Posted on Jul 2, 2015
SFC Jeff L.
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In just a couple of days our great nation will celebrate it's Independence Day. Happy Birthday America!! It's been a long and winding road, but here we are. Please share your favorite patriotic trivia. I'll start:

My favorite song is the Star Spangled Banner. For real, more than any other song. Most poeple can sing it by heart, but did you know that there is more than one verse? There are actually four verses to the Star Spangled Banner, and I just can't make it through verse two without getting misty. Yeah, that's right, and I don't care.

Your turn.
Posted in these groups: Patriotism logo PatriotismImgres Constitution
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COL Ted Mc
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http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/143072/

239 and still going strong.

Please stay around for the 240th.
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A1C Cyber Systems Operations
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Did you know, that we have almost been to war with Canada three times? once was so close there were Canadian "war ships" in the Great Lakes, and that dispute was caused by a farmer chasing his pig into Canada, and Canada claiming it was theirs the second it crossed the border. All disputes were later solved diplomatically.
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SFC Jeff L.
SFC Jeff L.
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That's actually pretty funny. I had no idea. I like the air quotes around "war ships."
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COL Ted Mc
COL Ted Mc
9 y
A1C (Join to see) - Airman; You are almost correct.

During the Revolutionary War the "Patriots" unsuccessfully invaded (what is now) Canada and got thumped - but there was no "declaration of war" since the United States of America didn't then exist (legally).

In 1812, the United States of America did declare war on Britain (over issues which had already been settled when the declaration of war was issued) and tried to invade (what is now) Canada several times - it got thumped (and the Presidential Mansion was burned [it was hastily repainted to cover the signs of damage and only color of paint that was available in sufficient quantities on such short notice was white [hence the US does not have a "Presidential Mansion" but rather has a "White House"]

[ASIDE - The War of 1812 was probably the most mismanaged war (on both sides) ever fought. Examples of poltroonary, incompetence, and just plain-old bone-headed stupidity abounded on both sides. It's tough to figure out which country was luckier in avoiding being defeated. Based on the statistics, with the US vastly outnumbering the (what are now) Canadians, the decision would have to be that the US "lost" as it didn't defeat an inferior force and achieved absolutely none of its "war aims". BUT, since both sides drove off invasions of their own territory, I guess that it's OK to let both sides claim that they won.]

The "War of Griffin's's Pig" was another of those hilarious episodes which didn't quite cause a war. At the time the ownership of the Gulf Islands was in dispute, the Brits claimed them and so did the Americans. In fact, negotiations were ongoing to settle the issue. Anyhow, Mr. Cutlar shot a pig that belonged to Mr. Griffin (apparently the pig was eating Mr. Cutlar's potatoes). Cutlar offered to pay Griffin $10.00 for the pig (probably the modern equivalent of over $1,000) but Griffin wasn't satisfied. The matter was eventually settled when the German Kaiser gave the Gulf Islands to the United States of America and without a single shot being fired.
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