Sunday, June 15, 2008

Two Things Challenge: Flagpole

Fifty unfurled, fluttering flags on flagpoles
around the Washington Monument!


The second part of this week's Two Things Challenge is Flagpole. What better place for a picture of flagpoles than the Washington Monument? This monument to America's first president, George Washington, is surrounded by 50 flags--one for each state in the Union. They are one of the few sets of flags that fly 24/7/365 in Washington.

Looking skyward

Coincidentally, yesterday happened to be Flag Day in the U.S. June 14, 1777 is the day the Continental Congress adopted the flag of the United States. At the time, it had a field of blue with 13 stars in a circle representing the 13 original colonies and 13 alternating stripes of red and white. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation making June 14th Flag Day and in 1949 National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress. Unlike other holidays in the U.S., however, Flag Day is not an official federal holiday unless the sitting president declares it such. Only Pennsylvania observes it as a state holiday.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 6/08

6 comments:

The Artful Eye said...

Beautiful. It almost appears like the clouds want to swirl around the monument in the top photo.

Wonderful perspective in second.

..and why aren't you creating books from your photos and writings? galleries etc.??

Janet Kincaid said...

Andrea: Thank you! I love the clouds in the first one. We really lucked out on the weather here today. And the second one is a fun perspective.

Honest answer to your question? I think my work is okay, but I don't know if it's good enough that someone would actually buy it and hang it in their home. Then again, I've had people say they would, but I think they're just being polite.

Bev said...

These are awesome photos and perfectly encapsulate up a patriotism and pride in one's country.

There are more flagpoles surrounding the monument than anyone has a right to expect, and I like the way it is reaching for the clouds in the second.

Janet Kincaid said...

Bev: Seeing all those flags around the Washington Monument can certainly stir feelings of patriotism, especially when there's a breeze making them flutter. (When they hang limp in the heat and humidity, they're not quite as inspiring! LOL!)

Rob said...

Flags are fun to shoot; waiting anxiously for that moment. I took a movie clip of my Pop's flagpole at the cabin. Someday I shall upload it.

Anonymous said...

Rob: I'd love to see that video! The only bummer with these photos is, I wanted to lay on the ground to take them, but the NPS has already erected crowd control fencing around the monument in preparation for July 4. I'll have to go back after Independence Day and try again!