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The American Flag –
The Symbol of Freedom and Inspiration To Never Quit The Fight

Newsletter | June 2, 2022

The American flag is a symbol of freedom around the world. Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance reinforces the blessings that God has bestowed on every American citizen. As we continue covering the various ways faith shapes America in our newsletter feature articles, with this week’s edition we turn to faith in our flag and we kick off our “Raise The Flag, Say The Pledge” across America campaign.

Pledging allegiance to the flag shows our faith in the republic for which it stands. The pledge is a reminder that as a free people we have been greatly blessed and are called upon to live up to our responsibilities as citizens of this great nation.

Think of your favorite image of the American flag. For lots of us, it’s the picture of the six battle-hardened Marines hoisting Old Glory atop a hill at Iwo Jima. Or maybe it’s when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin planted the stars and stripes on the moon to commemorate that it was Americans who took that giant leap for mankind in July 1969. Or maybe you recall when, as a youngster, you stood up from your desk chair, put your hand on your heart and said the pledge in unison with your classmates and teacher to the flag above the chalkboard.

Remember how Jim Craig, goalie of the USA’s 1980 gold-medal winning hockey team, skated around the rink holding the flag after they’d just scored a historic upset over the Soviet Union? The flag is at the center of some of our memories of tragedy, too, as when President John F. Kennedy’s widow Jacqueline kneeled before his flag-draped casket to pay her final respects. Or when brave first responders elevated our flag in New York shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the homeland.

Whenever you see the flag, it stirs strong emotions of belonging, duty, and home. Walk through any neighborhood where it seems like all the houses are flying the star-spangled banner and you know you’re in a good place filled with good people proud of their country. And in hard times, the sight of the red, white, and, blue stiffens our spines and inspires us to keep fighting. Our love of the flag restores our faith in America.

Flag Day, June 14, 2022

We celebrate Flag Day on June 14 because on that same date in 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed the Flag Resolution, stating “the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”

Of course, our flag has been through many versions since then, twenty-seven of them, in fact. The most recent, with fifty stars representing the fifty states, was first flown July 4, 1960 to mark Hawaii’s statehood.

Given Americans’ love for the flag, it may seem strange that for nearly a century, it was rarely flown outside of military installations or government buildings or ships. That all changed with the Civil War. When Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter in April 1861, the Union commanding officer Robert Anderson surrendered the outpost, but retained possession of the fort’s flag. When Anderson later appeared in New York City with it, as many as 100,000 flags quickly went on display across the city. The event inspired an abiding love and respect for the American flag as Northerners recognized it as the symbol of American nationalism and a rejection of secessionism.

It took years for our nation to heal from the Civil War, and now the flag represents not only the union but also reunion of the country. Remember all the men and women in uniform from all over America who fought under the stars and stripes — in the two World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq and many other conflicts where patriots gave their lives to protect our liberty. And thus, the images of the flags draping their caskets remind us all of the debt we owe them now and always.

At America’s Future, we call on all of our fellow citizens to 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.

We’d love to learn about your favorite memory of the American flag as a child or adult. Please take our Reader’s Survey and let us know, and respond to the other survey questions. Thanks to everyone for your submission. We read them all and appreciate your insights and comments. Watch America’s Mondays With Mary every Monday at 9 a.m. with America’s Future Executive Director, Mary O’Neill to hear some of the readers’ thoughtful responses.

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Raise The Flag and Say The Pledge Across America

America’s Future is kicking off its 2nd Annual “Raise The Flag, Say The Pledge” campaign to encourage Americans across the country to show their patriotism by displaying a U.S. flag in their homes and businesses and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance with their families and friends.

Once again, America’s Future campaign is in partnership with Colonial Flag, a premiere American manufacturer of USA flags, to create a limited-edition America’s Future “Raise The Flag, Say The Pledge” campaign package that includes your choice of five, discount-priced U.S. flags, along with a pocket-sized copy of the U.S. Constitution signed by America’s Future Board Chair, General Michael Flynn, and a beautifully designed, frame-ready, 8.5” x 11” Pledge of Allegiance insert.

This year’s campaign also features a special free flag promotion for our nation’s veterans as one way to show your gratitude and support for their service and sacrifice by giving a local veteran, veteran-owned business or veteran organization in your community a gift of the “Raise The Flag, Say The Pledge” package with a 3′ x 5′ American flag at no cost. To participate, the public is invited to submit an essay or video describing “What America Means To Me,” along with the name of the veteran, veteran-owned business or veteran organization you wish to receive the free flag package..

Raise The Flag - Say The Pledge

America’s Future encourages members of the public to participate by submitting their essay or video along with the submission form by visiting our website at I Want To Say Thanks To Our Nation’s Veterans.

For more details and information, please visit our Raise The Flag – Say The Pledge page.

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Award-Winning Investigative Journalist Lara Logan

Joins Our Board of Directors

America’s Future is pleased to announce that award-winning investigative journalist Lara Logan, a powerful voice in the fight for freedom and liberty around the world, has joined our Board of Directors.

Lara Logan

“Lara is an American hero in her profession and known for speaking up for the truth regardless of politics,” said Mary O’Neill, Executive Director of America’s Future. “We welcome Lara’s independent voice at America’s Future, which we believe makes us stronger.”

Lara is known internationally for her fearless and candid reporting from some of the most dangerous places in the world in her role at “60 Minutes” and for her investigative series “Lara Logan Has No Agenda,” where she has covered some of the most controversial topics of our time such as media bias, Mexican drug cartels and trafficking, and the dangers of Big Tech. Her reporting over decades has helped the public understand the political and human conflicts that exist in America and around the global.

Her skilled approach to investigative journalism earned her a prominent place among the world’s best foreign correspondents and almost every journalistic and reporting award, among them are the highly prestigious duPont-Columbia University Silver Baton, the Overseas Press Club, the Emmys and the RTNDA/ Edward R. Murrow Award, to name a few.

“Lara is among America’s most courageous patriots who does not back down and will never quit the fight to save our nation from the tyranny at our doorstep,” said America’s Future Board Chair, General Michael Flynn. “Her honest journalism is what America and the world needs more of today. She stands firmly footed on the principles this country was founded upon with self-determination and truth as her guide. America’s Future is proud to have Lara on our team.”

To read America’s Future media announcement about Lara’s appointment, please click here.

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Keeping You Informed
Separation of Powers – Judicial Branch
Over the past three weeks, we have introduced one of the most basic constitutional principles of our government – Separation of Powers. As a refresher, the Separation of Powers doctrine is comprised of the principles and policies that shape the concept of a limited federal government vested with powers intended to protect our territorial integrity and ensure our civil rights are preserved.
 
Last week’s Keeping You Informed column addressed the Executive Branch. This week, we turn to the Judicial branch of our government, defined under Article III of the U.S. Constitution.  The Judicial Branch was organized by our framers to take on numerous roles, the most critical one being interpreting the Constitution, when called upon.
Overview of the Judicial Branch
Article III of the Constitution is broken down into three sections.  Essentially, Section 1 establishes our Supreme Court; Section 2 extends the Judicial Power to address all cases arising under our Constitution as well as sets forth other jurisdictional grounds, and Section 3 lays out the specific grounds by which a conviction of Treason against the United States may be obtained. The following information provides further details of each:
 

Article III, §1 specifically states that “The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour.”  This excerpt applies to Article III Judges, who are generally those which hold a lifetime tenure.  However, whether a Judge is appointed under Article III or otherwise, all of our Judges must be independent and decide cases “without fear or favor.”  Each and every litigant must be able to walk into any courtroom situated in the United States, and be certain that the Judge presiding over their case or matter, shall judge fairly and without bias as to all issues that arise.  If confidence in our Judges is lost, then our confidence in America shall be lost.

Article III §2 recognizes and provides for the very important right to trial by a jury.  There are some circumstances that limit a trial by jury.  For example, a jury cannot decide a “legal” question; rather this falls under the responsibility of a Judge or panel of Judges.  Also, less serious crimes and offenses along with plea bargains do not entitle criminal defendants with a right to a jury trial.  Although lacking a meaningful opportunity to “check” the government’s use of charging documents and criminal proceedings under these circumstances, there is balancing of government and judicial interests in efficiency, financial and temporal burdens with de minimis punishments often associated to summary offenses and less serious crimes along with the ideal voluntariness of pleas. Practical concerns and other barriers, such as lack of resources, are often considered and sometimes preclude a trial by jury in criminal and civil matters.

Article III, §3 speaks to the crime of treason.  Significantly, treason is the only crime specifically listed in the Constitution.  Historically, the definition and application of the crime of Treason has been narrowly construed, as the specific elements are laid out in our Constitution.

 
In addition to the details of the three sections noted above, Article III of the Constitution sets forth the relationship between Federal and State Courts, the meaning of Stare Decisis, the effect of Supreme Court decisions, and other powers vested in Article III judges, known as judicial powers.
 
Overall, Article III Judges play a profound role in our Judicial Branch.  The Judicial powers vested in these lifetime-appointed Judges are powers that are generally exclusive to the Judicial Branch and such powers, unless otherwise enumerated, are not powers vested in our other two branches of government, the Executive and Legislative. Each branch, with its own powers vested upon them by the Constitution, serve to “check” each other.  In the end, lawful and good faith interplay by and between each branch is vital to the effectiveness and harmony of our Constitutional Republic.  The Judiciary is considered the last line of defense against overreach, abuse of power, and other instances of misconduct by officials in the executive and legislative branches, both of which are grounded in politics.
 
Editor’s Note: This article is the third of a three-part series on the three branches of government and how our system of checks and balances is a fundamental doctrine of our Constitutional Republic system of government.
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Reminders & Updates

VOTE! Primary elections are happening across the country. Make sure you exercise your right to vote. Encourage your family members and friends to do the same.

NEW LOOK: America’s Future is bursting at the “online seams” with new news, fresh content, new programs and more. Don’t be surprised when you visit our website over the long holiday weekend and see our refreshed look.

Latest Amicus Brief: For information about America’s Future recent Amicus filings, please visit our Law & Policy page on our website.

America’s Mondays With Mary: Tune in every Monday morning at 9 a.m. (ET) to watch our Executive Director Mary O’Neill report out on the comments and insights submitted via our weekly Reader Survey and listen to updates about America’s Future activities and what’s ahead at America’s Mondays With Mary.

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