U.S. Monuments & Symbols

Building monuments to commemorate important events is actually a biblical concept. Whenever the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) were delivered from evil by, or simply met with, God, they often erected an altar in His name afterward. Monument-building is a way of making historical moments permanent, and ensuring future generations will remember what they ought to remember.

U.S. Americans have never balked at using religious language to describe their nation, or at borrowing Christian ideas and practices and constructing from them a civil religion. We have a lot of monuments, most of them homages to the birth of our country or American participation in foreign wars, and some of them have become synonymous with freedom and personal liberty.

Because some misuse or attribute to much importance to them isn't a reason to reject national monuments. They bring us together as citizens, and remind us of the virtues necessary to form and maintain a strong people. The Lincoln Memorial, for example, helps us remember those who died in the name of liberty; the Washington Monument speaks of nobility, strength, and unity of purpose.

Not all the American symbols are monuments; probably the most universal and easily-recognized is the American flag. While we need to be careful not to honor the flag or what it represents beyond what is proper, having a visual reminder of our diverse nation's ultimate unity and humble origins is not only helpful but necessary. We are people of vision, and therefore we need to have something to physically turn toward in the name of solidarity.

For Christians, of course, the ultimate symbol is the Cross of Christ. It's important to remember that the Cross and the American flag do not go hand-in-hand; the flag doesn't save anyone, but faith in Christ does. Trying to conflate the two, as though God has a special place in His heart for the U.S. or our country is somehow a united advocate of the Gospel is dangerous business.

However, those of us who live in the United States and are Christians do have a responsibility both to the Cross and the flag. As Jesus said, render to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's—we owe Christ everything including our very lives; we owe the state only our loyalty and support as citizens as long as the state is not forcing us to deny Christ or disobey His Law. As long as this hierarchy is maintained, we can celebrate American symbols without qualms of conscience.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.
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49 Items found Print
Active Filters: 2nd grade (Ages 7-8)
About Our Flag
by Elinor Rees; illustrated by Jerome W. Bowen
from Melmont Publishers
for 2nd-4th grade
in Vintage Nonfiction (Location: VIN-NFIC)
Acadia National Park
Road Trip: National Parks
by Kathleen Connors
from Gareth Stevens Publishing
for 1st-3rd grade
in U.S. Monuments & Symbols (Location: HISV-LANUS)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Across America, I Love You
by Christine Loomis, illustrated by Kate Kiesler
from Hyperion Press
for 2nd-4th grade
in U.S. Monuments & Symbols (Location: HISV-LANUS)
$7.99 (1 in stock)
America is....
by Louise W. Borden, illustrated by Stacey Schuett
from Margaret K. McElderry Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in U.S. Monuments & Symbols (Location: HISV-LANUS)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
America the Beautiful
by Katharine Lee Bates, illustrated by Chris Gall
from Little, Brown & Company
for Preschool-2nd grade
in U.S. Monuments & Symbols (Location: HISV-LANUS)
$2.80 (1 in stock)
America: A Patriotic Primer
by Lynne Cheney
from Simon and Schuster
for Preschool-2nd grade
in American History Reference (Location: HISA-REF)
$4.00 (2 in stock)
America: A Patriotic Primer
by Lynne Cheney
from Scholastic Inc.
for Preschool-2nd grade
in American History Reference (Location: HISA-REF)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Brooklyn Bridge
by Elizabeth Mann
from Mikaya Press
for 2nd-5th grade
in U.S. Monuments & Symbols (Location: HISV-LANUS)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Charlie and Trike in the Grand Canyon Adventure
Green Notebook Series
by Ken Ham, Karen Hansel
from Master Books
for 1st-4th grade
in U.S. Monuments & Symbols (Location: HISV-LANUS)
$14.39 $9.00 (1 in stock)
Children of Mount Vernon
by Miriam Anne Bourne, illustrated by Gloria Kamen
from Doubleday & Company
for 2nd-5th grade
in U.S. Monuments & Symbols (Location: HISV-LANUS)
Copper Lady
On My Own History
by Alice Ross, Kent Ross
from First Avenue Editions
for 2nd-5th grade
in Immigration & Emigration (Location: HISA-20IM)
Empire State Building
by Meish Goldish
from Bearport Publishing
for 2nd-4th grade
in U.S. Monuments & Symbols (Location: HISV-LANUS)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
First Book Edition of the Star-Spangled Banner
by Francis Scott Key, Richard B. Morris, illustrated by Henry S. Gillette
First Printing from Franklin Watts
for 1st-3rd grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
Flag We Love
by Pam Munoz Ryan, illustrated by Ralph Masiello
from Charlesbridge
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in U.S. Monuments & Symbols (Location: HISV-LANUS)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Fort McHenry
Let's Celebrate America
by Joanne Mattern
from Red Chair Press
for 2nd-6th grade
in U.S. Monuments & Symbols (Location: HISV-LANUS)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Gateway Arch
Let's Celebrate America
by Joanne Mattern
from Red Chair Press
for 2nd-6th grade
in U.S. Monuments & Symbols (Location: HISV-LANUS)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Gonna Sing My Head Off
by Kathleen Krull
from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in Music Education & Reference (Location: ELE-MUSREF)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Gonna Sing My Head Off
by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Allen Garns
First Printing from Scholastic Reference
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in Music Education & Reference (Location: ELE-MUSREF)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Grand Canyon
Let's Celebrate America
by Joanne Mattern
from Red Chair Press
for 2nd-6th grade
in U.S. Monuments & Symbols (Location: HISV-LANUS)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
by Santana Hunt
from Gareth Stevens Publishing
for 1st-3rd grade
in U.S. Monuments & Symbols (Location: HISV-LANUS)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Historic American Landmarks - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by A. G. Smith
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in History of America Coloring Books (Location: COL-HISA)
$5.94 $2.80 (1 in stock)
History Songs with CD
Audio Memory CDs
by Larry Troxel
from Audio Memory
for 2nd-6th grade
in American History Reference (Location: HISA-REF)
$15.95
Johnny Appleseed
by Reeve Lindbergh
from Little, Brown & Company
Poetry for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$8.49
Lady Liberty: A Biography
by Doreen Rappaport, illustrated by Matt Tavares
from Candlewick Press
for 1st-4th grade
in U.S. Monuments & Symbols (Location: HISV-LANUS)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Lake Huron
Fact Finders
by Anne Ylvisaker
from Capstone Press
for 2nd-4th grade
in U.S. Monuments & Symbols (Location: HISV-LANUS)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Little Rose of the Mesa
Children of America Stories
by Madeline Brandeis
from Grosset & Dunlap
for 1st-4th grade
National Parks Coloring Book
by Sophie Tivona
from Harper Design
for 2nd-Adult
in Nature / Geography Coloring Books (Location: COL-NAT)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
National Parks of the USA
by Kate Siber, Illustrated by Chris Turnham
from Wide Eyed Editions
for 2nd-Adult
in U.S. Monuments & Symbols (Location: HISV-LANUS)
$30.00
National Parks of the USA
by Kate Siber, Illustrated by Chris Turnham
from Wide Eyed Editions
for 2nd-Adult
in U.S. Monuments & Symbols (Location: HISV-LANUS)
$14.99
National Parks of the USA - Activity Book
by Claire Grace; inspired by the book by Kate Siber, illustrated by Chris Turnham
from Quarto Publishing
for 2nd-6th grade
in U.S. Monuments & Symbols (Location: HISV-LANUS)
$10.99
New True Book of Bald Eagles
by Emilie U. Lepthien
from Children's Press
for 1st-3rd grade
in Birds (Location: SCI-BIRD)
O, Say Can You See
by Sheila Keenan, Illustrated by Ann Boyajian
from Scholastic Inc.
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in U.S. Monuments & Symbols (Location: HISV-LANUS)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Our Flag
A Book to Begin On
by Leslie Waller, illustrated by Shannon Stirnweis
from Holt, Rinehart and Winston
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Vintage Nonfiction (Location: VIN-NFIC)
Pledge of Allegiance
by Scholastic, Scholastic Inc.
Cmv from Scholastic Inc.
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in U.S. Monuments & Symbols (Location: HISV-LANUS)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Pop's Bridge
by Eve Bunting, illustrated by C. F. Payne
from Clarion Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in U.S. Monuments & Symbols (Location: HISV-LANUS)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Red, White, and Blue
An All Aboard Reading Reader Level 3
by John Herman
from Grosset & Dunlap
$5.09 $2.40 (1 in stock)
Story of Mount Rushmore
by Marilyn Prolman & Phil Austin
from Children's Press
for 1st-4th grade
in Cornerstones of Freedom (Location: VIN-CORN)
Story of Mount Rushmore
by Marilyn Prolman
from Children's Press
for 1st-4th grade
in Cornerstones of Freedom (Location: VIN-CORN)
$5.00 (2 in stock)
Story of Old Glory
by Albert I. Mayer
from Children's Press
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Cornerstones of Freedom (Location: VIN-CORN)
Story of the White House
by Kate Waters
from Scholastic Inc.
for 2nd-3rd grade
in U.S. Monuments & Symbols (Location: HISV-LANUS)
Teddy Roosevelt and the Treasure of Ursa Major
by Tom Isbell (based on the play by), adapted by Ronald Kidd, illustrated by Ard Hoyt
from Simon and Schuster
for 2nd-5th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$2.80 (1 in stock)
The Wall
by Eve Bunting
Reissue from HMH Books for Young Readers
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Vietnam War (1957-1975) (Location: HISA-20VIE)
$9.99
USA Puzzle Fun!
from Dover Publications
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Dover Maze & Activity Books (Location: COL-MAZE)
$5.09
Vinnie and Abraham
by Dawn FitzGerald, illustrated by Catherine Stock
from Charlesbridge
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in U.S. Monuments & Symbols (Location: HISV-LANUS)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Washington, DC
from Impact Books
for 2nd-Adult
in U.S. Monuments & Symbols (Location: HISV-LANUS)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park
by Emilie U. Lepthien
from Children's Press
for 2nd-5th grade
in U.S. Monuments & Symbols (Location: HISV-LANUS)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Why is the White House White?
by Peter & Connie Roop
from Scholastic Inc.
for 2nd-4th grade
in U.S. Monuments & Symbols (Location: HISV-LANUS)
$1.50 (1 in stock)
Wonders of the World - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by A. G. Smith
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Architecture Coloring Books (Location: COL-ARCH)
$4.24
Woodrow, the White House Mouse
by Peter W. Barnes & Cheryl Shaw Barnes
from Scholastic Inc.
for Preschool-2nd grade
in U.S. Monuments & Symbols (Location: HISV-LANUS)
$2.40 (2 in stock)