Uncle Sam and You Part 2 by Ray and Charlene Notgrass with Mary Evelyn McCurdy and Bethany Poore

Transcription

1 Sample Pages from Uncle Sam and You Part 2 by Ray and Charlene Notgrass with Mary Evelyn McCurdy and Bethany Poore Copyright 2012 Notgrass Company. All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced without permission from the publisher. All product names, brands, and other trademarks mentioned or pictured in this book are used for educational purposes only. No association with or endorsement by the owners of the trademarks is intended. Each trademark remains the property of its respective owner. Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1971, 1972, 1973,1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Image Credits Numbers indicate the page numbers of images. The meanings of the letters t, m, b, l, and r are as follows: t top of page;m middle; b bottom; l left; r right. Images marked CC BY 2.0 are licensed through the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License. For more information, visit dbking (Flickr, CC BY 2.0), 940b Dylan/Dylerpillar (Flickr, CC BY 2.0), 938 Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, 942 Marta Sand/Martupelis (Flickr, CC BY 2.0), 939 Ronald Reagan Library, 940m somewhereintheworldtoday (Flickr, CC BY 2.0), 940t U.S. Marine Corps, 943 (Lance Cpl. Audrey Graham) The White House Photostream (Flickr, CC BY 2.0), 941 (Pete Souza) Notgrass Company 975 Roaring River Road Gainesboro, TN books@notgrass.com

2 St. Patrick s Day March 17 Ireland Statue of St. Patrick Patrick was born into a wealthy British family around 390 A.D. When he was sixteen he was captured and taken as a slave to Ireland where he was forced to tend sheep for seven years. Even though he had been born to Christian parents, Patrick did not show interest in Christianity until after he was captured. While in Ireland he became a deeply religious man. According to legend, Patrick escaped from Ireland on a pirate ship and returned to Britain. After being reunited with his family, Patrick is said to have heard a voice telling him to return to Ireland. Patrick became a priest and went back to Ireland to spend the rest of his days working to convert the Irish to Christianity. According to tradition, Patrick died on March 17 about the year 493. He was largely forgotten after his death, but over time myths and legends began to circulate about his life and Patrick was later named the patron saint of Ireland. The statue at left stands in Ireland as a memorial to St. Patrick. St. Patrick s Day Parades The American tradition of celebrating St. Patrick s Day with a big parade does not have a long Irish tradition as you might think. The custom was established in America before the Revolutionary War when British military units (which included some Irish men) marched to various houses throughout New York City that were inhabited by Irish immigrants. This was on March 17, With very few exceptions, New York City 938

3 has held a St. Patrick s Day parade every year since. It is said to be the longest running civilian parade in the world. Millions of people gather on the streets to watch and participate in the event. Only after the tradition of holding a St. Patrick s Day parade was firmly established in America did the Irish begin holding their own parades in Ireland. Other towns and cities across America also hold St. Patrick s Day parades and have their own special traditions. If you have the best float in the parade in Kansas City, Missouri, you could win two tickets to Ireland! The parade in Dublin, Ohio, is over a mile long. Savannah, Georgia, holds one of the country s largest celebrations. Here fountains are dyed green for the occasion. You can also find special menu items at local restaurants, including green grits! Chicago has an even more elaborate city decoration than Savannah. The photos below show the Chicago River dyed green, as it has been every March since The idea originated with some plumbers who used a green dye to check for leaks. The formula for dyeing the river has changed over the years. The current recipe is a closely guarded secret, but it has been tested and deemed acceptable for the environment. Shamrocks Chicago, Illinois The Chicago River Dyed Green for St. Patrick s Day, 2012 According to tradition, St. Patrick used the three leaves of a shamrock plant to teach Irish people about the trinity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The shamrock has become a symbol of Ireland and of St. Patrick s Day. The shamrock shape can be found on a wide variety 939

4 of seasonal items, such as clothing, dishes, decorations, and food, like the cupcake pictured at left. White House St. Patrick s Day Reception On St. Patrick s Day in 1952, the Irish ambassador to the U.S. gave President Harry Truman a gift of a box filled with Irish shamrock. Truman was out of town, so the ambassador St. Patrick s Day Cupcake just left his gift at the White House. That first unimpressive presentation was the start of an annual White House tradition. Ireland had only recently become an independent republic, so sending an ambassador to the U.S. was something new for them. The ambassador wanted to use St. Patrick s Day as a way to strengthen ties between the United States and Ireland. President Eisenhower received Ireland s shamrock gift the next St. Patrick s Day at a formal ceremony. The ceremonies have varied in extravagance and importance over the years, depending on who is President and on various political issues that might be happening at the same time. The presentation has become an annual reminder of the close ties between Ireland and the United States. At modern ceremonies the shamrock are presented by the Prime Minister of Ireland in a crystal bowl specially made for Washington, D.C. the occasion. According to White House security regulations, President Reagan Receiving a Shamrock Gift from Ireland s Prime any food, drink, or plant that is presented to the President is to Minister Garret FitzGerald, 1986 be handled according to Secret Service policy. That means that after the fancy ceremony the Secret Service has to destroy the lovely shamrock that traveled all the way across the Atlantic for the occasion. The President gets to keep the crystal bowl, however. President Reagan used one of his to hold jelly beans! Reagan is pictured above receiving his bowl of shamrock in In 2009, First Lady Michelle Obama added to the St. Patrick s Day decor by having the water in the fountains outside the White House dyed green, as seen in the photo at left. Mrs. Obama is a native of Chicago, so having green water on St. Patrick s Day is customary White House Fountain Dyed for St. Patrick s Day, 2009 for her! 940

5 St. Patrick s Day Luncheon In 1983 the House of Representatives established a new Washington tradition of holding a St. Patrick s Day luncheon. The event was hosted by Speaker of the House Thomas P. Tip O Neill and was attended by members of the House and the Senate, as well as President Ronald Reagan. The event President Barack Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was planned to ease the political tension (center), and Ireland s Prime Minister Brian Cowen (right) at the St. Patrick s Day Luncheon at the U.S. Capitol, 2009 that existed between Speaker O Neill and President Reagan. St. Patrick s Day was chosen for the luncheon because both men were Irish- Americans. Since then the luncheon has become an annual event at the United States Capitol. The photo at right was taken at the luncheon held in A Message from the President Presidents often issue statements on special days throughout the year, including St. Patrick s Day. Below is the message that President George W. Bush sent out for St. Patrick s Day in I send greetings to those celebrating St. Patrick s Day. On this day, we commemorate the great faith of St. Patrick and celebrate the rich heritage of the Irish people. The Apostle of Ireland was committed to preaching a gospel of peace even in the face of great hardship, and people of all faiths can be inspired by his remarkable example. During St. Patrick s Day, we join together with the many children of Erin who have come to our shores full of hope and purpose, and found success. Americans are grateful for our country s Irish traditions and the deep friendship that exists between Ireland and the United States. Irish Americans have valiantly defended our Nation, enriched our culture, and contributed to our prosperity. We are reminded, in celebrating, of our history as a Nation of immigrants and of our responsibility to remain a welcoming society. Laura and I send our best wishes for a blessed and joyous St. Patrick s Day. George W. Bush 941

6 St. Patrick s Day in the Military The U.S. military has been celebrating St. Patrick s Day for a long time. The illustrations below show the Irish Brigade of the Army of the Potomac celebrating the holiday in These soldiers enjoyed a little time off from duty during the Civil War to compete against each other with races and games. According to an article from The New York Times that told about the event, the brigade s General Meagher believed that the morale of his troops would not be injured by a little wholesome amusement. The article went on to describe the day s festivities. Every preparation was therefore made, such as the building of speaker stands, digging of ditches, erecting of hurdles, &c., &c., and at 1 o clock this morning the ball opened with the beating of drums and other accompanying noises, which startled the soldiers in the various encampments for miles around; and well they might, for the music of the drums at that unnatural hour of the night is suggestive of nothing else save the long roll and coming of the enemy. The rebs, however, did not make their appearance.... About 1 o clock Gen. MEAGHER mounted the platform near his tent, and announced that the day s sports were not over by a long shot, but that among other things to follow would be a foot-race, all privates and non-commissioned officers being permitted to enter the lists, the winner to receive $5; a wheelbarrow-race, the competitors to be bound hand and foot, the one first reaching the goal to receive $7; a wrestling match, the contestants to be inclosed in sacks; and as a finale, a chase for a greased pig, the one succeeding in holding him to be declared the lawful owner and possessor. At the time the article was written, however, it was unknown whether or not the last event would actually take place because the competitors still needed a pig! One had been located at a farm nearby, but the woman who owned the animal wanted $30 for it. If the soldiers were able to talk her down to $15, they would have their chase. 942 St. Patrick s Day at the Army of the Potomac Sports of the Irish Brigade, 1863

7 Military personnel still participate in St. Patrick s Day competitions. The photos on this page were taken on St. Patrick s Day in 2010 at Camp Hansen in Okinawa, Japan. The competition was between Combat Engineers from the U.S. Air Force s Detachment 1554, Red Horse Squadron and Marines from the 9th Engineer Support Battalion. They competed to see who were the ultimate gung ho warriors. The top left photo shows a competitor in the pull-up competition. The next photo shows a man participating in the caber toss. The lower left photo shows men preparing for a tug of war. The last photo shows the Humvee pull competition. Okinawa, Japan St. Patrick s Day Field Meet at Camp Hansen, 2010 America is a nation made up of people from around the world. It is good to recognize and honor the various heritages that make America the strong and diverse country it is. I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations. Psalm 57:9 Family Activity Hold a St. Patrick s Day Field Meet. Instructions are on page

8 St. Patrick s Day Supplies: white and green paper scissors pen hole punch yarn or string Instructions: Field Meet Find out who can run the fastest, jump the farthest, and catch the pig! Make one shamrock medal for each participant. Trace the shamrock shape above onto white paper. Cut it out and use it as a pattern to cut more shamrocks out of green paper. Write St. Patrick s Day Field Meet Participant on each shamrock. Punch a hole in each one and attach a piece of yarn or string long enough to go over someone s head. Decide on a schedule of various races and competitions for your field meet. Here are some ideas of events to include: tug of war relay race wheelbarrow race St. Patrick s Day Field Meet Participant three-legged race shoe kick throwing objects at a target long jump football toss catch the pig For the catch the pig event, assign the smallest person in your family to be the pig and have her run around the yard while everyone else tries to catch her. To make it harder, all of the chasers could be assigned a partner and have to run as in a three-legged race. If you have a pet such as a dog, a cat, or a pig, you could chase him instead of your youngest sibling. Ask everyone to dress in green for the field meet. When all the events are completed, present everyone with a shamrock-shaped participation medal. 1012