Fort Delaware - The Pea Patch Gazette

Fort Delaware has small newsletter that transcends time.  It is called The Pea Patch Gazette.  It has a logo for the paper and design of Fort Delawares arms in the upper left hand corner.  The issue today was for September 22.  On the back is a map of the fort.

 This fort was built in 1859 and held close to 33,000 Confederate POWs. It was active during Spanish American War, WWI, WWII.  But for its entire history, a shot was never fired in combat.

There was a planned riot during the Civil War by a Confederate Officer, but he was transferred before it could happen.

Much of the park staff is dressed in mid 1800 period costumes.  And remember Delaware was not a part of Pennsylvania, rather Pennsylvania was a part of Delaware!


https://destateparks.com/History/FortDelaware

Executive Seal of Sam the Eagle - The Muppets

 

The Executive Seal of Sam the Eagle is something a peculiar item from the imagination of Jim Henson.   The seal features Sam the Eagle in a spread eagle pose. Above his head is cloud with one red star and ribbon.  The seal is surrounded by 12 gold stars.

Mason-Dixon Flag at Corner of Pennsylvania & Delaware

The Mason-Dixon line flag had its first public outdoor unfurling at the origin point of the Mason-Dixon corner between Pennsylvania and Delaware.  The flag is similar in design to Maryland, which saw the US Civil War as virtual War Between the Counties.  The design of the Mason-Dixon line flag is a fusion of cantons of the Confederate and Union flags.  Usually the Union canton is a starry field that varied from 13 to 50, while the second and third version of the Confederate flag had the popular battle flag of the Confederacy in the canton, that is now taken to represent the Southern Heritage, CSA and as a divisive symbol. 

The crossed-cantons of the North and South harmonize in geographic concordance to the states and territories witness to whence slavery made illegal in the United States.  The upper right and lower left area represent the free states (or territories at the time) that touched or crossed the Mason-Dixon line.  Thus the white stars on the blue quarters represent: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and then Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and California.  The other four white stars on the fimbrated Confederate quarters represent Delaware, Maryland and then Missouri and West Virginia.  The central star represents Virginia which used to reach up to 39thº  North, up until after the Southern Rebellion ended.

Also the banner is a heritage flag for persons who have an ancestor who fought for the North and another who fought for the South.  Surely by now, there are several million Americans who have a direct genetic connection either side.  So it is in this manner, without malice and for the sake of love, growth, understanding that his flag was dedicated upon this spot.

From the 'bondage side' of Delaware, the Confederate quarters seem to take the honor corner.  The flag is in front of the 1892 corner marker.

Papa Smurf Held Captive in New Jersey

Papa Smurf and Santa are smurfurifically smurffy.  So when you smurf on the smurf, remember to clean up after smuffing, its always good manners to be smurfy.

New Jersey Smurf Flag

The Phrygian Cap of New Jersey is clearly visible.  But did you know that it was originally Papa Smurf's hat?   However the difference is has a blue band along the bottom, and six stars.

Smurf popularity had its ups and downs.  But in the early 1980s they rocked the world. Here you can see Papa Smurf with his now modified New Jersey Phrygian Cap.

Papa Smurf's hat is usually all red, but he let the Jersey Girls take his cap and add some lucky stars to an already lucky Smurf. 

New York Smuf Flag - Ft. Brainy & Grumpy Smurf

Back in my day ft. used to mean foot or feet, as in measuring something.  But today kids with the rapple-dapple music have hijacked it to mean featuring.  But what about feast, fleet, feat...can we shorten them to mean ft too?  How about fart?  Your ft. is stinky. 

But in this fun New York flag featuring 'Ft.' Brainy Smurf and Grumpy Smurf, you can now understand the meaning of of the little device that is sometimes confused as birth control or a mop.

Superman New York Flag

 What is Superman?  A spirit, an idea, the imagination?  No, he is real as any dream and represents the best that mankind has to offer. At the pulpit of the American heart, he speaks to us and reminds us that we can be better than we used to be, and that will do.