Because
the 4th of July is almost here, we are going to talk today about the American
Bald Eagle and its significance. It seems that hundreds of years ago, the English word "bald"
meant "white head".
White-headed eagle is specific to the United States and is known as the national
bird, symbolizing the strength of
the nation. When presented with
an olive branch in his right leg symbolizes peace intentions.
The bald eagle has been the national bird since 1782 when it was placed
with outspread wings on the Great Seal of the United States. It appears in many
government institutions and on official documents, making it the most pictured
bird in all of America. The eagle appears on the president's flag, the mace of
the House of Representatives, one-dollar bills and military insignia.
The
white-headed eagle became the emblem of the president of the United States and is currently in the
Oval Office of the White House presented
as a carpet. He
is also currently on the CIA emblem
(Central Intelligence Agency).
The
bald eagle first appeared as an American symbol on a Massachusetts copper cent
coined in 1776. Since then it has appeared on the reverse side of many U.S.
coins, notably the silver dollar, halfdollar and quarter. For six years, the
members of Congress held a bitter dispute over what the national emblem should
be. It wasn’t until 1789 that the bald eagle was finally chosen to represent
the new nation. One of the opponents was Benjamin Franklin.
Today,
the American bald eagle is protected under the National Emblem Act of
1940.Although once plentiful throughout the continental United States, the bald
eagle population has greatly declined in recent times. Farmers and fishermen
have killed many eagles for getting too close to their poultry or fishing nets.
Game keepers have captured them for falconry and pesticides have killed many
eagles. Most of the bald eagle population can now be found in northern regions
of North America and Florida breeding sanctuaries.
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