The Last Resort
The “Appeal to Heaven” flag is then a prayer flag, a symbol of the desperate plea to God by a people for intervention in their national dilemma. It is a declaration of judicial and legislative powerlessness. As you read the Declaration of Independence, you discover that it too is an "Appeal to Heaven," a last-resort, final ultimatum document delivered to England! Jefferson was highly influenced by John Locke's work. The Declaration of Independence takes the form of a legal appeal, an official and judicial complaint. It notes the breach of a covenant, itemizes the grievances, and the basis for the dissolution of the union. Yet, it was not merely a lateral appeal to England detailing the reasons for independence. It was also a plea to God, a brief filed in the Courtroom of Heaven, meant to justify the action they saw as inevitable. Before heaven, they wanted God to see and recognize that theirs was no ignoble rebellion against appropriate order. These colonialists were not leading an irrational rebellion; theirs was not a passionate, hot-blooded reaction, but a reasoned and logical separation, based on the unwillingness of England to consider their status as free and equal.
George Washington was commander in chief of the Continental Army. Around October 1775, he ordered the Appeal to Heaven flag flown as a symbol of solidarity, conviction, and encouragement in the fight for liberty. It became a symbol of strength, the tallest tree in New England, a pointer to heaven, a protest against the overreach of the English government.
The prayer flag rallied the colonialists to unity, under God, under the One Who would assure equity, liberty, and justice for all. "The people have no other remedy in this, as in all other cases where they have no judge on earth, but to appeal to heaven …" John Locke stated succinctly. Colonel Joseph Reed, Washington’s aide, suggested the white flag with the green pine and the words ‘Appeal to Heaven.’ Astonishing, isn’t it? The first official US and Navy flag was a prayer flag. The rag-tag band of colonialists were up against the greatest military and naval power on the earth, England, and she was sitting atop a global empire. All they had was a prayer! Their only hope was in their “Appeal to Heaven.”
The “Appeal to Heaven” flag is then a prayer flag, a symbol of the desperate plea to God by a people for intervention in their national dilemma. It is a declaration of judicial and legislative powerlessness. As you read the Declaration of Independence, you discover that it too is an "Appeal to Heaven," a last-resort, final ultimatum document delivered to England! Jefferson was highly influenced by John Locke's work. The Declaration of Independence takes the form of a legal appeal, an official and judicial complaint. It notes the breach of a covenant, itemizes the grievances, and the basis for the dissolution of the union. Yet, it was not merely a lateral appeal to England detailing the reasons for independence. It was also a plea to God, a brief filed in the Courtroom of Heaven, meant to justify the action they saw as inevitable. Before heaven, they wanted God to see and recognize that theirs was no ignoble rebellion against appropriate order. These colonialists were not leading an irrational rebellion; theirs was not a passionate, hot-blooded reaction, but a reasoned and logical separation, based on the unwillingness of England to consider their status as free and equal.
George Washington was commander in chief of the Continental Army. Around October 1775, he ordered the Appeal to Heaven flag flown as a symbol of solidarity, conviction, and encouragement in the fight for liberty. It became a symbol of strength, the tallest tree in New England, a pointer to heaven, a protest against the overreach of the English government.
The prayer flag rallied the colonialists to unity, under God, under the One Who would assure equity, liberty, and justice for all. "The people have no other remedy in this, as in all other cases where they have no judge on earth, but to appeal to heaven …" John Locke stated succinctly. Colonel Joseph Reed, Washington’s aide, suggested the white flag with the green pine and the words ‘Appeal to Heaven.’ Astonishing, isn’t it? The first official US and Navy flag was a prayer flag. The rag-tag band of colonialists were up against the greatest military and naval power on the earth, England, and she was sitting atop a global empire. All they had was a prayer! Their only hope was in their “Appeal to Heaven.”