Family Stories
Posted on Dec 02, 2009
One of the real joys of Grandparents’ Day is the wisdom shared by these special adults with the important young people in their lives. In the days leading up to our break for Thanksgiving our third graders had a visit from Ben Franklin and we also celebrated a Veteran’s Day Chapel. These celebrations encourage us to share the stories of our family units and the history of our nation. In our own family, many years ago now, my grandfather (a World War I veteran) used the opportunity to share the symbolism represented on the back of a simple one-dollar bill.
On the green back of the one-dollar bill you will find two circles that comprise the Great Seal of the United States. We can thank three committees, one of which was headed by Benjamin Franklin for this artwork. Several of the symbols in the left portion of the seal are less well understood. If you think of the left circle in a north-south orientation you’ll recognize that the western surface of the unfinished pyramid is dark. This is a representation at the time of our own western territories being undiscovered. As a nation we too were unfinished and not yet a clear force in Western Civilization. The eye on the pyramid is a reference to divinity. This symbol and the words, “In God We Trust” and “Annuit Coeptis” (God has favored our undertaking) express the belief that God was instrumental in our national development.
In the right-hand portion of the Great Seal is the familiar bald eagle. This symbol is often used to mark locations of national significance. The bald eagle is truly bald in the symbol to clearly indicate that we are a nation of leaders who wear no crowns. The shield in front of the eagle floats free indicating that we are prepared to stand on our own. The white bar at the shield’s top edge symbolizes the fact that Congress unifies the nation. Of course the famous “E Pluribus Unum” means one nation from many people. You may not realize that while the olive branch and arrows are clear references to peace and might, the eagle’s head is reversed to face the talon holding the arrows if and when Congress declares war.
Now, I give all of our numerologists a discovery assignment that may require magnification. Find as many instances utilizing the number 13 on the $1 bill. For example, in the chevron of the Treasury Shield there are 13 stars. Think of how often thirteen has been featured in our national history; we had 13 original colonies and 13 signers of the Declaration of Independence. Our national symbolism is filled with meaning. My message at Grandparents Day was, “Be There.” It is my hope that as the generations gather during this extended holiday season, you will recall your family stories and the stories which relate your family history to our national stories.
