USA Celebrates Flag Day, June 14

I'm sharing this article that I wrote and published online in June 2009. A tribute to our USA flag.  For me, this holiday is very personal because I remember my Mother's birthday on Flag Day.  My Mother always loved to display our flag on her special day.

A Holiday which America Celebrates the Anniversary of the Flag

 
Flag Day, June 14, is now an official holiday and tradition of the USA Flag symbol which was started in the 1800s by children in elementary schools.  

Fourth of July is a popular USA holiday where people take extended weekend vacations in the summer months and gather together in local communities to participate in parades, picnics, and fireworks to celebrate the birth of USA.

A not so well known holiday celebration, FlagDay, June 14, in United States. People shower USA with flags on the fronts of businesses and homes to celebrate the USA flag, which was adopted by the Continental Congress in 1777.  In some cities, there are traditions to give children small flags to carry with them throughout the day.

The USA flag is a symbol to remind people of the history, national pride, and independence of USA. The American Flag is even celebrated through the words of the National Anthem, the "Star Spangled Banner." 

It is with respect which Americans follow certain rules when they display their flags:

• It is to be flown during daylight and when it is not raining.
• The flag should never be dipped or flown upside down.
• It is not be used for advertising purposes.
• When lowered to be put away, no part of the flag should touch the ground, it should be received by waiting, hands and arms, and folded in a ceremoniously way.
• It should be cleaned and mended.

President Truman signed the official “Act of Congress” on August 3, 1949 appointing June 14th of each year as National Flag Day after Woodrow Wilson officially set up the Proclamation on May 30th, 1916 declaring this anniversary of the 1777 resolution to the American flag.

Shoreline Park, Mountain View CA Courtesy of D West

Children First Celebrated USA Flags in Elementary Schools

Children in elementary schools played a significant role in celebrating the USA flag in the late 1880’s when B.J. Cigrand arranged a celebration for the children in his classroom in Wisconsin to recognize this anniversary of the flag. Geogre Balch arranged ceremonies for kindergarten children in New York City which was recognized later by the State Board of Education in New York and Pennsylvania.

Leroy Van Horn, together with Cigrand, formed the American Flag Day Association and were successful in assembling the celebration for 300,000 children through Chicago in parks of Douglas, Garfield, Humboldt, Lincoln, and Washington honoring the USA flag.
 
Ted Roosevelt’s Story of the Flag

A story from 1908 passed down through generations is as follows: 

"On June 14, Theodore Roosevelt saw a man wiping his nose on what he believed was the USA Flag. He quickly walked over and started hitting the man with a small wooden stick. He then realized the man was using a blue hankerchief with white stars to wipe his nose.
 
Roosevelt was quick to apologize for his behavior, although struck him one more time because he had become “riled up with national pride” with this similarity the cloth had to the flag."

Soon after this incident, in 1914, Secretary of Interior, Franklin K. Lane, delivered a speech in which he repeated words he said the flag had spoken to him that morning: 

"I am what you make me; nothing more. I swing before your eyes as a bright gleam of color, a symbol of yourself."

The USA Flag is a symbol which is rich in history and traditions of American people and is celebrated on June 14 every year throughout local communities across the USA.

Happy Birthday and Flag Day, Mother!  ~ The Fun Tour Guru  


Keep reading:  Solo through our Nation's Capitol

Source Used:

The Flag of the United States of America.

Image of flags from BostonUSA.com 

Join us on a trip:  Travel Together

Santa Clara CA: Levi's Stadium, New Home of 49ers and Superbowl 50

A "super" size big deal. In Santa Clara, CA. 

I watched the live stream where the NFL voted in the first round to have Superbowl 50 (in the year 2016) in our new Santa Clara Levi's Stadium. And, with a tweet of this. Wow, this is my neighborhood.  It is great to be a part of history-in-the-making.  

You may read the official news, facts, and figures on our City of Santa Clara website and there is even a live view web cam of the building activity available.  Our Santa Clara Convention and Visitors Bureau website has a Superbowl 50 link with the latest news on hashtag #SCSuperbowl and the stadium building activity live view web cam link too.  

I watched this monster building activity growing the past couple of years as I drive by every week.  The following pictures I have are real, and not just from an architect drawing.  I took the pictures on the day after the Superbowl 50 announcement. May 2013

Santa Clara CA Levi Stadium, New Home of 49ers and Superbowl 50

Above, you are looking east towards the Diablo Range and Mt Hamilton (San Francisco bay area highest peak) and our City of San Jose, or what we call the Capital of Silicon Valley today.   

Santa Clara CA Levi Stadium - New Home of the 49ers and Superbowl 50

Above, I was standing in our Santa Clara Golf & Tennis Club parking lot, golf course behind me,  which is (approx) north of the stadium.  The 49er Headquarters is to the left of the stadium.

Close Up of Santa Clara Stadium - End View Courtesy of DWest

Above picture, close up of our new stadium.  Santa Clara CA

Above, Santa Clara Golf & Tennis Club is on the right side and our new parking facility is straight ahead, following the palm trees.  Our convention center is tucked away behind the parking facility.  The other high rise building in the distance is the Westin Santa Clara. Behind this, continue to the local towns of Sunnyvale and Mountain View.

California's Great America Amusement Park, Santa Clara CA - Courtesy D West

The above picture, I turned slightly around without moving my feet, to my right, after taking the very first picture.  California's Great America Amusement Park.  You are able to see the top of the roller coasters and the pointed roof of the Carousel.  

49ers Headquarters, Santa Clara CA, Before the new stadium Courtesy DWest

It is a big deal. Superbowl 50 in Santa Clara ~ The Fun Tour Guru

Santa Clara CA Resources

Santa Clara Travel Consultant, group trip - outbound and inbound

City of Santa Clara

Santa Clara Convention & Visitors Bureau

Santa Clara CA University Graduation Event on Memoral Day Weekend

Remember these great finds close to home

I enjoy walking around one of my favorite universities, Santa Clara University, because of the beautiful Mission which is located on the university grounds.  Santa Clara University is one of the oldest "private universities" in California. Many times I get to see the set up or break down of weddings and events held over summer weekends.

This weekend (2013) I saw this behind-the-scenes set up of the Santa Clara University Law School Graduation which took place yesterday.  I don't know any of these graduates personally, I still pause as I know this is an accomplishment for our students.

I looked down the rows of empty seats and my thoughts went to the celebrations taking place with each graduate and their family and friends taking place this weekend. I remember my own graduation celebration with my family ... I didn't know what I would do after that one day, there was the dream of what might be possible...

 

The green lawn was covered with hundreds of perfect aligned white chairs on both sides of the stage waiting for their arrivals the next day and uniquely placed around the palm trees throughout the area. 

I talked with the kind, friendly security officer, who let me wander a bit behind the closed off areas and on the stage.  

Happy Memorial Day! So much has happened this past year ~ throughout our own country and world, how may we help each other? ~ The Fun Tour Guru

3 Most Frequent Questions from Travelers on Trips (FAQ)

What questions do you ask during the trip?

The trip is planned and now you are ready to leave.

I know it is fun to start reading favorite blogs and websites for additional region stories and information.  Yet, I wonder why am I still asked the same, repeat questions from travelers during their trips?

I chose three of the most frequent asked questions that people ask me, whether the trips are for business or leisure.  The answers to these questions are not readily available by social media. 

And remember, if you arrive in the evening or over the weekend, people in tourism and information centers will most likely NOT be available to help. 

Where is the toilet, bathroom, or restroom?

Don't get caught with your pants down...Picture taken at Gilroy Hot Springs, CA Courtesy of DW

I did a Google search for  “how to ask where is the restroom internationally”  and received  about 4,830,000 results (0.38 seconds). 

My tip, don't forget the many variations in each language of “restroom” and “bathroom”. An example is Spanish may be different in Spain and Mexico.  And, the definitions of these 
words are different in each country.  

This is even true when you travel across the USA.  I giggle as I mention this because I know even New York City is very different from Los Angeles and San Francisco.

This is a list of how to ask in five of my favorite languages:

• German:  Toilette
• German = Wo ist die Toilette, bitte? (Vo ist dee toy-LETT-uh, BIT-uh?)

• Spanish:  Bano (North American Counrty)
• Spanish = Perdone/Disculpe, ¿Dónde está el baño?(Formal) (Per-DON-eh, DOHN-deh es-TAH el BAHN-yo?)

• Italian:  stanza da bagno
• Italian = Mi scusi, dov'è il bagno?

• Greek:  τουαλέτα
• Greek = Parakalo, pou ine i tualetta? (Πού είναι η τουαλέτα;)

• French : Salle de bain
• French = pardon, où sont les toilettes? (pahr-DAW, oo saw lay twah-LETT?)

Do you understand what I mean now? 

Gilroy Hot Springs, Gilroy, CA Courtesy of DW

 The next frequent question… 

Do you have wi-fi? And, how much does internet access cost, what is the code to use to connect?

I admit, I am spoiled living in Silicon Valley and Northern California where most towns offer free (complimentary)  wi-fi , or connection to the internet.  I take it for granted. This is not always provided for you or sometimes a challenge to find the code access.  

Luxury hotels and resorts charge for this additional service.  Less expensive hotels usually provide this service, yet sometimes it is only provided in the lobby. 

On my trips, I ask where the local public libraries, coffee shops, or internet cafes are located.  By doing this, I  get the additional benefit of talking with the local people by doing this. 

Where may I charge my smartphone?

This is an active question now.  Even people locally ask this question when they attend meetings and conferences.  There is not that many electrical outlets available.  And, if you are traveling internationally, you may not have the right plug-in connection.  

Modern airports now have more convenient outlets to use in the sitting areas, how many times do we see someone sitting in a chair next to an outlet yet not using it?  Should we add a sign on the chair saying, 'reserved for those wanting to re-charge'? Or add more re-charge stations per chair?

There are many lightweight, inexpensive, emergency smart phone re-chargers available now. I use these to recharge my phone while on the plane or at dinner.  I keep my phone with me which eliminates a chance of someone stealing the phone.


There was one hotel in Germany that I stayed at with a lobby bar that had phone/computer charging stations in the center of their tables - how cool is this?

I also try to buy equipment like small cameras with re-chargeable batteries. Don't forget the cords! You may put cords in your extra socks and shoes to keep organized.

I hope this helps to get prepared for your next trip! Let’s go! ~ The Fun Tour Guru

More tips - read My Hit and Miss of my Last Trip and Trip Planning Advice

I want to go on vacation now!  My latest trips to go on are at my website.  Ask. 

Silicon Valley Where Past & Present Collides: Do You Remember National Semiconductor?

Early Silicon Valley History with our Semiconductor Industry 

I am active reading local articles in the Mercury News about our Silicon Valley history because of our new neighborhood center construction in Mountain View, CA, The Village at San Antonio Center.  On this land of the new neighborhood plan lies an old, neglected, one story building, which holds the story of a significant event of our technology history. (Editor's Note: this building was torn down - 2016 - we are glad we created this video)
 
Today, Silicon Valley is a blend of companies.  Don't forget that our region was coined Silicon Valley from a journalist because of the many semiconductor companies created through 1940s to 1970s.  

I was on my way home from an event in San Francisco last week, when I looked at the time on my car clock, there was still time to make it, so I decided to go undercover to a city council meeting because I was curious of what was happening with these plans.  I went to the Mountain View City Council Study Meeting. I walked away with a new understanding of their plans.

I listened closely to the members of this City Council as they made valid comments, concerns, and approaches about how the building plans should go forward. They listened to architect planners and to the public.  Most of the members seem to want to keep the same quaint Mountain View flavor and with local retail businesses even as they enter into the new modern neighborhood.

My only focus is to save this one building. I learned a great deal about this awesome new neighborhood transition that is coming and that there were many other concerns too.

I do know there is a way to save and protect one piece of Silicon Valley history, and revitalize the old building of Shockley Semiconductor - keep as a museum where people may learn essential ingredients of how this Valley began - and still build our new neighborhood around our history.  Let people walk and ride their bikes past it everyday. (See photos and video of this site in link above)

The activities on this location led to several developments in the semiconductor industry.  Workers left Shockley Semiconductor and created Fairchild Semiconductor as the second generation of this industry.  Several familiar corporate companies were created from business people who worked at Fairchild.  Three significant companies were Advanced Micro, Intel, and National Semiconductor.

A company I recently watched transition in the past few years is National Semiconductor. It was acquired by yet another company.  I took pictures to remember this. 

From National Semiconductor to Texas Instruments - Image by D West

The National Semiconductor corporate campus is still the same, has new paint and fresh updates, and now a new sign change with new owners. 

Early Days of Technology and Semiconductor Industry

National Semiconductor actually started in 1959 in Danbury, CT, to provide transistors for second generation computers.  They moved to the west coast because of an acquisition of a small integrated circuit company, Molectro. 

A year later, a former executive of Fairchild Semiconductor, Charles Sporck, became CEO and moved into a single-building with a leaking roof in Santa Clara.  Sporck led the team through this early period which made him the CEO with the longest tenure (during this period). 

National Semiconductor on Kifer - Image by D West

Highlights of 1968 - 1983 period

• Increased revenues to $1 billion by 1983, making National Semiconductor the first Silicon Valley company to surpass the $1 Billion milestone
• Expansion in Europe and Malaysia
• Move to the current site on Kifer Road, Santa Clara

Insiders interest: 
National Semiconductor acquired Fairchild Semiconductor sites located in Maine and State of Washington in 1987 

The company was reorganized and transformed in the 1990s.  Today: National Semiconductor was acquired by Texas Instruments in 2011.   

Will our Past and Present get to collide and stay together
 in Silicon Valley? ~ The Fun Tour Guru 

Comments are welcome... 
 

Silicon Valley history dates and stories are from the book "The Making of Silicon Valley : A One Hundred Year Renaissance".