All the Bible verses in this edition of The Presidential Prayer Team
for Kids Update are from The New Living Translation of the Bible.
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  • For Kids Only—Your chance to wish President Bush a happy birthday!
  • Flag Day! Where did we get it? Are you ready for it?
  • Do you know how to handle the flag?
  • Great Americans tell what the flag means to them!

Things to pray for
This photo shows President Bush on the telephone with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of Iraq on Thursday morning June 8. The two leaders were discussing the elimination of terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Give thanks to God for this great development in the war on terror. Photo courtesy of the White House.

  1. Something really big happened in the war on terror this week—Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was stopped as were several of his key leaders. They were killed in an area north of Baghdad by U.S. troops, acting on intelligence from Iraqis. Though we are sad for any loss of life, we can be grateful that this man, who ordered so much hurt and death for others has now, himself been stopped. We can also pray that those who fight against terrorism will continue to have success. We can pray that this development will lead to many more lives being saved. We can give thanks that Iraqis helped by providing information to our troops. We can pray that the Iraqi government will keep getting stronger and stronger as the cabinet is now complete and as they step up to lead that nation. And we can ask God to keep on guiding President Bush, Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, Gen. Casey and all the military leaders in Iraq as they keep working to win the war on terror.
  2. President Bush is having an important meeting this weekend as on Friday he welcomes to his Camp David retreat the Prime Minister of Denmark, Anders Fogh Rasmussen. These two leaders will discuss the important partnership between our countries, our common goal of spreading democracy and freedom in the world and support for the people of Afghanistan and Iraq. He will also meet with Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa on Monday, July 12 to discuss progress in the Balkans and he will meet with President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia on June 14 when they will discuss human rights and free trade. Pray for God's guidance and leading in each of these meetings.
President Bush spoke to people in Omaha, NE earlier this week, explaining that America has always been enriched by immigrants and therefore must find a way to continue to welcome them to our country while strengthening the laws that govern immigration and making our borders more secure. Pray for the President as he works with other leaders on this important issue. Photo courtesy of the White House.
  1. President Bush continues to lead our country toward decisions on other important issues as well—immigration reform and border security are two of them—so we can pray for him as he works with congressional leaders on these concerns.
  2. Pray for our troops as they continue to serve faithfully. Many are most likely very encouraged that they no longer are on the hunt for al-Zarqawi, but they still face all kinds of terror threats, both known and unknown so it’s a great time to pray for our troops and their families, for God’s protection and care and for His comfort every day.

Leaders to pray for
Portrait courtesy of the Air Force.

Director of the CIA—Gen. Michael Hayden
Gen. Michael Hayden became the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency on May 30, 2006. A four star General, he is responsible for all the activities of the CIA. As one of the main intelligence and information gathering agencies in our country, the work they do helps America keep all citizens safe as we fight the war on terror.

Before this post Gen. Hayden served with National Intelligence Director John Negroponte as Deputy Director of that agency.

Born in Pittsburg, PA on March 17, 1945, Hayden has a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in modern American history, both from Duquesne University. He is a distinguished graduate of the ROTC and entered active military service in 1969.

Gen. Hayden is very well qualified for this important post. He has served with both the National Security Agency, the Air Intelligence Agency and in many senior staff positions in the Pentagon. As the agency’s leader, he will continue to keep the CIA at the cutting edge of technology and other developments that will help them fight the war on terror.

Gen. Hayden is married to Jeanine Carrier, and they have a daughter and two sons.

Photo courtesy NASA.

NASA Administrator—Michael D. Griffin
Let's just say that Michael D. Griffin is a really, really smart guy. That's surely one of the reasons President Bush appointed him to be our country's new Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration—NASA. Dr. Griffin lives in Virginia and has been the head of the Space Department at Johns Hopkins University—that's not the class where they decide how to plan your closet, it's a really important program that trains many young scientists to understand and explore outer space.

Dr. Griffin has also worked as an engineer at NASA as well as having had a really successful career with several science-based companies. He is the first true scientist to run NASA, and people are getting pretty excited about what he will be able to do. In fact, one of his biggest jobs will be to help all the people at NASA as they continue to work at getting the Space Shuttle program up and going again since it was grounded after the horrible explosion of the Challenger on February 1, 2003. You may remember that President Bush has called for lots of new initiatives in our space program, so Dr. Griffin has his work cut out for him.

Oh, and Dr. Griffin has a few educational degrees to help him as he takes on the job—a bachelor's degree in physics, a doctorate in aerospace engineering and five, count them five, master's degrees ranging from business administration to applied physics! He will need our prayers as he steps into this new position following Senate confirmation.

Let me say first of all that your faith in God is becoming known throughout the world. How I thank God through Jesus Christ for each one of you. God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart by telling others the Good News about his Son.
—Romans 1:8-9

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.
—Ephesians 3:14-15

Hey! Since you are a kid who loves to pray for the President, wouldn’t it be great to tell him “Happy Birthday?” Now you can do that, right here on The Presidential Prayer Team for Kids. You can write a greeting, offer a Scripture verse or a prayer for the President. Your words will be put all together in a book and will be sent to the White House before his birthday! Click HERE to get started!

Flag Day is June 14—every year, no matter what. It’s a terrific day for all Americans, because it is the one day we set aside to fly our flag. But as kids who love America and who make it a habit to pray for her, we hope you will do more than just fly the flag this year. We hope you will learn more about your flag so you can gain a deeper appreciation and understanding for it. We hope you will think awhile about all the brave people who have sacrificed to keep the flag flying in the 229—almost 230!—years since our country was founded.

Do you know why we celebrate Flag Day on June 14? June 14 is the birthday of the Stars and Stripes. That’s right. On June 14, 1777, our flag came into being. It was born when the Second Continental Congress agreed that a new lag was needed as a fitting symbol for the new nation, the United States of America!

Flag Day may never have gotten started without a dedicated public school teacher named Bernard J. Cigrand. Mr. Cigrand started his crusade for Flag Day in 1885. This is the schoolhouse in Fredonia, WI where he taught and held the first Flag Day ceremonies. Does this look like your school? Why or why not? Would you like to have been in Mr. Cigrand’s class? Image courtesy of Okaukee County, WI.

Flag Day got its start when a public school teacher decided the children in his Fredonia, WI school should observe Old Glory’s birthday. Bernard J. Cigrand organized the first “flag birthday” and continued as its most enthusiastic promoter for many years.

This painting shows what one artist thought the scene might have been at the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia as Founding Fathers George Washington, George Ross (Betsy’s uncle!) and Robert Morris worked with Ms. Ross to create a fitting symbol for our country. Photo courtesy of the Betsy Ross House.

Flag Day took another step forward on June 14, 1889 when another public school teacher, George Balch, a kindergarten teacher in New York City got involved. Mr. Balch put together a Flag Day observance for the kids in his school with appropriate ceremonies for everyone to participate in. His work was rewarded as later the State Board of Education of New York adopted his idea and the date. On June 14, 1891, the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia held a Flag Day celebration, and on June 14 of the following year, the New York Society of the Sons of the Revolution celebrated Flag Day.

The idea quickly spread to other chapters of the Sons of the Revolution, and many other folks got involved. The Superintendent of Public Schools of Philadelphia called for Flag Day exercises to be held on June 14, 1893 in Independence Square. School kids gathered and each was given a small flag. They sang patriotic songs and listened to inspiring speeches. Sounds like fun, huh?

In 1894, New York’s governor called for the flag to be flown on all public buildings.

The idea for Flag Day continued to spread. In 1894, the governor of New York called for the American flag to be prominently displayed on all public buildings. Mr. Cigrand and another Flag Day enthusiast, Leroy Van Horn, had been working hard to get people in other states involved. Soon, the first Flag Day celebration was held in Illinois. On June 14, 1894 Chicago celebrated the day with all the public school kids holding festivities in Douglas, Garfield, Humboldt, Lincoln, and Washington Parks. More than 300,000 kids participated!

Franklin K. Lane who served our country s the Secretary of Interior from 1913-1920, under the administration of Woodrow Wilson, gave a stirring speech on the very first “official Flag Day” in 1914. Image courtesy of the National Park Service.

Kids weren’t the only ones excited about Flag Day. Grownups got involved too. On Flag Day 1914 Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior, delivered a 1914 Flag Day address in which he repeated words he said the flag had spoken to him that morning: "I am what you make me; nothing more. I swing before your eyes as a bright gleam of color, a symbol of yourself."

President Harry Truman signed the final Act of Congress declaring that Flag Day would become an official holiday to be celebrated every year on June 14. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Just two years later, President Woodrow Wilson made it official on May 30, 1916—America would observe Flag Day, the anniversary of the creation of the first American flag, every year. President Wilson’s proclamation got some punch added to it when on August 3, 1949, President Harry Truman signed the Act of Congress officially declaring June 14 every year as National Flag Day.

Think about our flag for a moment. Do you know what it means? What it stands for? How does it make you feel? When you see the flag do you think about the people who shed their blood to keep it flying? Do you feel proud when you look at it?

The colors of the flag are very important! The white of the stripes and stars stand for purity and innocence. Red stands for hardiness and valor, and many think of the red as symbolizing the blood that was shed to gain our freedom. The blue stands for vigilance, perseverance and justice. Our flag is the true symbol of democracy and freedom, and it inspires us to feel pride and gratitude to God for the privilege of living in this country. That is why we should always treat the flag with respect and honor.

Do you know how to fly the flag? Did you know there are special rules for flying our American flag? Because it is one of the most important and special symbols of our country, it deserves special treatment. Here are the rules to follow when you fly the American Flag:

  • Fly the flag from sunrise to sunset. If flown through the night, it must be well-lit so it can be seen.
  • When you raise the flag, do it briskly. When you lower it, do it slowly and with thoughtfulness. Never take the raising and lowering of the flag lightly—it is an important ceremony, each and every time it is done!
  • The flag should not be flown in the rain or inclement weather unless it is an “all-weather” flag.
  • Always fly the flag on official holidays. Click here to read a list of flag-flying days.
Click HERE to read about flag-flying days and rules for flying the flag.

If one asks me the meaning of our flag, I say to him: It means all that the Constitution of our people, organizing for justice, for liberty, and for happiness, meant. Our flag carries American ideas, American history and American feelings. This American flag was the safeguard of liberty. It was an ordinance of liberty by the people, for the people. That it meant, that it means, and, by the blessing of God, that it shall mean to the end of time!
--Henry Ward Beecher, 19TH century pastor and abolitionist

Let those who would die for the flag on the field of battle give a better proof of their patriotism and a higher glory to their country by promoting fraternity and justice.
--Benjamin Harrison, Inaugural Address, 1889


The things that the flag stands for were created by the experiences of a great people. Everything that it stands for was written by their lives. The flag is the embodiment, not of sentiment, but of history.
--Woodrow Wilson


When we look at our flag and behold it emblazoned with all our rights, we must remember that it is equally a symbol of our duties. Every glory that we associate with it is the result of duty done.
--Calvin Coolidge

Read again the stirring words spoken by Henry Ward Beecher. As a godly young American, he fought to end slavery and to bring many people into a friendship with Jesus. He did this by preaching and writing and working with others. Henry Ward Beecher also loved his country and the flag.

QUESTION 1

Which of the following would you say best explains Henry Ward Beecher’s feelings about the flag?

  1. When Henry Ward Beecher looked at the American flag, he saw colorful cloth that acted as a symbol for our country.
  2. When Henry Ward Beecher looked at the American flag, it made him happy.
  3. When Henry Ward Beecher looked at the American flag, it made him think of the great struggle experienced by our Founding Fathers and others to gain freedom and independence for our country.

QUESTION 2

True or False Henry Ward Beecher felt that since most every person in America was first British, the flag should stir appreciation for Britain and the heritage we received from that great nation.

  1. True
  2. False

QUESTION 3

True or False Though Henry Ward Beecher loved the flag, he also believed that the meaning of our flag would change from time to time and from generation to generation.

  1. True
  2. False

QUESTION 4

Read again the words of President Calvin Coolidge. Which of the following would you say is true?

  1. Calvin Coolidge believed that everyone in America has certain rights, and we should take advantage of them whenever and however we want to.
  2. President Coolidge said that when we look at the flag we should feel overwhelmed with all that we must do to earn our freedom in this country.
  3. Calvin Coolidge said that the privileges of being an American also come with certain responsibilities, and we must remember those who have faithfully stepped up to fulfill those responsibilities, for they bought our freedom.

QUESTION 5

True or False According to Calvin Coolidge, we would not enjoy the liberty and freedom we have in America if those who went before us hadn’t stepped up to defend America, her freedom and independence.

  1. True
  2. False

Photo courtesy of The White House.

From our Nation's earliest days, Old Glory has stood for America's strength, unity, and liberty. During Flag Day and National Flag Week, we honor this enduring American symbol and celebrate the hope and ideals that it embodies.

In 1777, the Second Continental Congress established the flag of a young Nation, whose 13 original states were represented in the flag's 13 stars and 13 alternating red and white stripes. Today, the Stars and Stripes commemorate the revolutionary truths of our Declaration of Independence and Constitution. As Americans, we revere freedom and equality, the rights and dignity of every individual, and the supremacy of the rule of law. These fundamental beliefs have guided our country and lifted the fortunes of all Americans, and we have seen their power to transform other nations and deliver hope to people around the world. During Flag Day and National Flag Week, we also honor the men and women who carry our flag into battle. Through their bravery and sacrifice, they help keep America safe and advance peace and freedom around the globe. By flying the flag, we express our gratitude to these heroes and all those who help ensure that the many blessings of our great country continue for generations to come.
--George W. Bush

We hope you’ve learned some new things about our flag, and that you’ll make sure that the American flag is flown proudly at your home this Flag Day! And while you are at it, remember that the flag is one of the very best prayer reminders a person can have. Each time you see the flag, let it remind you to thank God for the freedom you enjoy in America, and then pray for the President asking God to guide and protect him. As a kid who prays, that’s one of the best ways you can show your gratitude to God this Flag Day.

We also want to encourage you to take President Calvin Coolidge’s words to heart and to consider what you can do to serve our country—besides praying, that is—which is a very important form of service. Can you volunteer to help others? Can you work to keep your neighborhood clean? Is there a way you can help send care packages to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan? You may be just a kid, but there is much you can do to honor and serve our country.

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