[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"\u002Farticles\u002Fdo-your-part":3,"\u002Farticles\u002Fdo-your-part-surround":61},{"id":4,"title":5,"author":6,"bibleBooks":8,"body":10,"columnName":44,"date":45,"description":16,"extension":46,"image":47,"meta":48,"minRead":49,"navigation":50,"path":51,"postType":52,"publication":53,"publicationUrl":47,"seo":54,"stem":55,"topics":56,"__hash__":60},"blog\u002Farticles\u002Fdo-your-part.md","Do Your Part",{"name":7},"Dave Faust",[9],"",{"type":11,"value":12,"toc":41},"minimark",[13,17,20,23,26,29,32,35,38],[14,15,16],"p",{},"Robert (Bob) Heft died on December 12, 2009, in Saginaw, Michigan, at the age of 67. Most Americans don’t know his name, but all of us have seen his work. Heft is credited with designing the first 50-star American flag. He made it in 1958 as part of a high school history project in Lancaster, Ohio, when Alaska and Hawaii were being considered for statehood. At the time, Heft Hwas 17 years old. Today he’s remembered as the “Betsy Ross” of the 50-star flag. His flag, crafted from an old 48-star flag and $2.87 worth of blue cloth and white iron-on material, was sent to Washington, D.C., and selected by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The design became the official national flag in 1960.",[14,18,19],{},"In a 2006 e-mail interview with a New Jersey school group, Bob Heft exhorted the students, “Make every minute count in school and in life. You just never know how life will turn out. If you believe in what you are doing (and it’s proper), never let anybody discourage you. Follow your dreams.”",[14,21,22],{},"I vaguely remember when Alaska and Hawaii became states. I was in first grade then, and to my childlike mind it sounded like a good idea for our nation to include the Aloha State’s pineapple and sandy beaches and Alaska’s gold, oil, wildlife, and snow. Plus, 50 states had a nice ring to it. Somehow it sounded more complete than 48.",[14,24,25],{},"In those days, patriotism itself had a nice ring to it as well, and it seemed to flowed more freely from the lips of our citizens than it does today. In my elementary school we said the Pledge of Allegiance and the Lord’s Prayer every morning, and it was considered an honor for a student to go out to the flagpole and help to raise Bob Heft’s 50-star flag.",[14,27,28],{},"I grew up knowing our country had its problems, but I also was surrounded by solid citizens who, if they weren’t the backbone of our country, at least qualified as a vertebra or two.",[14,30,31],{},"They lived by simple rules that most people seemed to understand. Go to church. Be faithful to your spouse. Love your kids, and give them firm and principled discipline. Vote. Take a nap on Sunday afternoons. Give your neighbor a helping hand. Support your local schools. Pray for your elected leaders. Be generous with those in need. Obey the law. Enjoy simple pleasures. Go to work. Thank God for your blessings. Value your friends. Take care of your property. Sit on the front porch and talk on summer evenings. Read the Bible. Respect your elders. Honor those who serve in the military, and appreciate the public servants who sacrifice their personal safety to protect yours. Be hospitable. Love your country, but remember that your higher citizenship is in Heaven.",[14,33,34],{},"We’ve all heard the famous admonition John F. Kennedy gave in his inaugural address on January 20, 1961: “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” But the citizens who make our nation strong don’t have to ask or be asked; they’re already doing their part.",[14,36,37],{},"Bob Heft originally received a B- for his 50-star flag project because his high school teacher thought it “lacked originality.” After some discussion, the teacher agreed that if the flag was accepted by Congress, the grade would be reconsidered. Eventually Alaska and Hawaii were admitted to the Union, the President and Congress endorsed the new flag, and the teacher changed Heft’s grade.",[14,39,40],{},"He got an A.",{"title":9,"searchDepth":42,"depth":42,"links":43},2,[],"Another Look","2010-07-04","md",null,{},3,true,"\u002Farticles\u002Fdo-your-part","column","The Lookout",{"title":5,"description":16},"articles\u002Fdo-your-part",[57,58,59],"Spiritual Formation","Biblical Theology","Church Leadership","7jx52v3aaMxCzUJKsobnLCthgDWDunW5QDQz3R7xPs4",[62,67],{"title":63,"path":64,"stem":65,"description":66,"children":-1},"Do Your Homework","\u002Farticles\u002Fdo-your-homework","articles\u002Fdo-your-homework","The late Walter Cronkite loved sailboats. When substitute news anchors filled in for him on the evening broadcasts they would tell viewers, “Walter Cronkite is off on assignment.” Cleverly, Cronkite named his sailboat “Assignment.”",{"title":68,"path":69,"stem":70,"description":71,"children":-1},"Does Insecurity Rule the World?","\u002Farticles\u002Fdoes-insecurity-rule-the-world","articles\u002Fdoes-insecurity-rule-the-world","I have a theory. You can disagree with it if you want. My theory hasn’t been scientifically tested, but I offer it after decades of observing human behavior."]