The Fourth of July is just around the corner and many of us are looking forward to the firework displays. We will fly our American Flags, wear red, white and blue and eat delicious food, all in the name of our Great Country and the Freedoms we share. But at FLAGS everyday is the Fourth of July! There’s no need to wait for a patriotic holiday. So we are starting a list of things you can do to show your love of the U.S. of A.

10 Things You Can Do to Show Your Patriotic Spirit EVERYDAY!

1. Write a Letter To The Troops they love to hear from us and how much we appreciate their efforts to protect our freedoms.
2. Hang a flag outside your door. Any day is good or all year long, not just on holidays.
3. Wear an American Flag t-shirt. Or tell FLAGS your patriotic story and you could win a FREE T-shirt!
4. Dress-up your dog or cat in red, white & blue. They love the USA too.
5. Quilt, crochet, sew or knit a Blanket for Recovery for the troops. Wounded and recovering Veterans will cherish your efforts.
6. Sing a patriotic song, because it’s fun. Check out this cutie singing You’re a Grand Old Flag below.
7. Visit the public library and read a patriotic story to your kids. They will love it.
8. Download the coloring pages from FLAGS, make patriotic artwork and display it on the fridge or in window for all to see.
9. Brush up on some FLAG etiquette; did you know that you can fly your flag 24 hours a day, but when the sun is down you must make sure that it is properly illuminated?
10. Visit a Veteran’s Home. Just pop in, say hello and shake a few hands. You’ll be glad you did.

There are many different ways you can show your love of our beautiful USA. If you have done something patriotic that you want to share (we love pictures) or have some patriotic activates to add to this list, let us know. We would love to hear from you! And if we have your OK we’ll share your stories on our website.

Happy Birthday America!

Love, FLAGS Across The Nation

Enter to Win a Patriotic T-shirt from FLAGS Across The Nation.

Tell us about your most interesting, exciting or memorable patriotic experience. Perhaps you say the Pledge of Allegiance everyday at school. Or maybe you helped a veteran. Maybe you wrote a letter or sent a care package to a deployed soldier. Everyday patriotism and breath taking moments, we want to hear about them all.

You may enter the contest once each week and the winner will be drawn at random. Everyone has a chance to win. This contest will be available for a limited time so enter today!

Share your patriotic story or experience with FLAGS and each week we will select one person to receive a free T-shirt.

How to Enter:

1. You share your story as a comment to this post.

2. You can share your story on our Twitter page or  just make sure to add @FLAGS_USA to your post so we get notified.

Not following us yet? Check us out on Facebook and Twitter!

Caring Methodist women continue to crochet and knit blankets for our wounded and recovering troops. The women at Memorial United Methodist Church in Charlotte, NC have made over 200 blankets for “Blankets for Recovery.” Volunteers make a big difference by knitting and and crocheting their love into every piece of yarn. The giving of heart is so very appreciated by the recipients of the gifts.

FLAGS Across The Nation truly reaches across the nation with volunteers in multiple cities, from Charlotte to Arizona and California. The California volunteers, employees of ASPEN Risk Management Group have been delivering the Memorial United Methodist Church blankets to our recovering troops for years. Since, 2001, ASPEN has been actively participating in supporting our troops with letters, gifts, notecards and support for FLAGS.

Another caring person, this time Karen from Mesa Arizona donated 43 hand made blankets for the FLAGS Across The Nation’s program, “Blankets for Recovery.” Tiffiny Lilley, from My Studio Space Web Design Firm and volunteer for FLAGS, as well as web master recently went to San Diego, CA to drop off the blankets at the Balboa Naval Hospital.

Occasionally, we are asked if artwork for the Flags Across The Nation Art Contest can be submitted via emailed. And as the rules state for this year’s contest, all artwork must be mailed in. One of the really special benefits of this contest is that most of the artwork submitted is sent to our deployed troops who really appreciate knowing that we are thinking of them.

And if you and your kids are still thinking about sending in your artwork submission, there is still time. Just make sure that your envelope is post marked by Aug 1, 2010. Show us your patriotic spirit and create some Red White and Blue artwork for FLAGS Across the Nation and our Heroes here and over seas.

PS – Every entry is a winner and will receive a mini American Flag compliments of Carrot Top.

Thanks for your support!

FLAGS Across The Nation

Calling children artists to participate in a patriotic art contest.

Enjoy your summer, while you create a piece of art for the FLAGS Across The Nation, Patriotic Art Contest.

Children, grades 1to 6 wanted to enter our contest. There is still time. The deadline is August 1. Show your love for the United States of America. Submit your colorful red, white and blue drawings or paintings to FLAGS.

Your winning art will be featured on our website and enjoyed by 1,000′s of active duty military, veterans and patriotic Americans. After the contest, all art will be sent to our deployed troops in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Pick up that pen or pencil and create your magnificent piece of art. Every 1st thru 6th grade artist to submit an entry will receive a mini American Flag!

Our troops love to see drawings of American flags, children saluting the flag, themes of freedom and anything that has red, white and blue.

If you want to add a few words of appreciation or patriotism to your drawing, go ahead and do that. It will be valued.

Enjoy your patriotic summer of fun!