Eagle

"On the backs of our gold coins, the silver dollar, the half dollar and the quarter, we see an eagle with outspread wings. On the Great Seal of the United States and in many places which are exponents of our nation's authority we see the same emblem.

The eagle represents freedom. Living as he does on the tops of lofty mountains, amid the solitary grandeur of Nature, he has unlimited freedom, whether with strong pinions he sweeps into the valleys below, or upward into the boundless spaces beyond.

The Eagle became the National emblem in 1782 when the great seal of the United States was adopted. The Great Seal shows a wide-spread eagle, faced front, having on his breast a shield with thirteen perpendicular red and white stripes, surmounted by a blue field with the same number of stars. In his right talon the eagle holds an olive branch, in his left a bundle of thirteen arrows, and in his beak he carries a scroll inscribed with the motto: "E Pluribus Unum."

As I reflect on this, for me, it represents the heart of America for peace, the strength of America for defense, the unity of America in purpose, the vision of America for freedom and the glory of America as expressed the the song: "America the Beautiful"

I love America. I pray for America. I celebrate the grace of God in blessing America. And sometimes I weep for America (911). I will always be true to the Biblical values and principles on which America was founded.

God bless, preserve and protect America!