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Spring Semester 2000, Vol. 11, no. 1 Other American
Patriotic Symbols Although
the Statue of Liberty may be one of the most recognized symbols of
America, many other images also represent America all over the world.
America is often connected with pictures of the American flag, the
Liberty Bell, and the bald eagle. Uncle
Sam, apple pie, baseball, the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, the White
House, and the map of America are also considered symbols of the nation.
The
Stars and Stripes The
American flag, with its red, white, and blue color scheme, shows up in
movies, advertisements, and on many government symbols. Perhaps one of the most memorable uses of the flag occurred
when Americans first landed on the moon and astronauts Neil Armstrong and
Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr. placed an American flag into the surface of the moon. The
importance of the American flag becomes evident in the rules and rituals
for its use. One such rule dictates that, at times of tragedy, the flag
flies at half-mast. Another rule requires that the American flag must fly
higher than those of state flags (though Texas, as a state that was once
an independent republic, is one exception).
The
Liberty Bell The
Liberty Bell has a controversial history, as many individuals cannot agree
on the precise moment when the infamous crack in the bell developed. After
many attempts to repair or recast the 2080-pound bell, it was decided that
the original, cracked bell had the best sound, so it remained in the
steeple of the Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall). The bell
rang out on many occasions throughout the late 1700s, but it didn?t
become an American symbol until the 1800s when abolitionists used it to
represent their movement and an anti-slavery society used it in 1837 on
the cover of a book entitled Liberty.
American
Bald Eagle The
American Bald Eagle is the national bird of America, despite Benjamin
Franklin?s suggestion that the turkey become the country?s national
bird. The bald eagle was
placed on the endangered species list in 1978 as a result of the
proliferation of pesticides, industrial pollution, poaching, and the
destruction of habitat. Because of conservation efforts, the number of
eagles in North America has increased. An adult bald eagle has a white
head and tail and a strong yellow bill.
They can grow as long as 43 inches and weigh up to 20 pounds.
Their wing span can extend up to 7-8 feet and they can fly up to 44
miles per hour. The proud
image of this bird can be found on the one-dollar bill, the seal for the
President of the United States, the silver dollar, and the United States
Post Office logo. Patriotic
Symbols in Art Many
artists have used these symbols in their own artwork. Andy Warhol included
the bald eagle in his endangered species series and Frank Miller has included the eagle in his series of oil
paintings about wildlife. The American flag has been used in many
artworks, from 1851, when Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze painted Washington
Crossing the Delaware, to Jasper Johns? Flag paintings in the 1950s, to
Faith Ringgold?s Flag Story Quilt from 1985.
No matter where these images are used, they ask the viewer to think
about America and what America represents.
Heather
Murray Some
Relevant Web Sites: American
flag Liberty
Bell White
House Eagle
Artists |