On the back of the One
Dollar bill, you will see
two circles. Together, they
comprise the Great Seal of
the United
States.
The First Continental
Congress requested that
Benjamin Franklin and a
group of men come up with a
Seal. It took them four
years to accomplish this
task and another two years
to get it approved.
If you look at the left-hand
circle, you will see a
Pyramid.
Notice the face is lighted, and the
western side is dark. This country
was just beginning. We had not
begun to explore the west or decided
what we could do for Western
Civilization. The Pyramid is
uncapped, again signifying that we
were not even close to being
finished. Inside the capstone you
have the all-seeing eye, an ancient
symbol for divinity. It was Franklin's
belief that one man couldn't do it
alone, but a group of men, with the
help of God, could do anything.
'IN GOD WE TRUST' is on this
currency.
The Latin
above the pyramid, ANNUIT COEPTIS, means,
'God has favored our undertaking.'
The Latin
below the pyramid, NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM,
means, 'a new order has begun.'
At the
base of the pyramid is the Roman Numeral for
1776. (MDCCLXXVI)
If you
look at the right-hand circle, and check it
carefully, you will learn that it is on
every National Cemetery in the United
States. It is also on the Parade of
Flags Walkway at the Bushnell, Florida
National Cemetery , and is the centerpiece
of most hero's monuments. Slightly modified,
it is the seal of the President of the United
States , and it is always visible whenever
he speaks, yet very few people know what the
symbols mean.
The
Bald Eagle was selected as a symbol for victory for
two reasons: First, he is not afraid of a storm; he
is strong, and he is smart enough to soar above it.
Secondly, he wears no material crown. We had just
broken from the King of
England Also, notice the
shield is unsupported. This country can now stand on its
own. At the top of that shield you have a white bar
signifying congress, a unifying factor. We were coming
together as one nation. In the Eagle's beak you will
read, ' E PLURIBUS UNUM' meaning, 'one from many.'
Above the Eagle, you have
thirteen stars, representing the thirteen original
colonies, and any clouds of misunderstanding rolling
away.
Again, we were coming
together as one.
Notice what the Eagle holds in
his talons. He holds an olive branch and arrows. This
country wants peace, but we will never be afraid to
fight to preserve peace. The Eagle always wants to face
the olive branch, but in time of war, his gaze turns
toward the arrows.
They say that the number 13 is an unlucky number.
This is almost a
worldwide belief. You will usually never see a room
numbered 13, or any hotels or motels with a 13th floor.
But think about this:
13 original colonies,
13 signers of the
Declaration of Independence,
13 stripes on our flag,
13 steps on the Pyramid,
13 letters in, 'Annuit
Coeptis,'
13 letters in 'E
PluribusUnum,'
13 stars above the
Eagle,
13 bars on that shield,
13 leaves on the olive
branch,
13 fruits,
and if you look closely,
13 arrows.
And finally, if you notice the arrangement of the 13
stars in the right-hand circle you will see
that they are arranged as
a Star of David.
This was ordered by George Washington who, when he
asked Hayim Solomon, a wealthy Philadelphia Jew, what he
would like as a personal reward for his services to the
Continental Army, Solomon said he wanted nothing for
himself but that he would like something for his people.
The Star of David was the result. Few people know that
it was Solomon who saved the Army through his financial
contributions but died a pauper.
I
always ask people, 'Why don't you know this?' Your
children don't know this, and their history teachers
don't know this. Too many veterans have given up too
much to ever let the meaning fade. Many veterans
remember coming home to an America that
didn't care. Too many veterans never came home at all.
Share this page with everyone, so they can learn what is
on the back of the
UNITED
STATES ONE DOLLAR BILL,
and what it stands for!
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