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"On
July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress passed a
resolution authorizing a committee to devise a seal
for the United States of America. This mission,
designed to reflect the Founding Fathers' beliefs,
values, and sovereignty of the new Nation, did not
become a reality until June 20, 1782. In heraldic
devices, such as seals, each element has a specific
meaning. Even colors have specific meanings. The
colors red, white, and blue did not have
meanings for The Stars and Stripes when it was adopted
in 1777. However, the colors in the Great Seal did
have specific meanings. Charles Thompson, Secretary
of the Continental Congress, reporting to Congress on
the Seal, stated: |
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"White
signifies purity and innocence,
Red, hardiness & valor,
and Blue . . . vigilance, perseverance &
justice." |
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White
signifies purity and innocence |
purity
and innocence |
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Red
signifies hardiness & valor |
hardiness
& valor |
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Blue
.. vigilance, perseverance & justice |
vigilance,
perseverance & justice |
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"The
star is a symbol of the heavens and the divine
goal to which man has aspired from time
immemorial; the stripe is symbolic of the rays
of light emanating from the sun."
So
the Red and White stripes of 13 represent the
link
to the original ground of 13 states on which
the nation has been built up.
And the stars, representing the union of now
50 states,
have been laid on the blue canton to bind all
of them
with the bond of vigilance, perseverance and
justice. |
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