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