HAPPY 4TH OF JULY AMERICA!!!

How many versions of the flag have there been?

How many hours a day can the flag be displayed?

What do the colors of the flag represent?

Was the current design professionally designed?

How long has the current version been used?

True or False: A snippet of the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key was sold at an auction.

What day celebrates our Flag?

What is the proper procedure to dispose of a damaged flag?

Can a flag that has touched the ground still be displayed?

How many flags have made it to the moon?

How did you do?

ANSWERS:

There have been 27 versions of the American Flag.

From the 1777 original that had 13 stars and 13 stripes for the American colonies, there have been many changes and iterations of the flag. Each time a state was added to the union, a star was added. We, of course, now stand with 50 stars and 13 stripes.

The Flag can be displayed for all 24 hours.

While it is Federal law that the flag should be displayed from sunrise to sunset (unless there’s inclement weather), there are measures that can be taken to show the flag for all 24 hours. All that needs to be added is proper illumination of the flag so it can be seen in the dark.

The colors were chosen carefully.

The Red, White and Blue did not just happen by accident. The founding fathers wanted the colors to have meaning, not just look visually pleasing. Red symbolizes hardiness and valor, white symbolizes purity and innocence and blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.

The current design wasn’t professionally made.

Rather, it was then 17-year-old high school student, Robert G. Heft, of Lancaster, Ohio who submitted the design in a contest in 1958. It was chosen out of over 1,500 submissions by President Dwight Eisenhower.

The current Flag is the only one to have lasted more than 50 years.

As stated above, there have been many changes to the design of the American Flag. But the one we currently observe is the longest running iteration of the symbol, likely because no states have been added to the union since 1959.

A snippet of the Flag the Star Spangled Banner was written about was sold in 2011.

The flag that flew at Ft. McHenry, immortalized by Francis Scott Key, is still around. A  2″ x 5″ swatch of it was sold at an auction in 2011 for a whopping $38,000. The rest of the flag is on display at Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

A snippet of the Flag the Star Spangled Banner was written about was sold in 2011.

The flag that flew at Ft. McHenry, immortalized by Francis Scott Key, is still around. A  2″ x 5″ swatch of it was sold at an auction in 2011 for a whopping $38,000. The rest of the flag is on display at Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

The Flag has a national day of recognition.

Flag Day, which celebrates the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777, was established by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30th, 1916 after years of local celebrations.

Flags should be disposed of in a “dignified manner.”

If an American Flag is damaged beyond repair and you need to dispose of it, you can burn it with dignity. Many municipalities around the country conduct flag burnings on Memorial Day or the Fourth of July where you can participate.

The Flag can touch the ground and still be used.

There is a myth that once a flag touches the ground it needs to be burned or disposed of. That’s not entirely true. If a flag is soiled or touches the ground, it can be washed and dry cleaned and continue to be used.

Six American Flags have made it to the moon.

You have probably seen Neil Armstrong on the moon with an American Flag, but he is not the only one to plant one on the surface of the moon. Five additional Apollo missions, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17, ended with an astronaut placing a flag on the moon.

Till next time…stay sharp!

This Christmas consider some creative wrapping alternatives I found at the Sarah Scoop website!

Chalkboard

Matte black paper and white pens create a cute chalkboard effect that’s perfect for artsy kids, teens, and anyone who loves a modern look. You can doodle snowflakes, write names, or add little messages.

Photo Gift Tags

Use small printed photos instead of traditional name tags to make each gift feel personal. This is a fun Christmas gift wrapping idea for close friends, grandparents, and kids.

Brown Paper and Rubber Stamps

Turn plain paper into custom Christmas designs using rubber stamps. This is a relaxing project to do with kids and gives your gifts a handmade feel.

Sheet Music

Perfect for music lovers, this idea turns sheet music into beautiful wrapping paper. Use it for choir directors, piano teachers, or anyone who loves holiday carols.

Map Paper Adventure Wrap

Use old maps or map-printed paper for the traveler in your life. It’s a creative way to hint at travel-related gifts or experiences.

Plaid Blanket Scarf Wrap

Wrap a gift in a cozy scarf so the packaging becomes part of the present. This is especially fun for teens and friends who love winter fashion.

There are lots more ideas and directions at this website:

25 Unique Christmas Gift Wrapping Ideas

Today is Dr. Carson’s birthday!  He was born in 1951 and I wanted to share some of his wisdom!

Happy Birthday Dr Carson!

I found this story on The Epoch Times site, originally on the Associated Press site:

There are plenty of hideouts in the rugged terrain of the Ozark Mountains, from abandoned cabins and campsites in vast forests where searchers are hunting for an ex-lawman known as the “Devil in the Ozarks.” Others are not only off the grid but beneath it, in the hundreds of caves that lead to vast subterranean spaces.

Fugitive Grant Hardin “knows where the caves are,” said Darla Nix, a cafe owner in Pea Ridge, Arkansas, whose sons grew up around him. Nix, who describes Hardin as a survivor, remembers him as a “very, very smart” and mostly quiet person.

For the searchers, “caves have definitely been a source of concern and a point of emphasis,” said Rand Champion, a spokesman for the Arkansas Department of Corrections.

“That’s one of the challenges of this area — there are a lot of places to hide and take shelter, a lot of abandoned sheds, and there are a lot of caves in this area, so that’s been a priority for the search team,” Champion said. “It adds to the challenge of a search in this area, for sure.”

Hardin, the former police chief in the small town of Gateway near the Arkansas-Missouri border, was serving lengthy sentences for murder and rape. He was the subject of the TV documentary “Devil in the Ozarks.”

He escaped Sunday from the North Central Unit — a medium-security prison also known as the Calico Rock prison — by impersonating a corrections officer “in dress and manner,” according to a court document. A prison officer opened a secure gate, allowing him to leave the facility.

Authorities have been using canines, drones and helicopters to search for Hardin in the rugged northern Arkansas terrain, Champion said. The sheriffs of several counties across the Arkansas Ozarks had urged residents to lock their homes and vehicles and call 911 if they notice anything suspicious.

In some ways, the terrain is similar to the site of one of the most notorious manhunts in U.S. history. Bomber Eric Rudolph, described by authorities as a skilled outdoorsman, evaded law officers for years in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. It was a five-year manhunt that finally ended in 2003 with his capture.

Rudolph knew of many cabins in the area owned by out-of-town people, and he also knew of caves in the area, former FBI executive Chris Swecker, who led the agency’s Charlotte, North Carolina, office at the time, said in the FBI’s historical account of the case.

“I think it is very likely that he not only had campsites and caves, but he was also spending some time in those cabins,” Swecker said. “He was anticipating a great conflict and he had clearly lined up caves and campsites where he could go,” he added.

Rudolph pleaded guilty to federal charges associated with four bombings in Georgia and Alabama, including one in Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta during the 1996 Olympic Games.

There are more than 2,000 documented caves in northern Arkansas, state officials say. Many of them have entrances only a few feet wide that are not obvious to passersby, said Michael Ray Taylor, who has written multiple books on caves, including “Hidden Nature: Wild Southern Caves.”

The key is finding the entrance, Taylor said.

“The entrance may look like a rabbit hole, but if you wriggle through it, suddenly you find enormous passageways,” he said.

Local residents might discover some caves as teenagers, so a fugitive would want to choose one that deputies in the search didn’t also discover as teens, Taylor said.

It would be quite possible to hide out underground for an extended period, but “you have to go out for food, and you’re more likely to be discovered,” he said.

Hardin pleaded guilty in 2017 to first-degree murder for the killing of James Appleton, 59. Appleton worked for the Gateway water department when he was shot in the head Feb. 23, 2017, near Garfield. Police found Appleton’s body inside a car. Hardin was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

He was also serving 50 years for the 1997 rape of an elementary school teacher in Rogers, north of Fayetteville.

He had been held in the Calico Rock prison since 2017.

SOURCE: THEEPOCHTIMES.COM (The story, from Associated Press, is dated 5/31/2025)

Devil in the Ozarks CAPTURED

How was Hardin caught, ending 12-day manhunt?

Authorities said tracking dogs picked up Hardin’s scent and were able to lead them to Hardin. Hundreds of law enforcement officers at the local, state and federal level spent nearly two weeks searching for Hardin, using dogs, drones and aircraft, at times hampered by severe weather.

Moccasin Creek where he was found has seen high water due to heavy rainfall in the last two weeks, which may have limited Hardin’s ability to move around. It also prevented authorities from finding him sooner. Champion said search teams had looked through the area before but couldn’t fully investigate because of the high water.

Though Hardin was previously thought to have left the state, Champion said investigators now believe he never got very far at all from the prison. He was fingerprinted and assessed at the North Central Unit before being moved to the Varner Unit, Champion said. He will be interviewed in the coming days.

SOURCE: USA TODAY

This month’s abandoned mansion is in Memphis, Tennessee and didn’t start out being called Prince Mongo’s Castle.   It started out as Ashley Hall.

Robert Brinkley Snowden, an architecture graduate from Princeton, and a premiere real estate developer in Memphis, built Ashlar Hall in 1896. Named after Ashlar stone, the predominant building material used in the construction of the Gothic Revival Mansion. It was built for around $25,000, the equivalent of $725,000 by today’s standards. Snowden was Memphis royalty. He was the owner of the famous Peabody hotel which was opened by his great-grandfather Colonel Robert C. Brinkley. He donated land for the Snowden School which was named for him, and is still open today. Snowden died in 1942, and by 1960 upkeep on the castle became too difficult and expensive for the heirs, and they filed an application to allow non-residential use of the building. From the 60s through the 70s it functioned as a restaurant, and the front lawn was paved over to provide parking for the guests.

Enter Prince Mongo; a 333 year-old alien-ambassador from the planet Zambodia. Or Robert Hodges, if you prefer to use his earth given name. Mongo is famous (or some would say infamous) for his creative and bizarre public persona. According to Mongo, he was sent here by the great Zambodian spirits, to save the city of Memphis, and protect it from natural disasters. Dressed in wildly stylized outfits, Mongo often sports a set of steampunk goggles, long blonde wig, and various accessories including a military bandolier loaded with tiny rubber chickens instead of bullets. He refers to everyone he meets as “Spirit”, and if you’re lucky you might receive one of his “blessings” by way of him tossing white flour on you. The American Pickers found this out when they paid Mongo a visit in 2014 (season 6, episode 29).

Every year since 1978 he has run for Mayor of Memphis, never winning although he came in third one year. He still attends debates, even proposing some legitimate solutions amid his other wildly bizarre and humorous ones. On a pamphlet for his candidacy he stated “Mongo will restrict the duties of the ignorant City Councilmen according to their mentality. They will feed the criminals on Dead Man’s Island from canoes during hurricanes.” However this humorous jab at the local government is followed by statements like” Mongo will donate all of his salary to charity.” And “Mongo will provide homes for the poor and needy, free utilities, and free transportation.”

No one seems to know where Mongo’s money comes from, but he appears to be quite well off with homes in Memphis, Miami, and Cashiers, NC. He even has a yacht to accompany his two million dollar mansion in Miami. He also appears to be somewhat of a philanthropist, donating to and promoting St. Jude Children’s hospital.

Mongo certainly marches to his own beat. There is a great video interview with him from back in the 80s on YouTube that you can watch and get a better understanding of his zany antics and creative character.

In the early 90s Mongo purchased Ashlar Hall and turned it into The Castle Nightclub. I had an opportunity to speak with Mongo over the phone about his time owning Ashlar Hall and this is what he had to say:

“It’s full of ghosts, but they’re good ghosts. They used to visit with me all the time. They would summon me upstairs to the attic and I would hear them tapping on the pipes and I’d tap back.” He said that shortly after he bought the building an old man came by and asked him if the air conditioner was still in the attic. The old man said that when he was a young boy in the early 1900s he would play with one of the Snowden girls and they would go up to the attic and watch the servants load ice into a box. The ice would melt and the cool water would flow down through the pipes and provide some measure of cooling for the house. Mongo believes these taps on the pipes were coming from the ghosts of the slaves who used to work there.

I asked Mongo about the interesting décor of the place and what drove him to festoon the building with large metal art installations. Some had old CRT TVs mounted inside them, and there was a huge metal chandelier dominating the great room in the center. He said, “All those were done by an artist in Houston. I wanted to combine the past with the future. The chandelier in the center was to be like Earth falling. The lights would shine through them all.”

When I asked him if he had any interesting stories of the parties and times spent at the nightclub he simply said, “It was a landmark in Memphis, and the people who came out were like a big family. We never had any problem with the people there, there were no fights and no shootings.”

Unfortunately the neighborhood didn’t feel the same way about The Castle. It quickly became an infamous nightclub with rumors circulating about underage drinking especially after two underage girls were killed in car crash after supposedly drinking at The Castle. Mongo was able to skirt the law by owning the building, but “gifting” the business to an employee, thus exonerating himself from legal complications as he was simply the landlord. He claims to be innocent of any underage drinking accusations.

At one point the Fire Marshall lowered the capacity for guests inside the castle. When Mongo was found to be in violation of the new lowered capacity, he responded by bringing in 800 tons of sand and turned the parking lot into a “beach” and brought the party outside! Over the years and after complaints from neighbors in a nearby apartment building, the city began taking action against him by responding to noise complaints, labeling the venue as a nuisance. They finally shut the Castle down in the late 90s.

Mongo continued his ownership of the unused building until a few years ago, when mounting fines and environmental court issues became too much. He quit-claimed the building to Kenny Medlin who now owns the land and is trying to figure out what can be done to save it. The most recent news out of Ashlar Hall is not of the good variety unfortunately. A contractor that Medlin hired pulled apart the roof, stole a significant amount of copper and much of the restaurant equipment from the building, and skipped town leaving the property in much worse condition than it already was. Williamson is still missing with a warrant for his arrest for “theft of services, passing bad checks, and illegal possession of credit/debit.” The battle to save Ashlar Hall continues…

SOURCE: WWW.ARTOFABANDONMENT.COM