"The Meaning of a One Dollar Bill"
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 the balance, meaning a balanced
budget.
In the center you have a carpenter's T-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
uncapped,
again signifying that we were not even close to
being
finished. It's suspended apex stone portrays the all
seeing eye of the Almighty, watching over the
destiny
of our nation.
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,
"He has favored our beginnings." 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
heroes' monuments. Slightly modified, it is the
seal
of the President of the United States.
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 "Out Of
Many
- One."
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 rods in our
National mace, 13 steps on the Pyramid, 13 letters
in
"E Pluribus Unum", 13 stars above the Eagle, 13
plumes
of feathers on each span of the Eagle's wing, 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. There are 13 letters
in our national emblem, the "American Eagle".
I always ask people, "Why don't you know this?" Your
children don't know this and their history teachers
don't know this. Too many veterans have given up too
much to ever let the meaning fade. Many veterans
remember coming home to an America that didn't care.
Too many veterans never came home at all.
Tell everyone what is on the back of the one-dollar
bill and what it stands for, because nobody else
will.
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