Symbols and Celebrations

Holidays

• Holidays: National Celebrations
  An overview of America's national holidays and celebrations.

• Celebrate! Holidays in the U.S.                                                              
  Holidays in the United States and summaries about how and why we celebrate.

• Making Sense of the Fourth of July                                                 
  An article by Pauline Maier explaining the Fourth of July.
  
  

National Symbols

• The Statue of Liberty
  The story of the creation of the Statue of Liberty.

• Emma Lazarus, "The New Colossus" (1883)
  Introduction and full text of the poem by Emma Lazarus which is carved on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty.
  
  
• The Pledge of Allegiance                                              
   History about the Pledge of Allegiance and the man who wrote it.
  
  
• Great Seal of the United States
  Picture and history of the Great Seal of America.
  
  
• Celebrating America's Freedoms                                    
  Summaries of distinct American traditions, symbols and heritage.
  
  
• The American Bald Eagle                        
  The bald eagle is truly an all-American bird -- it is the only eagle unique to North America. It ranges over most of the continent, from the northern reaches of Alaska and Canada down to northern Mexico.
  

Patriotic Songs

• The National Anthem                                                               
   Information about the writer Francis Scott Key and a copy of the Star Spangled Banner.

• America the Beautiful
  The lyrics to the song "America the Beautiful."

• God Bless America
  Lyrics and historical information about Irving Berlin's famous song.

• The Battle Hymn of the Republic
  The lyrics to  "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" by Julia Ward Howard.

• The Airforce Song
  The full lyrics to the Air force Song by R. Crawford.

• Anchors Aweigh
  The History and lyrics of the U.S. Navy anthem.

• The Army Song
  All the words to "The Army Goes Rolling Along:" (Based upon "The Caisson Song" by Brig. Gen. E.L. Gruber) written and adapted by H.W. A.

• Marines Hymn
  The lyrics and history of the Marines Hymn.

The Flag

• Facts About the U.S. Flag
  General facts about the U.S. Flag.

• Federal Flag Code
  The Federal Flag Code prescribes the proper display of and respect for the United States Flag. Each state has its own flag law.

• The United States Flag: Federal Law Relating to Display and Associated Questions
  This report presents the United States "Flag Code" and addresses several of the frequently asked questions concerning the flag.