Symbols and Holidays

Rafa: Mom, the flag is easy: fifty stripes for the fifty states.

Lupe: Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

Rafa: For the states! One stripe per state.

Lupe: Mmm… Fifty states?

Rafa: … There are thirteen stripes?

Grandpa: Rewind.

Grandpa: The capital is Washington, D.C. And the Statue of Liberty is in New York.

Grandpa: The flag has thirteen stripes for the thirteen original colonies, and fifty stars: one for each state.

Grandpa: The national anthem is called The Star-Spangled Banner.

Grandpa: And the motto, E Pluribus Unum, means: out of many, one. Like this family.

Grandpa: The Fourth of July is Independence Day: the country's birthday.

Grandpa: Memorial Day honors the soldiers who died in military service. And Veterans Day honors everyone who served.

Grandpa: Okay, like at the interview. Why does the flag have 50 stars?

Rafa: Because it looks nice!

Grandpa: Rafa! One for each… Lupe?

Lupe: One star for each state.

Grandpa: Good. Another one: What is the name of the national anthem?

Lupe: The Star-Spangled Banner.

Rafa: Isn't that the football song?

Grandpa: They sing it before the game, kiddo. But it's the anthem.

Lupe: Your turn, mijo: Name three national U.S. holidays.

Rafa: Mmm… Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas?

Grandpa: That's it, kiddo. Three for three.

Lupe: My ninth stamp in the passport!

Grandpa: Nine out of twenty, Lupe. That's all the civics… next comes the interview.

Grandpa: Now, your ear. Listen to the officer, answer out loud… then repeat after me.

Officer: Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

Grandpa: Thirteen original colonies. THUR-teen uh-RIJ-ih-nul KOL-uh-neez.

Officer: Why does the flag have 50 stars?

Grandpa: One star for each state. WUN STAR for EECH STATE.

Officer: What is the name of the national anthem?

Grandpa: The Star-Spangled Banner. STAR SPANG-guld BAN-er.

Officer: What is the capital of the United States?

Grandpa: Washington, D.C. WASH-ing-tun DEE SEE.

Officer: The Nation's first motto was "E Pluribus Unum." What does that mean?

Grandpa: Out of many, one. OWT uv MEN-ee, WUN.

Officer: What is Independence Day?

Grandpa: The country's birthday. KUN-treez BURTH-day.

Lupe: Thirteen stripes, fifty stars, and out of many, one!

Grandpa: Like this family, Lupe. Say them out loud every day.

Rafa: Okay, okay… the stripes aren't for the states. Got it.