He continued to preach until his death in 493 and has been allegedly buried in Down Cathedral in Downpatrick, Down County.

St. Patrick’s Day Themese and their Reasons:

-Shamrock: The shamrock became part of St. Patrick’s day because St. Patrick used the 3 leaf clover design to help explain the trinity of Christianity. His followers quickly adopted the practice of wearing these to show their dedication. Most of us think of 4 leaf clovers represent good luck and can outnumber 3 leaf clovers 10,000 to 1! A little fun fact: the guiness book of world records sets the record for most number leaves on a clover at 21.

-Leprechauns: From the information I could find, leprechauns don’thave anything to do with St. Patrick, the man, at all. However, the Irish have many stories of the leprechauns, which are believed to be Irish fairies. They are usually short (around 2′), are usually quite grumpy, and are shoemakers. Each leprechaun allegedly has a pot of gold that is hidden, but if you are to find a leprechaun, you can force them to tell you but DON’T take your eyes off of them at any point because they are sure to vanish.

-Wearing green: St. Patrick’s favorite color was blue, not in fact green. Actually, the Irish weren’t fond of green until the 19th century. Many Irish considered green to be the color of leprechauns and wearing green showed association with leprechauns. Green wasn’t associated with the holiday until the 19th century, and has become St. Patrick’s color because Ireland as a nation is lavished with green…grass, trees, leprechauns , etc. Pinching people without green was created but young Irish children and the tradition continues today!

 

St. Patrick Day Events In America!

-Chicago, IL holds one of the coolest St. Patrick Day Celebrations in the US by dying the Chicago River green immediately before their St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The “dyers” of the river pour in a seemingly orange dye into the river which immediately turns green thanks to the help of leprechauns. Using 40-50 lbs. of food coloring, the river stays green for just a few hours. Two parades take place in Chicago which combined draw in about 600,000+ people.

-New York City, NY has the largest parade in the US, which is expected to have 2 million+ attendees this year! In New York, this parade has been taking place every year since 1762! It is much different than most parades in the fact that there are no floats, cars, or corporate sponsors; just marching, bagpipes, and the largest St. Patrick Day celebration in the country!

-Boston, MA-With a population that is nearly 16% of Irish background - no wonder it is the oldest celebrated St. Patrick’s Day Parade in America…which it started in 1737. Boston brings in more than 500,000 parade goers and has more Irish pubs than any other city in America.

-White House-Starting in 2009, Michelle Obama made the decision to dye the north and south lawn fountains green. It marked the first time that it had ever been done before, but it should not be a surprise. Michelle and Barack are from…Chicago!

We here at Carrot-Top.com asks everyone to have a safe, exciting, and pinch-free day St. Patrick’s Day!

My Pearl Harbor Trip and a Tour of the USS Arizona

This January, I got the chance to take the vacation I always wanted to go on…to Hawaii. Despite a solid week of tourist-packed trips, events, and food; one thing I had to see  before I left was Pearl Harbor. If you ever get the chance, please take it. I had no idea what to expect.

I have read about Pearl Harbor and seen the movies but you don’t really understand the sacrifices made on December 7th, 1941 until you are there, staring out into the Harbor with memorials scattered across the water. My gallery of pictures:

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

*Numbers inside of brackets refer to the order of the gallery

This first shot (1) in my gallery below is looking out the harbor to the USS Arizona and the white bouys in the water are where other ships were sunk. All of these ships held thousands of men and were not small by any means. This kinda gives you a small understanding about the size of the loss that morning. There is also a submarine (2) in the harbor which was the USS Bowfin which was a submarine launched on December 7th, 1942 and eventually set up as a memorial to show the layouts and history of the US submarines.

When you arrive, there are many things to see while you wait to go out for the USS Arizona tour, which is by far the most popular attraction. Throughout the walking area are many markers (can see in the bottom of #2 picture) giving thanks and remembrance to ships, submarines and lives that have been lost in wars throughout America’s history. There is a submarine museum, gift shop, many photo locations, places to eat, etc. It is well organized and the premises were spotless.  They definitely take pride in the location.

There are many different parts of the ships and subs at the harbor that offer an understanding of how things were located on the ships at the time of attacks. The Conning Tower (3) internals show how tight the inside of the Conning Tower (5) actually was. The conning tower of a submarine is where the steering was done as well as where the missiles were launched from. (4) is a picture of the Polaris A-3 Submarine launched ballistic missile. This missile had a range of 2,880 miles! It was launched by a gas launch system and when it reached the surface, the rocket motor ignited and became airborn.

(8) is a picture of yours truly looking out through a replica periscope that was used on the subs of the time. The distance of the periscope could be adjusted via controls on the side. From the view I was looking out, I could see the Arizona over the Conning Tower in picture (5).

(9) “Kaiten” torpedoes were Japanese suicide torpedoes. The Japanese modified these from their pre-existing torpedoes to allow them to be controlled by the “pilot”. The first ones made allowed the pilot to escape but the ones afterwards trapped the pilot inside. Only two ships were sunk by these torpedoes though due to extremely difficult steering and a near impossibility to see.

(10)40 mm quad turret which armed almost all major battleships for US. These turrets were mainly anti-aircraft and could fire a 2 lb. shell 33,000 feet at 120 rounds/min! These turrets were controlled by two men, one on each side. I couldn’t imagine how scary it would be to fight from these being extremely open to fire from the enemy.

As youcan see, there are quite a few things to read about and look around at before you go out to the Arizona Memorial which is the main attraction. I tried viewing everything but it would literally take you a full day to take all of it in.

Reading about all of the history of the war and ships really helps you understand how the attack took place and helped me understand more about the Arizona before going out on our USS Arizona tour.

The Arizona tour starts with a 15-20 minute movie showing the ship and harbor before the attack and setting the stage of the War and why the attack took place. I learned more through the movie than anything else. It really gives you a lot of the lost details of the war, both on the American side as well as the Japanese side.

When entering the theater, everyone received a card with a soldier on it who died on the ship that morning. The cards told us about that person’s hobbies, family, lifestyle, hometown, etc. It did a great job of making you understand that 1000′s of people just like you and I died that day.

See, before going to the harbor, I thought of that day as a group of people died. After coming back from the harbor, you realize that 1000′s of individual people died. People who had families, people who had hobbies, people who wrote home to their family, people who loved our country, people just like me and you…died that day.

Following the movie, you set out on a small ferry to the Arizona memorial. Above the memorial is an Amerian flag…(11)

I took 10 pictures of the memorial going out on the ferry. It was just a breathtaking sight and the picture by no means does it justice. Before I tell you more about the memorial, please check out picture (24) to understand the layout of the memorial over the actual wreckage. The parts of the ship in brown are the parts still visible today.

One thing about December 7, 1941 that I didn’t know before the trip was that on that morning, most of the soldiers on the ships were either inside cleaning up or washing the deck. Also, the reason for the sinking was because of a Japanese vertical bomber (which means a plane dropped a bomb that traveled straight down) which dropped a bomb which landed in the front magazines. The bomb caused much of the ammunition (over 1,000,000 lbs.) to errupt, instantly killing the ship and its men alike. Over half of all of the fatalities that day came from the USS Arizona.

1,177 people died on the ship. Only 105 people were able to be removed from the wreckage following the sinking.

Up to that point in time, the single bomb killed more people at one time than any other single event in the history of the world…

 

(12) This picture shows oil which is still coming up from the ship today. I had read that oil was still rising before I got there but I was shocked to see exactly how much oil was in the water. In some places, it is estimated that in 2009 there were still 500,000 gallons of oil remaining in the hull. The water surrounding the memorial had traces of oil…very creepy though to think that the ship is still “alive” in a sense. Many of the survivors say that the oil will continue to rise until all survivors have passed away.

(13) The most visible remnant of the ship is the front gun turret. These heavy turrets could pierce any ships armor but do to the quick movement of the airplanes, became nearly obsolete that morning.

(14)(15)Both of these pictures show what is remaining of the flag pole that flew over the Arizona. I am unsure of how high this climbed, but I can imagine by the size of the pole that it must have been extremely tall.

(16)Shows the names of many of the men and women who lost their lives on December 7, 1941. 1,177 people passed away that one day on the USS Arizona alone.

(17)A list of men and women who survived the attacks but have since passed away. These men returned to have their ashes buried with the Arizona to be buried with their fellow soldiers.

(18)”Mooring bitts”. When docked, these posts held the ropes that kept them in port.

(19)A concrete landing that was built after the ship sunk.

(20)Plaque announcing official memorial. This memorial was built in 1958.

(21)Flags on the memorial.

(22)Inside of memorial. This shot is taken as you first step in the memorial. Looking at the picture, the turret and flag pole is on the right side, through the slit in the back is the list of names, and on the left is the mooring bitts and landing.

(23)The white buoy shows the end of the tail of the ship. Overall, it was over 600 ft. long. What you see in the water is the remnants of the 2nd gun turret.

(24)Layout of memorial over ship. The areas in brown are the areas that are still visible today.

(25)Plaque giving thanks for contributions to the memorial.

Overall, you will spend around 15-20 minutes on the memorial and it is quite the sight to see. Since going to the Harbor, I have to say that I give more thanks for our current soldiers both overseas and in the states as well. I am extremely grateful for the chance to see all of the history and I highly recommend trying to take the trip if possible. You can make a whole day out of the trip if you have the time…there is just so much to take in. Thank you for taking the time to read the blog and please comment with anything that will add to the blog!

If you are looking for an American, Military or Support Our Troops flags, please visit our site at Carrot-Top.com. With over 30 years experience in the flag industry, we have committed ourselves to giving our customers what they want! Thank you for reading.

A Wee Bit O’ Irish History

I am proud of my Irish Heritage as I know many other American’s are and not just on March 17th. I often wondered why there are so many Irish people in America; it is one of the few heritages that has it’s own holiday celebrated in the United States. My Great Aunt often tells stories about the way things used to be for the Irish in America. The Good Ole Days were hardly good, but her stories are always interesting and often comical. But why did the Irish settle in America?

My great, great grandfather left Ireland in the 1840’s due to the potato famine, this was a time when many Irish people migrated to America. The potato famine killed over 1 million people in Ireland over 6 years, forcing another million to leave the country to search for food. Many of those people came to America. So many Irish people settled here, that by the 1850’s they made up one quarter of the American population. Irish people mainly settled in large cities such as Boston and New York City. They were poor people who had just left a starving country and would do anything to better their lives here in America. They worked as cheap labor and physically built our nation with their bare hands. There was no job they wouldn’t take, no matter how difficult and they often died on job sites. They built our buildings, rail roads, mines and canals. They would work as hard as they could to make enough money to buy a piece of land to farm and settle down. (My family settled in Western New York after helping build the Erie Canal.) Where once the Irish were discriminated against for being poor and having large families, over the years their hard work ethic built them respect. They fought as a group during the civil war. They became members of police forces and fire departments, they still make up a large majority of these departments in both Boston and New York City. They also became political figures, religious figures, teachers, artists and actors. They became icons of America and their culture is still very present in America to this day.  Today an estimated 11.9% of Americans have an Irish ancestry.

There are different flags still flown prevalently in America that represent the Irish Culture. The Erin Go Bragh flag is almost as popular as the Irish flag itself, flown mostly by Irish-Americans. Erin Go Bragh translates to “Ireland Forever” and is a phrase used to express allegiance to Ireland. The other of course is the flag of the Country of Ireland, also known as the Irish Tricolor, which features 3 vertical stripes. Adopted in 1919 it features a green stripe which is believed to represent the Irish nationalist tradition, an orange stripe which represents the tradition in Ireland and the white middle stripe which represents the peace between them.

Most major cities hold St. Patrick’s Day parades and celebrations. Find a celebration near you!

The flag of Australia, good as!

Last year, one of my closest friends moved across the world to study abroad in Brisbane, Australia. Throughout the year it has been fascinating to learn about Australian culture from his perspective, in particular regarding the phrases he has picked up since moving there. For example, in order to express that something is very good he will say “good as” and then nothing. At first my reaction was always “Good as what?” But that’s it, just “good as”, an unfinished simile. In one month he will be returning home for two months and to commemorate his return to the States I would like to explore the history and design of the Australian flag.

Blue and Red Ensign Flags of Australia

The Australia flag’s first appearance was on January 1, 1901, selected from among over 30,000 other designs submitted in a public competition. The design was a combination of five very similar entries and was named the “Commonwealth Blue Ensign”. In 1903 King Edward VII approved this flag as well as a Red Ensign flag for Australian use. The blue was intended for strictly official and naval use whereas the red was intended for merchant fleet use. Naturally, this caused a great deal of confusion to the public who began using the two flags interchangeably. It was not until the Flag Act 1953 that the Commonwealth Blue Ensign flag was officially adopted as the emblem of Australia. In 1998 an amendment was passed on the Flag Act 1953 so that the Australia flag can only be altered by agreement of the Australian people.

The design of the Commonwealth Blue Ensign contains three elements on a blue background: the Union Jack, the Commonwealth Star and the Southern Cross. The Union Jack is a representation of Britain’s settlement of Australia in January 1788. It is located in the upper left hand corner. Directly beneath it is the Commonwealth Star which has seven points, six points to represent the six states and a seventh point to show the unity of the six states. On the fly of the flag is the Southern Cross, a constellation only visible from the Southern hemisphere to denote Australia’s geography. The Commonwealth Blue Ensign flag is first and foremost a sign of cultural identity and pride, demonstrating Australia’s commitment to their heritage and tribute to unity.

http://www.anbg.gov.au/oz/flag.html
http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/symbols/flag.cfm
http://www.culture.gov.au/articles/australianhistory/

Katie Kruck
Carrot-Top Industries Employee / Accounts Receivable

The Pennsylvania State Flag

Pennsylvania State Flag

The pride or symbol of each state is shown on its flag, and to understand its importance you need to understand its history. Growing up in Pennsylvania I learned that the federal government was seated in Philadelphia for almost 25 years. The Declaration of Independence was signed there as well as the writing of the Constitution. Famous battles took place in Pennsylvania at Valley Forge and Gettysburg. It was amazing having such a great history in my backyard, but these historic events may not have even taken place if it were not for William Penn and his free thinking.

It all started in 1681 when King Charles II of England granted land in the United States to William Penn for repayment of the debt that was owed to his father. Penn founded Sylvania, or Woodland, a colony for religious freedom for Quakers. Today that area is known as the state of Pennsylvania, meaning Penn’s Woods.

William Penn’s view and ideas had a great impact on the state. So great, that the Pennsylvania flag actually bears his family coat of arms. In 1777, the Penn coat of arms first officially appeared on paper money the state issued. Before being standardized in 1907 and during the civil war, many regiments from the state used the same coat of arms as a substitution for the field of stars on the United States flag.

Today the Pennsylvania State Flag is the coat of arms centered on the blue field, which is the same blue used in our United States flag. At the center of the coat of arms is a shield containing a ship, a plough, and three sheaves of wheat. The ship represents commerce, the plough represents Pennsylvania’s natural resources, and the wheat represents fertility. On top of the shield is an American bald eagle and on either side is a horse. Symbols of peace and prosperity are found at the bottom in the forms of an olive branch and cornstalk. Last but definitely not least is the state motto, “Virtue Liberty and Independence” placed inside the ribbon running along the bottom. The strong views and ideas of one man given the opportunity to lead created a state, or Commonwealth, that works together for the good of its entire people. Have some pride in your state and fly your flag today.

Tabetha – Customer Service Agent at Carrot-Top Industries

Honor Our Veterans on November 11th

North Carolina Veteran's Monument

Veteran’s Day is coming up on November 11th, and last year I wrote about Veterans Memorials around the country but this year, I’m going to talk about a great one located only a short drive from Carrot-Top Industries in downtown Raleigh.

Downtown amongst our History Museum and Civil War memorabilia lies a monument that honors Korean War, WWI and WWII heroes. The base of this memorial features scenes and lists major battles from each of the wars, and atop a tall granite shaft stands Lady Liberty herself with to symbolize peace and victory. Each branch of the Armed Forces flags fly proudly symbolizing all Troops that made sacrifices.

Bronze Plaque Details

The bronze plaques that adorn the side of the monument are extremely detailed and ornate, and show different scenes of the various conflicts and the hardships our Military members went through.

These plaques have actually started to age with the elements and have turned the classic green color. However their detail has remained the same as far as the 3D look and movement they portray.

Throughout the monument area are bronze statues in forms designed to replicate the struggles of our soldiers. Each of the statues stands at a lifelike size and works to capture the true emotion of the conflict itself. You see the details of the uniforms, the weaponry of that era as well as the heroic deeds done as one of the main statues is of 3 men, two of which are carrying a wounded soldier.

Bronze Statues at the Memorial

It’s actually quite a beautiful outdoor memorial dedicated to our soldiers. I’ve lived here 7 years but just recently ran into it when heading downtown to learn about the Civil War. If you ever visit Raleigh, be sure to go take a look for yourself because no photo can show the true beauty of the memorial.

This Veterans Day be sure to fly your American flag proudly, and if you see  a Veteran or know someone who is, give them a call and say “Thank You“. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t have the privilege to even share these stories online with one another.

Check out some great history behind many more Veteran’s Memorials on our 2009 Veteran’s Day blog here. Be sure to see some of the great Veteran Day specials taking place for November 11th as well as the whole year!

A few great Veteran’s Day Salutes from Restaurants around your local areas

Applebee’s Active Military and Veterans Eat Free Day!
Applebee’s is providing a free entree for all active military and veterans on Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2010. Military must show military ID or wear their uniform to get this deal. Find the Applebee’s location nearest you here.

Golden Corral Military Appreciation Monday
November 15, 2010 will mark the 10th anniversary of Golden Corral’s Military Appreciation Monday dinner and perfect in time for helping us honor our Veterans and Military members! Enjoy a free meal on Golden Corral as a special “thank you” for your service. Includes active, retired, Veterans and more. Find the nearest Golden Corral to you here.

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants Veteran’s Day free lunch or dinner
On Sunday, November 7th, McCormick and Schmicks seafood restaurants will have a special choice of entrees for our proud Military to eat for free! Find a location near you here.

Outback Steakhouse – Free Bloomin’ Onion for our Troops!
On Veterans Day 2010, Outback Steakhouse will be honoring our Troops by offering our Military soldiers and retired Veterans a free bloomin’ onion and beverage to say Thanks!! Step into the nearest Outback location to you here.

Some fun activities to do that won’t break the wallet!

Enjoy a day at the park
Get in FREE to over 100 different National Parks! On November 11th, all Veterans will get free admission to our National Parks and enjoy some of the most beautiful parts of the great country they helped protect. Learn more and find a park close to you here.

Anheuser-Busch Parks – Get your fun on!
Active Duty Service Members can get FREE admission for them and up to 3 family members to any of their popular parks once a year. This includes SeaWorld, Busch Garden as well as Sesame Place and is called the Here’s to the Heroes program. This program is only available to Any active duty, activated or drilling reservist, or National Guardsman but still helps say thank you to our future Veterans and of course of brave heroes. Learn more about the Anheuser-Busch park special here.

Photos: Mikey Dee

From Russia, With Love…

I will be honest. The subject of Russia does not really come up in my daily conversations often. So when I heard that the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, had commissioned and donated a monument in honor of those who died in the September 11th attacks I was impressed! Then I found out the kicker: this was all done in 2006! 2006!! I was absolutely shocked that I had not heard about this. The monument is absolutely huge, it is in NYC in sight of the Statue of Liberty, it was designed and created by one of the most prominent living Russian sculptures and where was the press during all of this?

Standing at 100 ft tall, the monument weighs a total of 175 tons. It had to be shipped from Russia in six sections, each weighing 28-63 tons each! I cannot imagine what the shipping must have cost. The sculptor, Zurab Tesereteii spent months here in the U.S. having it assembled until it was unveiled on September 11, 2006 as a “gift from the people of Russia.” It is constructed of steel frame with copper on top and the pictures of the monument in the sunset are really beautiful—the copper reflects the light very well. There is a huge tear right down the middle, and inside this tear is an enormous nickel-plated teardrop. This puppy alone is 40 ft tall and 4 tons! Amazing. One of the most touching parts of the monument is the base. It is similar to the Vietnam Memorial Wall, where it has the names of 3000+ victims of the 9/11 attacks and the ’93 World Trade Center bombing, and these are etched in granite.

People say that Mr. Tesereteii came up with the idea when he was walking the streets of Moscow and experiencing the grief people were feeling over the 9/11 attacks. A teardrop formed in his mind and the monument grew from this little spark. Mr. Tesereteii also created the sculpture outside of the U.N. in NY called “Good Defeats Evil”—this sculpture is made entirely of junk American and Soviet missiles. So again I ask, where were the newspapers? How come this isn’t as well known? It is such a powerful and touching memorial! Russia, I will do America the honor and say “Thank you! Thank you for such a touching gift in the face of such a terrible tragedy.” It is so awesome to know that even at the worst of times the global community can really pull together, and we are all not so different. And I, I will do my best to think of Russia more often!

Elizabeth

September 11th, A Day Of Remembrance

Firemen at Ground Zero

On October 25th 2001, George W. Bush signed into law a proposition unanimously passed by congress that would make September 11th a national holiday. This holiday, called “Patriot Day”, is a day of remembrance for the victims of the horrible terrorist attacks which took place on September 11th, 2001. On this day we show defiance and global unity against terrorism around the world.

Patriot Day is a day to remember the victims of the September 11th tragedy.  Not a a single American was left untouched by the tragedy in some way, nearly 10 years later our country and the world is still effected by it. Some positive things were brought about after 9-11. Tighter security measures have been put into place to protect us everyday. American’s had a different outlook on the value of lives, family, friends, neighbors, volunteers and fellow citizens.

American Flag at Half Staff

On September 11th we should all display our American flags and fly them at half staff to honor and remember the 2993 people that lost their lives in the terrorist attacks that occurred on that day. This is also a day to remember the heroes that risk and lost their lives in order to save others. They are the true Americans that put their life on the line for someone else. Carrot-Top Industries honors heroes everyday, submit yours to our Virtual Wall of Honor. We also offer a variety of products to memorialize our heroes, products like civil service flags, grave markers, cemetery marking flags, September 11th flags and of course American flags. We would like to see your flag at half staff or any products you used to commemorate Patriot Day. Submit your photos to: wall@carrot-top.com

Remember that on September 11th the President requests that we observe a one minute of silence at 8:46am, the exact time that the first hijacked plane crashed into the World Trade Center. Other countries, our allies against terrorism around the world are also welcome to join with us on this day and fly their flags at half staff.

The flag of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Flag

The flag of Puerto Rico is one of 5 U.S. territory flags. The first Flag of Puerto Rico originated in 1892, but was not flown until March of 1897 during the Puerto Rican Independence movement. The revolt was against the rules that the Spanish had set in place for Puerto Rico. It was called the attempted coup of Yauco, where the Puerto Ricans attacked the barracks of the Spanish Civil Guard. In 1898 Puerto Rico was able to claim it’s independence from Spanish Rule when it joined the United States.

The original Puerto Rican flag had with 3 red stripes and 2 white stripes. The triangle had a light blue tone to it and a 5 point star in white.  The red stripes represented the blood from the warriors during the revolt. The white stripe represented victory and peace. The white star represented the Island of Puerto Rico. The blue triangle represented the sky and the coastal waters.

Puerto Rico on Independence Day

The only flags that were allowed to fly in Puerto Rico were the Spanish flag from 1492 until 1898 and the United States flag from 1898 to 1952. On June 10th 1948, a bill was signed to make displaying the Puerto Rican flag illegal. To display the Puerto Rican flag in public was considered a felony. The bill was known as La Ley de la Mordaza (The Gag law). The only flag that could be flown on the island was the United States flag.

In 1952, the Governor of Puerto Rico adopted the Puerto Rican flag and proclaimed it as the official flag. The triangle was changed to a dark blue. A variation of the Cuban flag, it represents the people of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The flag of Puerto Rico symbolizes Protest, Defiance and Pride among the people of this Island. Puerto Ricans are very proud of their flag, this design is currently used today.

Joseph M Acaba was the first astronaut of Puerto Rican descent to carry several flags into outer space as a symbol of his heritage aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on March 15 2009.

Honoring Edward Joseph Abbott

Recently we received a great submission for our Virtual Wall of Honor that we thought we’d share with everyone her on the blog. We’re always proud to pay tribute to our Military friends and family members and no better way to do than to share their story with the world. This is a great read because it explains the sacrifice one of our proud Veterans made to serve this great country and give up a life that could have been to be a truly brave soldier.

From Shannon Abbott-Henige…

Your request for military stories gave me a bitter sweet feeling when first reading it. I am the proud daughter of a WWII veteran of the United States Army. The bitter part is that my father passed away 2 ½ years ago after losing his battle with primary liver cancer. I’d like to share his story because my father is one of those classic examples as to why we call them the “Greatest Generation.” Some years back, I read Tom Brokaw’s book titled this and my father’s story would have fit in well with the others honored in the memoir.

Edward Abbott

Edward Joseph Abbott (1918-2007) was the second born into a family of 10 children. After the years of stories that were told, I’ve come to the conclusion that he was one of the leaders of the neighborhood mayhem that occurred on a regular basis as he grew up in Saginaw, Michigan. He was the oldest of the boys which were all blessed to be athletic. This gave them the ability to outrun their victims on a regular basis, whether it was a neighbor they had stolen apples from or other kids who had fallen victim to a prank. Their athleticism led to 3 of them playing baseball on a team together in Freeland, MI in the Tri-Valley League. My dad was the pitcher and was good enough to begin playing AAA ball in Findlay, OH in the late 1930’s. Headlines in the Republican Courier during the 1939-1941 seasons included “Abbott Chalks No. 5” or “Abbott’s Hurling.”

Edward Abbott

After gaining experience at this level of play my dad had become a phenomenal pitcher and was about to be moved to the majors. He would have been playing for the Detroit Tigers if God hadn’t had another plan for him. In May of 1941 my dad was drafted into the United States Army to serve his country during WWII. Just as most people remember where they were during important historical events, my dad would always tell the story of being on KP duty when Pearl Harbor was bombed. This event led to his being overseas for 3 full years of his 4+ years of service. When he was honorably discharged in August of 1945 he returned home to his family who had grown by 3 more siblings who he’d never met. Those siblings, who he once knew well, did not remember him. It was rare to see my dad emotional when telling any war stories but when recalling the moments of returning home, one thing always choked him up; the memory of his mother standing at the kitchen sink peeling potatoes for potato pancakes and her screams of elation when he threw that knapsack onto the middle of the kitchen floor to get her attention. He had returned home safely and could now get back to his life, so you would think. Now 28 years old and over 4 years away from the game my father’s pitching career in major league baseball was no more. And that was that. I think the older I get the more it bothers me to think about the “what ifs” and the sacrifice that he had been forced to make. But that is the amazing thing about my dad. He was so proud to have served his country along side of the other greats of his generation. He never once complained about his lost opportunity to be another famous player of his time.

We buried my father in December of 2007 with full military honors. Sitting in a safe in our home is one flag and 21 shells passed down to me from my mother.

The Betsy Ross Flag and It’s Place in History.

Artists depiction of Betsy Ross Sewing the First American Flag

At a very young age Betsy Ross, along with her husband John opened their first upholstery business in Philadelphia. Times were tough on the Rosses with the start of the American Revolutionary war, their sewing supplies grew scarce. John Ross, Betsy’s husband was killed in 1776 after joining the Pennsylvania militia. Following his death Betsy joined a group supporting the war effort.

In May of the same year George Washington approached Betsy Ross asking her to sew the first American Flag. They knew each other previously, as they attended the same church. It has even been said that Betsy Ross embroidered some of Washington’s shirts. George Washington had a rough design of how he wanted the first American Flag to look. The stars on his design had 6 points because he felt it would be easier to reproduce. Betsy impressed him by taking a piece of fabric, folding it several times and making a SINGLE cut, producing a perfectly symmetrical 5 point star. She was obviously the woman for the job.

Artists depiction of George Washington at The Ross Home

From then on Betsy’s upholstery business did extremely well, she produced many American flags for the United States. To honor her contributions George Washington named that first flag of the United States the Betsy Ross. Even in her time Betsy Ross was an role model for women every where. She died in 1836 at the age of 84, her daughters continued to run her upholstery business.

The American flag has changed many times throughout the history of the United States. A new star is added every time a state joins the Union. The last time the flag was changed was on July 4th, 1960 when Hawaii was added and an American State. This year marked the 50th Anniversary of our current 50 star flag design.

Learn more about other Historical flags.

Betsy Ross’s Instructions for Making a 5 Point Star

Betsy Ross's Star Instructions

Step 1: Start with a 8.5”x10” piece of fabric or paper. (Cut 1” off a 8.5″x11″ piece of paper)

Step 2: Fold the 8.5”x10” piece of in half

Step 3: Fold and unfold in half both ways to form creased center lines.

Step 4. Bring the left corner to the right side to meet the center line.
Be sure to fold from the vertical crease line.

Step 5: Bring that point back to the left till edges coincide, then make the fold.

Step 6: Bring remaining right corner to the left and fold.

Step 7: Then bring remaining left point to the right until edges coincide and fold.

Step 8: Cut on a angle (as shown).  The more of an angle you cut the sharper the points of the star will be.

Step 9: Unfold the small piece to find your perfect star.