The concept of organizing such a tribute began immediately following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, November 22, 1963, by a small group of Odessa visionaries who shared concerns about the need to restore confidence in the nation's highest office.

      The initial idea was quickly expanded to encompass the entire presidency - honoring all those occupying the office - past, present, and future.

"Conceived in an hour of national tragedy - it was created in art hour of total unity, and it was completed in an hour of faith that the Presidency of the United States is a great and noble responsibility."

THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IS A PROMISE OF LOYALTY TO THE UNITED STATES.

      I allegiance to the of the

United of America and to the Republic

for which it stands, one under God,

indivisible, with and for all.

Unscramble these words and fill in the blank spaces in the pledge of allegiance:

lepdeg          ntinao    

    alfg          liybter    

Settas          sjtuiec    

      The Bald Eagle represents freedom because of its lofty range, long life, majestic looks, and strength.

Peace & War - In his right talon is an olive branch representing peace. In his left talon are arrows representing war.

E PLURIBUS UNUM —"Out of Many, One" This Latin phrase on the banner held by the eagle's beak represents unity.

13 as One - 13 stripes in the shield held together by the chief above them, 13 arrows, 13 olive leaves growing off a single stem, 13 stars in a single constellation.

      The Statue of Liberty stands for freedom. Millions of immigrants have passed by the Statue on their way into the United States. Some of the Immigrants have come to live here because of the freedom we have. Freedom means different things to different people.

      Unscramble the words below to learn about the kinds of freedom that people in the United States enjoy.

      The United States of America has been a republic since 1783, when the Revolutionary War was won. The Constitution of the United States of America was written describing the new plan for the government.

       It also stated that one person should be the leader, and that people from every state would help choose this person. He (she) is chosen through voting and is called the president. The United States elected its first president, George Washington, in 1789.

WHO CAN BECOME PRESIDENT?


• You must at least be 35 years old
  
  
• You must be a natural-born citizen
  
  
• You must be a U.S. resident for 14 years prior to election
  

EVERY PRESIDENT RECITES THE OATH OF OFFICE:

"I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."

      President George Washington knew that the leader of our new country and those who followed would need a very special place to live and work. The White House belongs to all the citizens of the United States. He was the only president who never lived in the Executive Mansion. Building the home of the president took eight years, from 1792 to 1800. The walls were made of stone from a quarry in nearby Virginia. The inside walls were lined with bricks. The bricks were made on the grounds, using soil from the site. When the White was refurbished in 1948, President Harry Truman added a balcony to the South Portico.

       Since 1777 when the first flag act was passed, the American flag has changed somewhat. However, stars and stripes have always been shown. In 1818, Congress made the decision to have only 13 stripes on the flag. These stripes represent the original colonies. It was also decided that a new star would be added on the flag each time a new state was admitted. The flag we use today was adopted on July 4, 1960, when Hawaii became a state.

      To honor the Stars and Stripes, Congress chose June 14 as "Flag Day." On this day the flag is displayed on all government buildings. The week in which June 14 falls is known as National Flag Week. Americans are also encouraged to display the flag from their homes during that week.

To learn more about the flag, the "Pledge of Allegiance," and patriotic songs, visit the Web site: http://bensguide.gpo.gov.

       On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress declared independence from England. That day the Congress also passed a resolution to design a national emblem. From the combined efforts of three committees, a design was created. The Great Seal was adopted on June 20, 1782.

       One part of the Great Seal, known as the coat of arms, features the national bird. The seal shows the American bald eagle wearing a shield. Above the eagle's head are stars. Its claws hold arrows and an olive branch. A special metal press is used to emboss this part of the Great Seal on special U.S. government documents. The coat of arms is also shown on the U.S. House of Representatives seal and the U.S. Department of State seal. On these colorful seals, the shield has red and white stripes placed under a blue band. The stripes stand for the union of States. The blue band represents the President and the Congress.

To learn more about the Great Seal of the United States and see a picture of the coat of arms in color, visit the Web site, http://bensguide.gpo.gov.

       The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the people of France. In 1886; this massive statue was erected on a small island in the Upper New York Bay.

       The French sculptor Frederic Auguste Barthold designed the Statue of Liberty. To make the statue, sheets of copper were hammered into desired shapes. Then they were attached to a huge iron framework. French engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel designed that framework. To ship the statue to the United States, it was taken apart and packed into 214 crates. Later the pieces were carefully put together on a special pedestal. The American people gave money to build this pedestal on the island.

       High above the waters, the Statue of Liberty holds a glowing torch. In her left hand is a tablet showing the date July 4, 1776. This date is written in Roman numerals. On her head is a crown of seven spikes. The spikes mean that liberty is offered to people worldwide.

       The Statue of Liberty is now part of the National Park Service. To see pictures and learn more about the statue, visit the Web site, http://www.nps.gov/stli/.

Rules & Stipulations: There really are no rules or stipulations. You may consult any person within fair boundaries for answers. Bring this sheet of paper with all of the following questions answered correctly, and claim your prize. It's as simple as that. Not only will you leave with a satisfied sweet tooth, but you will also walk away with the confidence of knowing more about our Presidents. So please adn by all means, begin...

1) Name three U.S. Presidents from Texas? (Born, raised, or both) BONUS prize if you can name four.
            Answer:

2) President George W. Bush was born in...
      a) Texas
      b) Connecticut
      c) Massachusetts
      d) Mexico
            Answer:

3) Who became President after Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865? Bonus prize if you can name his political party.
      a) George Washington
      b) Andrew Johnson
      c) Ulysses S. Grant
      d) James Buchanan
            Answer:

4) What was George Washington's Wife's first name?
            Answer:

5)Which President had a pet alligator?
      a) John F. Kennedy
      b) John Quincy Adams
      c) John Adams
      d) John Tyler
            Answer:

Compliments of:
THE PRESIDENTIAL MUSEUM
& Leadership Library
For answers to these questions and much more, visit us at:
4919 East University Blvd
Odessa, TX 79763
or call us at (432) 363-PRES