PATRIOTIC SERVICE

Purpose

Our Patriotic Service programs focus on promoting respect for the people, places and events that led to the formation of our country and inspiring the patriotism of our fellow citizens through educational scholarships, a variety of citizenship and flag programs, and support for our military service men and women throughout the state of Alabama.

FLAG & CITIZENSHIP PROGRAMS

Flag Programs – There are several flag educational programs in which Alabama has participated including: The Parade of Flags, Liberty’s Five Flags from the National Flag Foundation, and Flag Day celebrations. 

Veterans Day Celebration and the Parade of Flags – Fourth graders from Mobile and Baldwin Counties open the Veterans Day Celebration ceremony with the Parade of Flags held in the Medal of Honor Aircraft Pavilion at Battleship Park in Mobile.

Liberty’s Five Flags – The National Flag Foundation created this Bicentennial salute to the Founding Fathers in 1976. They have recreated the flags that were carried in the Grand Federal Procession on July 4, 1788 in Philadelphia which celebrated the anniversary of Independence Day as well as the adoption and ratification of the new Constitution of the United States.

Flag Day – June 14th    

Flag Day

Flag Day is celebrated each year on June 14th. The Fourth of July was traditionally celebrated as America’s birthday, but the idea of an annual day specifically celebrating the Flag is believed to have first originated in 1885. BJ Cigrand, a schoolteacher, arranged for the pupils in the Fredonia, Wisconsin Public School, District 6, to observe June 14 (the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes) as “Flag Birthday.”

On June 14, 1889, George Balch, a kindergarten teacher in New York City, planned ceremonies for his school children, and his idea was later adopted by the State Board of Education of New York.

On June 14, 1891, the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia held a Flag Day celebration, and on June 14 of the following year, the New York Society of the Sons of the Revolution celebrated Flag Day. Following the suggestion of Colonel J. Granville Leach (then historian of the Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of the Revolution), the Pennsylvania Society of The Colonial Dames of America on April 25, 1893 adopted a resolution requesting the mayor of Philadelphia and all private citizens to display the Flag on June 14th. Two weeks later on May 8th, the Board of Managers of the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution unanimously endorsed the action of the Pennsylvania Society of The Colonial Dames of America. As a result, Dr. Edward Brooks, then Superintendent of Public Schools of Philadelphia, directed that Flag Day exercises be held on June 14, 1893 in Independence Square. School children were assembled, each carrying a small Flag, and patriotic songs were sung and addresses delivered.

In 1894, the governor of New York directed that on June 14 the Flag be displayed on all public buildings. Inspired by these three decades of state and local celebrations, Flag Day, the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777, was officially established by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30th, 1916. While Flag Day was celebrated in various communities for years after Wilson’s proclamation, it was not until August 3rd, 1949, that President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day.

We encourage all Americans to fly their flags on Flag Day. Our goal is for all of our museum properties to develop patriotic assemblies and other educational events each year on Flag Day to pay tribute to Americans who sacrificed to keep our country a land of freedom and opportunity.

Find out more about Flag Day at the official website.

Flag Etiquette

The Veterans of Foreign Wars instructs us on how to fly the United States flag alone and with other flags in a myriad of situations.

Our Flag: How to Honor & Display It

Citizenship Programs

Naturalization Ceremonies welcome newly naturalized citizens with a gift of a flag lapel pin. This is an activity carried out through the Federal District Courts. The Montgomery Dames attend all of the Naturalization ceremonies at the Federal Courthouse in Montgomery. The Dames are recognized by the Judge during the service and an American Flag pin is presented to each new citizen. It is always a very moving opportunity for the Dames to show their support and patriotism.

From National Site: 

In the early history of The NSCDA, citizenship projects emphasized preparing educational materials to help immigrants undertake the naturalization process. Participation in naturalization ceremonies has been widespread in our Societies. This participation has involved such activities as the presentation of gifts, such as small U.S. flags to new citizens, and the hosting of welcoming receptions following the ceremonies. More recently Dames have recognized the need to improve the teaching of Civics and the ideals of our heritage in the school system. More projects are being developed to promote such lessons in our schools.

National site- Citizenship link

SERVICE TO THE MILITARY 

In Mobile, restoration continues on Memorial Park, a WWI memorial to Mobile’s Fallen Soldiers in the Great War. 

Cast of soldier being prepared for Memorial Park. 

The following is a list of projects the NSCDA has spearheaded in local areas: 

  • donating fresh flower arrangements to national veteran cemeteries for buildings where services are held; 
  • sending care packages to soldiers deployed out of the country; 
  • taking books and care items to the VA hospital;
  • delivering notes of support and thanks to veterans in area VA hospitals on Veterans Day; notes are also written to active military personnel at Maxwell Airforce Base in Montgomery;
  • sponsoring a program where elementary school students make and delivered Valentines to a veteran’s hospital; 
  • participating in  Memorial Day services by making and presenting a wreath; 
  • supporting programs like Pets For Vets, Wounded Warriors, or the USO