THE UNITED STATES If
you look on the front of the bill, you will see the United States
Treasury Seal. On the top you will see the scales for a balanced
budget. In the center you have 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 will 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 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 un-capped,
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, you have 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. Share this page with everyone, so they can learn what is on the back of the UNITED STATES ONE DOLLAR BILL, and what it stands for... Otherwise, they will probably never know...
|
|
|