UNITED STATES SYMBOLS The rose became the national

UNITED STATES SYMBOLS

• The rose became the national flower in 1986. • Roses have been around about 35 million years. • Roses grow naturally throughout North America. • Roses can be red, pink, white, or yellow. • Roses can have a rich aroma.

• The Bald Eagle is our National Bird. It was chosen as a symbol on June 20, 1782. • Bald Eagles are only found in North America. • The image of the bald eagle can be found in many places such as the Great Seal, the President’s flag, and on the $1 bill. • The Eagle is a symbol of strength and power.

• The Liberty Bell hangs in Philadelphia at the Liberty Bell Pavilion. • The Liberty Bell weighs about 2000 pounds. It is made of copper and tin. • The Liberty Bell is the symbol of freedom in the United States. • The Liberty Bell was ordered in 1751. It cracked shortly after arriving in Philadelphia. • A second bell was recast using metal from the first bell but it didn’t work. A third bell was cast. • The Liberty Bell rang when the Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence.

• On July 4, 1776, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson were given the task of creating a seal for the United States of America. • They believed an emblem and national coat of arms would be evidence of an independent nation and a free people with high aspirations and grand hopes for the future. • The Eagle is holding an olive branch in his left talons. There is a bunch of 13 arrows in his right talons. The branch and arrows are symbols for the power or peace and war. • The Great Seal is displayed in the Exhibit Hall of the Department of State, in Washington, D. C. • The Great Seal is only attached (affixed) to certain documents, such as foreign treaties and presidential proclamations. • It can be seen on the $1 bill.

Uncle Sam • • In 1813, a New York newspaper reported that an owner of a meatprocessing plant, Sam Wilson, began stamping meat packages sold to the Army with the letters U. S. Some people thought the U. S. stood for United States. Some people thought the U. S. stood for Uncle Sam which is what workers at his plant called him. The nickname began to represent anything belonging to the United States government as “Uncle Sam’s”. In 1961, Congress adopted Uncle Sam as a national symbol.

The Statue of Liberty • • • The statue was given to the U. S. from France to celebrate their friendship during the American Revolution. It is located on Liberty Island in New York City. It was dedicated by President Cleveland on October 28, 1886 and was made a national monument in 1924. The Statue of Liberty was the first thing most people saw as they approached America by ship. Her torch stands for liberty. Her tablet has July 4, 1776 written on it which was the date the U. S. declared its independence from Britian. The rays on her spiked crown stand for the 7 seas and continents. The Statue of Liberty stands 152 feet high and 305 feet high from the base to the top.

The Flag • The colors of the flag are red, blue, and white. • There are 50 stars which stand for the 50 states in our country. • There are 13 stripes which stand for the origianl 13 colonies. • The flag is a symbol of freedom.

The Pledge of Allegiance • The original Pledge was written by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, in August 1892. • Children first recited the Pledge on October 12, 1892. • The Pledge of Allegiance was officially recognized by Congress in 1942. • The Pledge to the U. S. Flag symbolizes our loyalty to America.

The Pledge of Allegiance I pledge allegiance to the flag Of the United States of America And to the Republic for which it stands: One Nation under God, indivisible, With liberty and justice for all.

The Star Spangled Banner • The national anthem was written on September 13, 1814, by Francis Scott Key. • It is about the brave defense of Fort Mc. Henry in Maryland against British attack. • Congress adopted “The Star-Spangled Banner” officially as the American National Anthem in 1931.