- Nov 25, 1999
- 7,926
- 43
Take out a U.S. one-dollar bill, and look at it closely. The first
one-dollar bill came off the presses in 1957, in its present design.
This so-called paper money is, in fact, a cotton and linen blend, with red
and blue minute silk fibers running through it. It is actually material, or
fabric, rather than paper. We've all washed it without it falling apart. A
special blend of ink is used, the contents we will never know. It is overprinted
with symbols and then it is starched to make it water resistant and pressed to
give it that nice crisp look.
If you look on the front of the bill, you will see the United States
Treasury Seal. On the top you see the scales for a balanced budget. In the
center there is a carpenter's square, a tool used for an even cut. Underneath is
the Key to the United States Treasury.
That's all pretty easy to figure out, but what is on the back of that
dollar bill is something we should all know.
If you turn the bill over, you 'll see two circles. Both circles, together,
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 (front) 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.
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 nation from many people".
Above the Eagle, there are 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 the Latin above, 13 letters in "E Pluribus Unum", 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, for minorities: the 13th
Amendment.
Why don't Americans 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.
one-dollar bill came off the presses in 1957, in its present design.
This so-called paper money is, in fact, a cotton and linen blend, with red
and blue minute silk fibers running through it. It is actually material, or
fabric, rather than paper. We've all washed it without it falling apart. A
special blend of ink is used, the contents we will never know. It is overprinted
with symbols and then it is starched to make it water resistant and pressed to
give it that nice crisp look.
If you look on the front of the bill, you will see the United States
Treasury Seal. On the top you see the scales for a balanced budget. In the
center there is a carpenter's square, a tool used for an even cut. Underneath is
the Key to the United States Treasury.
That's all pretty easy to figure out, but what is on the back of that
dollar bill is something we should all know.
If you turn the bill over, you 'll see two circles. Both circles, together,
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 (front) 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.
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 nation from many people".
Above the Eagle, there are 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 the Latin above, 13 letters in "E Pluribus Unum", 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, for minorities: the 13th
Amendment.
Why don't Americans 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.
