Author: James Breig

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Bio
James Breig is a veteran author who specializes in history. His most recent book is “Star-Spangled Baseball: True Tales of Flags and Fields” about the links between the sport and flags. He is also the author of a nonfiction book about WWII, "Searching for Sgt. Bailey: Saluting an Ordinary Soldier of World War II" and co-author of "The Mystery of the Multiple Mothers," a novel. All three are available at www.amazon.com. His articles have appeared in newspapers and national magazines, including the Colonial Williamsburg Journal (search for them at www.history.org/journal) and History Magazine. He has won many national awards for his opinion writing, media columns and feature articles.
History Lessons

Four presidents oversee plenty of flags

Rushmore flags

Seventy-five years ago, one of the world’s most astonishing man-made creations was dedicated: Mount Rushmore. Thirty-five years later, the four presidents carved there would look down on another tribute to the nation: the Avenue of Flags, colorful reminders of the country served by the stony quartet. Mount Rushmore was conceived in the 1920s by Doane… continue

History Lessons

FDR said ‘flag’ ten times on 9/11

Front page of Indiana newspaper after FDR's address

Americans will soon mark the 15th anniversary of the 9/11/2001 attacks on the U.S. That night, backed by an American flag, President George W. Bush addressed the nation from the White House. Sixty years earlier, Americans listened to a similar speech from the White House, this time by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. During his 9/11/1941… continue

History Lessons

National parks celebrate 100th birthday

Great Falls Park's 15-star flag

The National Park Service is commemorating its centennial this year and invites Americans (and people around the world) to visit its many sites. When you do, you’ll spot plenty of flags. It happened recently to a family that stopped by Great Falls Park in Virginia, just a few miles from Washington, D.C. They spied a… continue

History Lessons

Flags will open 2016 Olympics

The Olympic flag's rings represent the colors of national flags. (wikipedia.com)

The quadrennial return of the Summer Olympics on August 5 brings with it lots of flags, including the games’ own banner. The iconic white flag with five interlocked circles honors teams that come from around the globe to compete in scores of sports. When the flag was first designed, each nation was represented by a… continue

History Lessons

Two state flags were slow in coming

A woman poses before the Colorado flag during the 1939 World's Fair in New York City. (New York Public Library)

On August 1, 1876, as the U.S. was marking the centenary of the Declaration of Independence, another U.S. – U.S. Grant, that is – was busy at his desk, putting the final touches on a document that would certify Colorado’s entry into the Union.   “I, Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United States of… continue