This Thursday, June 14, will be our National lag Day.
On this date in 1777, the Star Spangled Banner, Old Glory, was chosen as our national flag.
The most revered photo of our flag must be the one showing the flag being raised (for a second time, a larger flag) on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, on Feb. 23, 1945. Five Marines and one Navy Corpsman (Medic) are photographed raising a huge flag sewn by a woman at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in California. This priceless flag can still be seen at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Washington.
We should never forget that this Flag came to be at a horrific cost: 6,800 Marines killed, 19,000 wounded in just one month’s fighting. One-third of all World War II Marine Corps battle casualties occurred on Iwo Jima, an island only four miles long. The Japanese Soldiers were ordered to fight to the death; 20,000 of the 21,000 Japanese soldiers died fighting which shows the ferocity of the battle. Iwo Jima was the only battle where the American casualties out-numbered the Japanese casualties.
Please honor our fallen heroes who died on Iwo Jima and all of America’s battles that continue to this day. Let us not forget our wounded heroes from all the wars who have suffered and are continuing to suffer from their injuries. Showing the flag this Thursday will also honor the men and women who are currently serving in all of our military branches.
Leon Ceniceros
Mesa
Dale Whiting posted at 11:36 am on Tue, Jun 12, 2012.
Yes, Leon, and also let us remember the words of Isaiah. We need to beat our swords into plow sheers and our spears into pruning hooks and study war no more. [Isaiah 2] That is a lesson we have yet to learn. Rather than turning the other cheek, we fight back. Rather than forgiving 70 times 70, we get even. This Flag Day, let us not forget Easter. It wasn't that long ago.
Engaged Voter posted at 11:59 am on Tue, Jun 12, 2012.
Flag Day commemorates the adoption of our national flag.
It also marks the "birthday" of the American Continental Army.
I will be flying my flag upside down - not as any type of disrespect - the flag is to be flown in this manner when the country is in distress. I cannot honestly fly it any other way at this time.
Dale - This is a SECULAR observance, please keep your religion out of it, thanks.
VofReason posted at 12:24 pm on Tue, Jun 12, 2012.
If Dale ran the county, we would be speaking Japanese. Remember Dale, there are many stories and instances in the Bible where God was behind war with enemies of his people. The Bible does not tell you not to proptect your people. You will recall the Japanese attacked us at Pearl Harbor- no?
Engaged Voter posted at 12:46 pm on Tue, Jun 12, 2012.
It is amusing that Dale recalls the words of Isaiah while ignoring the words of Joel.
"Rather than turning the other cheek, we fight back." <--As the LORD commands:
Joel 3:9 Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up:
3:10 Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.
Oops. ;)
truth posted at 3:21 pm on Tue, Jun 12, 2012.
Where was your American flag made? I will bet COMMUNIST CHINA, you all talk about how wonderful the Americans are and how proud you are being American, but all of us are selling this country out to cheap, garbage products MADE IN CHINA, talk is cheap, let's make America great again. Let our corporations know we are tired of them selling us out for their maximum profits. Bring the trillion's of dollars you are hiding in off shore accounts and invest those dollars in AMERICA.
Slabside posted at 5:17 pm on Tue, Jun 12, 2012.
The Islamic loving stoog posts: "Rather than turning the other cheek, we fight back. Rather than forgiving 70 times 70, we get even."
Yes, and that is why the United States is still the strong country it is. Please feel free to book yourself a seat on the next plane to Tehran you anti-American fool.
sockratties posted at 6:30 pm on Tue, Jun 12, 2012.
I don’t know what a plow sheer is. Perhaps if I had a sword I could beat it into a ploughshare. Then I could forgive 4900 times to get even. Seems a little silly though. I could also talk funny to try to give a more arcane meaning to what I write.
Maybe it’s better to just agree with leon for once and acknowledge that Old Glory represents a lot more than just a claim to more turf. She represents courage, cohesion, and a way of life that is the best yet. It’s not the symbol but the things she stands for that make the respect and sacrifice that are required to keep her flying worthwhile.
It would be impossible for our corporations to sell us out if we didn’t opt to buy made in China over made in American because they’re cheaper. The United Farm Workers, in California, won over corporate farmers by boycotting non-union produce. It can be done. China is now the only manufacturer of many products we use on a regular basis. Your appliances, cell phones, TVs, cars, plastic ware, toothpicks, whatever all are at least in part Chinese made. We’ve done that to ourselves. When you’re playing the blame game be sure to include yourselves. As one commenter said, talk is cheap. My flag will be made in the U.S. of A. and is placed in my yard by the Boy Scouts of America.
Dale Whiting posted at 5:15 am on Wed, Jun 13, 2012.
Thanks guys,
You've proved my point. We are neither a "Christian Nation" nor God's people. Joel was a prophet. Who amoung us today is a prophet? ______________ [fill in the blank]. Nor are we God's People.
Isaiah is generally viewed as forecasting both the coming of Christ and the latter days [the end times]. Wars and rumors of wars. We are war mongers and we shall fall because of it.
P.S. Japan had no desire to conquor the US. It's desire was to drive the US out of the Pacific, an area it felt was its. Ever heard of the Monroe Doctrine? Well Japan had its equivalent and having us stationing armed forces in the Philipines was against its doctrine. After WW 1 we would limit the number of naval vessels in the Pacific. What would we say if China tried to limit our naval forces today? Why we complane about China creating a modest fleet!
Clear your minds. View yourselves as other nations would view you. "War mongers" is the picture you will see, if and when you do. Leave religion out of it and you will still see the exact same thing!
sockratties posted at 5:55 am on Wed, Jun 13, 2012.
Dale – So what’s your point? If I wanted someone to preach to me I’d go to church. leon’s letter was about respecting the flag. Yes, the U. S. may have a few issues about empire building, and yes there are a few side discussions about corporate greed and PROFIT (not prophet), but while you’re up there on the pulpit, give our flag a salute. You wouldn’t be able to lay all your weird preaching on everyone if the rest of us weren’t willing to support your right to do so. We do that united by our red, white and blue symbol of freedom. Not all of us consider the U. S. to be a Christian Nation or Americans to be specifically God’s people but we have declared that it is your right to harbor whatever delusions make you happy. We are willing to fight for your rights even if you aren’t even willing to acknowledge ours.
Accuracy posted at 8:58 am on Wed, Jun 13, 2012.
Leon Ceniceros wrote: “This Thursday, June 14, will be our National lag Day.” . . . Correction Leon – “ FLAG DAY” that is.
Yes, Americans across the nation will show their patriotism, Thursday, in honor of the old tradition of Flag Day which was started in 1916 by former President Woodrow Wilson in an official proclamation. And the idea is believed to date back to 1885.
Although not an official holiday, in a proclamation as mandated by Congress in 1949, President Barack Obama declared June 14, 2012 “Flag Day” and the week in which it lands as National Flag Week. He called on U.S. citizens to observe Flag Day and National Flag week "with pride."
Americans are urging citizens and officials at government buildings to fly the American flag the entire week.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 5:43 pm on Wed, Jun 13, 2012.
I apologize for my "typo" also for not capitalizing all of the letter "F" in Flag throughout my Letter. I am sure the the Families, Friends, Loved-ones and the Marines who fought on Iwo Jima will forgive a old GI "Geezer" who just wanted to remind the East Valley Citizens of their Valor. I also wanted to honor our Fallen "Heroes" (unlike the people at MSNBC, to me, all of them are Heroes) who gave the Ultimate Sacrifice to our Great Nation.
I remember that my High School in Los Angeles, J.C. Fremont would have a Assembly where we all recited the Pledge of Alligiance and the Band would have play a program of patriotic songs and marches. I wonder if our new Liberal-dominated School faculties and principals have similar "Patriotic" Assemblies these days. When you see Principals in California suspending high school students for wearing American Flag tee-shirts on Cinco de Mayo Day. Principals threatening suspension to 12yo middle school students in California for having an American Flag on the bike that they ride to school. Principals in New York who cancel the singing of "God Bless the USA" for a kindergarten graduation ceremony that 5 classes of students have practiced for 5 months because it "might offend other cultures".
I thought that maybe the East Valley Tribune readers might like to read something that celebrates and honors the Patriotism and Love of Country shown by the Marines who fought and died on a small island in the middle of the Sea of Japan (Iwo Jima was the southernmost piece of Japanese Territory, part of the Prefecture of Tokyo. That was why the order to defend to the death was given to it's Japanese Soldiers). And to be truthful, I was sick and tired of seeing President Obama apologizing all over the World for America's Wars and Military Expeditions. Unlike First Lady Michelle Obama, I am and have always been proud to be an American. Every single day of my life.
mrconservative posted at 5:59 pm on Wed, Jun 13, 2012.
Loved your letter, Leon. Keep up the good work. And Dale, we DO have a prophet today. His name is Thomas Spencer Monson, in case you've forgotten.
mrconservative posted at 6:06 pm on Wed, Jun 13, 2012.
And Dale, it's 70 times 7, not 70 times 70. In other words, there should be no end to our forgiving other people.
As for your accusation that we are warmongers, that is not true and you know it. Most of the time, it is not us who start wars. It is other countries who have done that. We would have been sufficient enough to live our lives, free of the king of England independently, but no, after we declared our independence, the king of England sent men to stop us. We won that war against all odds. We also fought back against Nazi Germany. World War II was one war in the 20th century that was 100% necessary. Tragic, yes, but necessary. We could not have beaten the Nazis if we had tried to negotiate, like Neville Chamberlain did.
VofReason posted at 12:20 pm on Thu, Jun 14, 2012.
I have heard it all from old Dale. First, Iran is good and we are the ones who are bad for not thinking so. Strange, Iran is helping to fund the genicide of the Syrian people who are getting sick of their tyrant. Maybe Dale can explain to them how they are wrong and Iran is really good. I will have to also thank him for explaining to me how us parked in what Japan thought was too close to their neighborhood rectified them bombing and killing a bunch of our service men like shooting fish in a bucket. Oh, and then being the most viscous of any enemy with our captured soldiers. Dale, liberalism is a mental disorder.
VofReason posted at 12:24 pm on Thu, Jun 14, 2012.
I am also hoping that there is an active or retired Marine in Engaged Voters community who might help him work through the correct way to hang a flag. I think there are a lot of people who are in a bad way financially or disillusioned with the current President, that doesn't change the fact that we are Americans and should be proud of it.
Engaged Voter posted at 1:20 pm on Thu, Jun 14, 2012.
"I remember that my High School in Los Angeles, J.C. Fremont would have a Assembly where we all recited the Pledge of Alligiance..."
Funny that Dale FORGETS to mention one little fact...that Pledge he recited was the ORIGINAL Pledge of Allegiance, before those un-American words "under god" were illegally added.
OOPS again! ;)
Oh, and Dale? Prophets and people who can see the future are all frauds and charlatans, no matter what time period they lived. Sorry about that.
Engaged Voter posted at 1:24 pm on Thu, Jun 14, 2012.
VofReason - here, educate yourself before making yourself look like a fool (again):
The upside down U.S. flag is an official signal of distress. It is not meant to be, and is not officially recognized as any type of disrespect when so displayed for the right reasons. To the contrary, here is the relevant part of the US Code of Laws regarding how to fly the flag when in distress:
http://www.jeffhead.com/liberty/flagdistress.htm
Engaged Voter posted at 2:23 pm on Thu, Jun 14, 2012.
"As a result of the many traitors and enemies we as a free people have, both foreign and domestic, as a result of the many unconstitutional acts, legislation and atrocities passed and/or committed against US citizens and their life, liberty and property, and as a result of policies that have allowed (and continue to allow) enemies of this nation to enter in large numbers through a porous border policy, I believe the life, liberty and property of US Citizens are in dire danger and distress."
I am surprised that VofReason would not agree with this assessment, given many of his prior comments...
mrconservative posted at 6:53 pm on Sat, Jun 16, 2012.
Engaged Voter, you are wrong. Prophets are real. They exist today.
mrconservative posted at 6:54 pm on Sat, Jun 16, 2012.
One more thing. It was World War II, not FDR's "New Deal", that ended the Great Depression.
Engaged Voter posted at 11:21 am on Mon, Jun 18, 2012.
Sorry mrconservative, no such thing as a Prophet - just liars, con men, charlatans and insane people.
You should know, you mentioned one of those lying con men by name - Thomas Spencer Monson.
Or perhaps he is just insane? ;)
Engaged Voter posted at 11:25 am on Mon, Jun 18, 2012.
Wait, is this the same Thomas Spencer Monson who visited Mexico in 2008 and pandered to potential illegal aliens, telling them to come to Arizona and Utah?
Well gosh, it sure is!
I wonder why mrconservative supports a man who is pro-illegal...
mrconservative posted at 8:04 pm on Tue, Jun 19, 2012.
Engaged Voter, where do you get you info from? Factcheck.org? A LIBERAL AND ANTI-AMERICAN website? Monson is NOT pro-illegal. He respects the rule of law. It's fine with me if these people want to come to live here, but they need to understand that we have laws. If they're not even going to attempt to become legal citizens, they should get out. If they want to be with their families, they can go to Mexico or elsewhere. They're not welcome if they're not going to become LEGAL citizens.
And "under God" is NOT un-American. If you want to be an atheist, that's fine. But don't you DARE deny others the right to say the Pledge of Allegiance if they want to.
And Monson is my church leader. Whether you like it or not, or believe it or not, he IS a prophet. This is a FACT. NOBODY, I REPEAT, NOBODY CAN DISPUTE THIS.
You are a sick and twisted human being. May God have mercy on your soul, because you spoke evil of the Lord's anointed.
Engaged Voter posted at 11:14 am on Wed, Jun 20, 2012.
"If you want to be an atheist, that's fine. But don't you DARE deny others the right to say the Pledge of Allegiance if they want to."
Are you completely delusional? Where did I even imply I wanted to deny ANYONE the right to say whatever they want? And don't YOU dare deny others the right to say the ORIGINAL Pledge of Allegiance adopted by our country before those words were added.
"Whether you like it or not, or believe it or not, he IS a prophet."
Prophet (noun) 1. a person who supposedly speaks by divine inspiration, esp one through whom a divinity expresses his will. 2. a person who predicts the future
So you can prove this guy can either speak with a supernatural entity, or see the future? I would love to see the empirical evidence for that! LOL
You are entitled to your own beliefs and opinions. You are NOT entitled to your own facts. Sorry about that.
"You are a sick and twisted human being."
Coming from an ignorant, hateful bigot, I will take that as a compliment.
"May God have mercy on your soul"
Kindly take your hateful superstitious threats, along with your silly cult, and shove them where the sun doesn't shine. Thanks so much.
Engaged Voter posted at 11:17 am on Wed, Jun 20, 2012.
Funny how so many religious people consider telling the truth to be "evil"...
I guess it's what allows them to lie so much, nevermind that lying is a sin. ;)
mrconservative posted at 10:49 pm on Sat, Jun 30, 2012.
A prophet is also someone who speaks for God.
Thomas S. Monson is God’s mouthpiece. This is a fact. Not my opinion – a FACT.
mrconservative posted at 10:52 pm on Sat, Jun 30, 2012.
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.
I typed all this all out, by the way. I didn’t just copy/paste from the internet.
I love our current and most often used pledge, not the boring “original” one.