Hampstead Maryland Mayor orders Municipal flag down. Gadsden Flag up.

And titillated this is happening in Maryland, a state that is so enamored with the DC beltway crowd that it seems to think Obama is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Unfortunately, there are so many gov't workers in MD that it will probably be the last state to request our constitutional right to limited gov't back. Go Hampstead!

This was an awesome gesture. I live within driving distance of Hampstead. I vow to drive there and place red, white, and blue flowers at the base of that flag pole. Cheers!

I grew up here, but live in South Carolina now. This does not surprise me knowing the find independent folks of northern Carroll and Baltimore county. In Maryland, you know what it's like to have the government have insane amounts of control, and this could spark movements in other towns. Sweet.

if it has Gold Fringes on the edges

if it has Gold Fringes on the edges

priority than the US flag, which we can remove ourselves from at any time. Have you heard of the MD Constitution Party? Sounds like you ought to join.

For some reason, we're expected to know every law that exists in America & in our state so we don't break it. We're supposed to know this when we're 18. There's no litmus test for them, as in the 10 commandments or rhyme or reason. C.U.R.E.

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must. like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.-Thomas Paine

awesome. He should make sure all the local police attend the event, and remind them what following The Constitution means, and how they are to uphold it. Just plain awesome.

- of patriots!
___
We are whipping folks back into shape, we are going to get this done!" Barack Obama,in reference to Blue Dog Opposition to the Health (S)Care Bill.
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"The most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government, and I'm here to help.'" Ronald Reagan

But the Ron Paul signs are still up, too!

Thank you for letting us know, Mike. And if this brand us as potential DTs, then let us hold the title together in honor.

Keep pushing back with a smile.

BUMPITY BUMP BUMP!

- Only my family has given me a bigger one.
______________
We are whipping folks back into shape, we are going to get this done!" Barack Obama, in reference to Blue Dog Opposition to the Health (S)Care Bill.
-
"The most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government, and I'm here to help.'" Ronald Reagan

Woooo-hooooooo!!!!! yess@@@

.

"I observed on one of the drums belonging to the marines now raising, there was painted a Rattle-Snake, with this modest motto under it, "Don't tread on me." As I know it is the custom to have some device on the arms of every country, I supposed this may have been intended for the arms of America; and as I have nothing to do with public affairs, and as my time is perfectly my own, in order to divert an idle hour, I sat down to guess what could have been intended by this uncommon device – I took care, however, to consult on this occasion a person who is acquainted with heraldry, from whom I learned, that it is a rule among the learned of that science "That the worthy properties of the animal, in the crest-born, shall be considered," and, "That the base ones cannot have been intended;" he likewise informed me that the ancients considered the serpent as an emblem of wisdom, and in a certain attitude of endless duration – both which circumstances I suppose may have been had in view. Having gained this intelligence, and recollecting that countries are sometimes represented by animals peculiar to them, it occurred to me that the Rattle-Snake is found in no other quarter of the world besides America, and may therefore have been chosen, on that account, to represent her.

But then "the worldly properties" of a Snake I judged would be hard to point out. This rather raised than suppressed my curiosity, and having frequently seen the Rattle-Snake, I ran over in my mind every property by which she was distinguished, not only from other animals, but from those of the same genus or class of animals, endeavoring to fix some meaning to each, not wholly inconsistent with common sense.

I recollected that her eye excelled in brightness, that of any other animal, and that she has no eye-lids. She may therefore be esteemed an emblem of vigilance. She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders: She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage. As if anxious to prevent all pretensions of quarreling with her, the weapons with which nature has furnished her, she conceals in the roof of her mouth, so that, to those who are unacquainted with her, she appears to be a most defenseless animal; and even when those weapons are shown and extended for her defense, they appear weak and contemptible; but their wounds however small, are decisive and fatal. Conscious of this, she never wounds 'till she has generously given notice, even to her enemy, and cautioned him against the danger of treading on her.

Was I wrong, Sir, in thinking this a strong picture of the temper and conduct of America? The poison of her teeth is the necessary means of digesting her food, and at the same time is certain destruction to her enemies. This may be understood to intimate that those things which are destructive to our enemies, may be to us not only harmless, but absolutely necessary to our existence. I confess I was wholly at a loss what to make of the rattles, 'till I went back and counted them and found them just thirteen, exactly the number of the Colonies united in America; and I recollected too that this was the only part of the Snake which increased in numbers. Perhaps it might be only fancy, but, I conceited the painter had shown a half formed additional rattle, which, I suppose, may have been intended to represent the province of Canada.

'Tis curious and amazing to observe how distinct and independent of each other the rattles of this animal are, and yet how firmly they are united together, so as never to be separated but by breaking them to pieces. One of those rattles singly, is incapable of producing sound, but the ringing of thirteen together, is sufficient to alarm the boldest man living.

The Rattle-Snake is solitary, and associates with her kind only when it is necessary for their preservation. In winter, the warmth of a number together will preserve their lives, while singly, they would probably perish. The power of fascination attributed to her, by a generous construction, may be understood to mean, that those who consider the liberty and blessings which America affords, and once come over to her, never afterwards leave her, but spend their lives with her. She strongly resembles America in this, that she is beautiful in youth and her beauty increaseth with her age, "her tongue also is blue and forked as the lightning, and her abode is among impenetrable rocks."

An American Guesser

Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.
Thomas Jefferson

Just bought mine this am !!

...glad this updated link was provided...

http://www.facebook.com/s...

I love this! I'm sending this to my council.

410-239-7408

that Homeland Security feels that flying a Gadsden flag means you are a "terrorist".
Apparently that means that they want to be able to stomp on people with impunity, because the Gadsden flag is emblazoned with the words "Don't Tread On Me".
I guess they don't like the idea that people don't want to be stomped-on, which seems to be Homeland Security's main stock-in-trade.

I wonder what they'll do about it?

Thank you Mike for finding and posting this uplifting article.

"Better to fight for something than live for nothing.”
-- George S. Patton
“Complacent ignorance is the most lethal sickness of the soul.”
-- Plato

deserves a bump

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

August 25, 2009

Hampstead to Fly Protest Flag

In an act of protest, Hampstead Mayor Haven N. Shoemaker has ordered the Town’s municipal flag to be replaced by the historic Gadsen “Don’t Tread On Me” flag. Mayor Shoemaker will raise the flag after a brief ceremony at the War Memorial in Hampstead at 6 p.m., September 1. The timing of the ceremony coincides with anticipated cuts in state funding to local governments including Hampstead.

“We have the so-called stimulus which is nothing more than an unprecedented issuance of debt. We have ObamaCare. In Maryland, we have a complete failure by Governor O’Malley and the Legislature to balance the state budget,” Shoemaker said. “The $3.8 billion in federal money sent to Maryland was wasted on pork barrel projects and social program spending rather than on rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure. Now the State is dumping their failure of fiscal leadership into our laps.”

~~~

The Gadsen Flag has become a popular symbol of the recent Tea Party movement. The historic yellow flag features a timber rattlesnake and the phrase “Don’t Tread On Me.” When asked how long he expected to fly the flags, Shoemaker shrugged and responded, “We’ll see.”

http://www.townofhampstea...

He's right, we should all be running for municipal offices and working to make our communities self sufficient. Municipal officials may be one the most important representatives of the people right now. Most of them work for free, many of them run utility, police, water, and even health care systems, some of them even print thier own money. If small towns were to start becoming self sufficient and turning down federal "assistance" they could serve as a bulwark against the DC power brokers.

Very interesting

What is his username here on DP? Because surely he is one of us.........

...on my front porch since the day I took down my Ron Paul 2008 signs.

Great Find Mike

“little by little, inch by inch
by the yard it’s hard, by the inch what a cinch
never stare up the stairs, just step up the steps
little by little, inch-by-inch!”

I grew up in Westminster, lived all around the area of Hampstead, Manchester, and the like. Used to be a wild bunch of people in Carroll Co.
Glad you found that one. I'll email my sis about it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I love my country
I am appalled by my government

Town of Hampstead
1034 S. Carroll Street
Hampstead, MD 21074
410-239-7408
410-239-6143 fax
Hampstead@carr.org

After Hours Emergency Number: 410-337-4766

Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

A Little about the mayor...
Mayor ShoemakerMayor Haven N. Shoemaker, Jr.

Haven Shoemaker is a Hampstead attorney who received his BA from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and his law degree (Magna Cum Laude) from the Widener University School of Law. Mayor Shoemaker served in the Army National Guard as an infantryman. He and his wife, Patricia, have one son and reside on Glouster Circle. Haven is a member of the Westminster Baptist Church, Hampstead Lions Club, Carroll County Bar Association, Hampstead Business Association and the Westminster Elks. He has served as President of the Carroll County Chapter of the Maryland Municipal League and remains a member of the Carroll County Economic Development Commission. This is his second term as the Mayor of Hampstead. During the past six years, he has presided over the funding and construction of the Hampstead Bypass, the restoration of the historic Hampstead School into affordable senior housing and the development of Hampstead Municipal Park. Mayor Shoemaker's top priority for the remainder of his second term are keeping our property tax rate one of the lowest in the state, promoting local businesses and ensuring that our municipal infrastructure is sound. His term expires in May of 2011.

I just did a quick search and found nothing.