World's Largest Flying Flag

https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/did-you-know-the-worlds-largest-flying-american-flag-flies-in-gastonia/466319588/

"GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — What has been billed as the largest flying American flag in the world on a flagpole is in Gaston County near Crowder’s Mountain.

It was erected in 1999 and can be seen for 30 miles.

The flag is 65 feet tall and 114 feet wide. It measures 7,410 total square feet and weighs 180 pounds, according to a Los Angeles Times article from 1999. The flagpole is 225 feet tall.

Each stripe on the flag is 5 feet tall and each star measures more than 4 feet across.

It was organized by Gastonia AMVETS Post 920.

According to veterans who traveled across the country to raise money for the 7-year project, there are two flags that are bigger in California, but neither is flown.

The world’s largest free-flying American flag hangs over the George Washington Bridge. It was put up in 2013.

"It is the most important symbol we have and unique among all the symbols of the world," retired Army Maj. Gen. Patrick Brady, a Medal of Honor recipient and president of the Citizens Flag Alliance, said."

https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/did-you-know-the-worlds-largest-flying-american-flag-flies-in-gastonia/466319588/

Hymn Graphics on DropBox

Use this link for the DropBox folder of hymn graphics.

I have uploaded all my hymn graphics to DropBox - most of them from Norma Boeckler - because some people would like access to them for their media work.

If you have DropBox, the additions on my side should show up in your folder. Send me your email if you want me to invite you to join the free service. I get a bonus in space that way, if the offer is still on.

I have some thoughts about gathering the lyrics and some graphics for the truly great hymns in The Lutheran Hymnal. There are no formal plans yet, but it could be fun to make a book and PDF.

The Bethany Luthean Hymnal Blog serves as a database, so gathering the lyrics and grouping them would be relatively easy. I was thinking of having all Luther, Gerhardt, Melanchthon, Loy, in groups. I might group some seasons, such as best Easter, etc.

I think the number of TLH hymns has made us (or me) use the most familiar hymns and bypass ones we think no one knows or no one wants to sing. 

We have had a very positive response to using The Bethany Luthean Hymnal Blog - more requests, more enjoyment of hymns, more selections of beautiful hymns neglected previously.

Voting Today

 

I set the alarm for 6 AM but got up at 5 AM, carefully turning off the alarm. I was seventh in line at 7:15 AM.

The line was not forming fast, so I talked to the man 6 (six) feet behind me. "I guess there are few early birds in this town." He laughed and said, "I was ready to vote at 5 AM."

Elaborate steps were taken to avoid the spread of the largely absent Wu Flu virus. It is easier to find a Hillary supporter in Arkansas.

Voting started slowly with all the awkward measures and just a few people to handle the liturgical fine points of virus-free voting. But I was going home at 7:45 AM.

Our quartet will sing their favorite TV song:

And that's Uncle Joe

He's a-movin' kind of slow

At the junction

Petticoat Junction!