The 4th of July is a national day on
which we celebrate America's Birthday commemorating the signing of the
Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776. This great declaration was
signed by representatives of the Thirteen Colonies in North America
announcing their separation from Great Britain and becoming the new
United States of America.
To a great new nation, a great national
bird was to be chosen to be the symbol of the great strength that would
birth a nation. In 1782 the Bald Eagle gained unofficial recognition as
the bird of choice. Following a fierce debate among the new political
leaders, Ben Franklin led the charge for the Turkey to become the
national bird. He lost. In 1787, the Bald Eagle become the official
national bird, symbolic of majesty, great strength and long life.
Today, The American Eagle Foundation,
located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is
dedicated to protecting the American Bald Eagle. Founded in 1985, the
foundation is federally licensed to be care-givers to birds of prey and
has performed more than 10,000 "free-flight" educational programs,
teaching respect and appreciation for these magnificent birds.
In the heavens above is a profoundly
beautiful nebula called The Eagle Nebula (catalogued as
M16 in astronomy books). It's name derives from it's obvious "eagle
like" appearance. It is located in the Sagittarius-Carina spiral arm of
our Milky Way galaxy.
The Eagle Nebula is an immense
star-forming region, where the intense radiation and winds from newborn
stars are sweeping away the dust and gas that was left over from their
formation. Because of these forces, the majestic dusty pillars that give
the Eagle its name will evaporate over the next few million years.
This week we came across a great site on Gluten FREE Grilling,
created by Erin Elberson, who holds a Master's Degree in Physical
Therapy, a Bachelor's Degree in Health Science and is herself a victim
of celiac disease. She is an advocate of good nutrition and sound habits
to improve the quality of life and health. We highly recommend her site
for its upbeat, authentic and informative style!
Old Abe, as she
was called, was a female bald eagle who was the mascot of the 8th
Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry regiment in the American Civil War. She was
in the Second Battle of Corinth and the Siege of Vicksburg. In battle,
Old Abe quickly became legendary, screaming and spreading her wings at
the enemy, even as her handlers were shot beneath her. Generals of the
Union Army were known to remove their hats as they passed the eagle by.
I don't want to seem too trite when it comes to appreciating the
delectable meals that Susi prepares for me, cheddar cheese and meatballs
interspersed with my Alpo, but it really hits THE SPOT!
RomeReports.com is a private and
independent international news agency based in Rome and specializes in
covering the Pope and the Vatican. Catch the latest today!
