Sea to Shining Sea

One of the most unusual American flags was that of explorer and first Republican Party candidate for President, John C. Fremont.   Fremont led several expeditions into the American West, some into areas claimed by Mexico. His wife Jessie created a unique banner for his exploration.  The Stars and Stripes design is clearly represented, with […]

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How Potatoes Saved the Ship

When the chips are down, a man will fight with whatever he has to hand. More than once, what he had was a potato. Everyone knows about the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Not every ship was armed, and not every man on an armed ship had weapon ready. Hansen was an engineer on the

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Password: “Victory or Death”

The battle was on Christmas Day of 1776. The place was Trenton, on the Delaware River of New Jersey. It was the scene of “Washington crossing the Delaware.”America had declared its independence not quite six months before, but the year’s battles had been one disaster after another. Philadelphia was in panic. The Continental Congress had

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The Grand Old Union

Americans love their Stars and Stripes, and fly it proudly.  But many do not know that it was not the one flying when the 13 Colonies declared Independence on July 4th, 1776. The first flag that the early United States used as its “national flag” is known by several names, like Continental Colors and Grand

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Battling the Barbary Pirates

North African pirates were menacing folks at least as far back as the Crusades. We have tales of them sailing as far north as Iceland, not only capturing merchant ships but plundering ports and taking captives for the slave trade.It was the habit of European nations to pay tribute to the scoundrels, rather than fight

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