| For many years I taught my fifth grade students | | | | Some of them said they are "shrieking for |
| about the symbols of the United States of | | | | freedom". |
| America. Over the years I have grown to love | | | | When born the Bald Eagle is born it is gray and |
| our national symbol, the American Bald Eagle. | | | | not the graceful bird of flight that you see five |
| Many students are shocked to learn that our | | | | years later after it has developed it's white tail |
| national symbol is not the flag, but the Bald Eagle. | | | | feathers and head feathers. |
| In 1782 it was chose as the National Bird and then | | | | The Bald Eagle is at the top of the food chain |
| as our national emblem in 1787. You can find it on | | | | living in the tops of lofty mountains and near |
| the Great Seal of the United States with its wings | | | | coasts and lakes where fish abound. They |
| spread wide and a shield for his breast. The shield | | | | represent boundless freedom as they soar |
| has 13 red and white stripes. In its right talon it | | | | through the blue skies. |
| holds an olive branch and, if you care to count, | | | | When you first see this bird he is really |
| you will find that the olive branch has 13 leaves | | | | impressive. It has a 2 ½ - 3 foot body and |
| and 13 berries. This olive branch represents the | | | | can spread its sings 6-8 feet. When it spreads |
| United States desire for peace. In the Bald Eagles | | | | those wings and takes flight you catch your |
| left talon is a bundle of 13 arrows that represent | | | | breath because they are so beautiful. To see their |
| our willingness to fight for our freedom, if | | | | nests (aerie) in trees you would look for a tree |
| necessary. Finally in its beak is a scroll with the | | | | that is usually over seventy five feet tall. The |
| motto "E Pluribus Unum" which means 'one out of | | | | nests themselves are about five feet in diameter |
| many'. | | | | and just as deep. |
| The Bald Eagle also appears on the Presidential | | | | There are many interesting facts about the Bald |
| Seal, most coins, paper money and many stamps. | | | | Eagle, such as its diving speed which can reach |
| There are many types of eagles all over the | | | | 100mph as it goes for a fish. At one time they |
| world, but the American Bald Eagle only lives on | | | | were being killed in record numbers for their |
| the North American Continent. That is one reason | | | | beautiful feathers. The government intervened |
| that the Golden Eagle was not chosen because it | | | | and put them on the endangered list. |
| lives in Europe, also. | | | | The term 'eagle eyes' refers to their ability to see |
| It has been reported that at one of the first | | | | 1 ½ miles away. We need to keep an eagle |
| battles of the Revolutionary War the noise of the | | | | eye on our freedoms that are represented by |
| battle awoke sleeping eagles who flew from their | | | | this noble bird, The American Bald Eagle, so that |
| nests circling the men fighting below. Their shrill | | | | we don't loose them. |
| cries blended with the cries of the fighting men. | | | | |