What is National Eagle Day?
National Eagle Day will take place on the 20th of June 2019 in the United States. On this day in 1782, The Great Seal of the US was adopted, portraying the Bald Eagle in the middle. This day honours and reminds people of the role that the eagle played during the history of the USA.
The first National Eagle Day took place in 1995, thanks to the initiative of Bill Clinton, Don Sundquist, the Tennessee Governor, and the American Eagle Foundation. The American Eagle Foundation is a Tennessee organization for the protection of the Bald Eagle, which still sponsors events occurring to this day.
In addition to celebrating this symbol of the USA and the country itself, National Eagle Day is also a way to raise awareness about the Bald Eagle and the importance of preserving its natural habitat and the wildlife.
In fact, the Bald Eagle experienced a big risk of extinction in the 1950s, due to the loss of its habitat, illegal hunting and pesticides like DDT which damages their eggs.
Nevertheless, thanks to the hard work of NGO for the protection of this animal, it went from endangered in 1967 to threatened in 1995.
What does the Bald Eagle Symbolise?
The Bald Eagle is portrayed on the Great Seal of the US holding an olive branch in one of its claws, and 13 arrows in the other.It represents the commitment that the US made towards peace and the original 13 states in the country.
The Bald Eagle is an iconic symbol in the US, symbolizing long life, strength, majesty and national pride. This bird also has an important meaning in lots of native American cultures and religion, illustrating freedom, wisdom, honesty and power.
The Bald Eagle is now depicted on the back of gold coins and American passports, amongst other goods
Opposingly, Benjamin Franklin (a founding father), wanted the turkey to become the symbol of the US. According to Franklin, the Bald Eagle is “a bird of bad moral character”. In despite of this, the congress accepted the eagle as the emblem of the US.
National Eagle Day Celebration
Although this day is not a public holiday, conservation and educational organizations will hold lectures, workshops or informative sessions, in order to sensitize about the protection of the Bald Eagle. To celebrate this day, you can wear your most beautiful outfit picturing the bird or make a commitment to help the preservation of it, by giving a donation to the American Eagle Foundation or becoming a volunteer.