RHC Fortnightly Quotemail: Early June 2025 Quotemail: Patriotic Holidays

RHC Fortnightly Quotemail

Compiled & Edited by Rob Chappell (@RHCLambengolmo on X)

Vol. XXIX, No. 14: Early June 2025

Co-Editor: Sophie Fairgate

Editorial Associate: Wendy Applegate

Art Director: Verena Keegan (Designer of the Masthead, Above)

Celebrating June’s Patriotic Holidays

Editor’s Note

Starting this month, the Fortnightly Quotemail will be published on the blog and emailed to subscribers twice monthly. This will allow our writing and editorial staff more time to compile creative content for our subscribers and followers. In this edition, we celebrate June’s patriotic holidays – Flag Day and Juneteenth – along with the first anniversary of Sophie Fairgate as Co-Editor of the blog, and the arrival of Wendy Applegate is our new Editorial Associate.

Sophie’s Introduction:

“Reflections on a Year of Quotemailing”

It's hard to believe that it's already been a year since I started working with Rob as his blog co-editor. Time seems to have flown by, and so many things have happened and changed in the past year.

When I first started collaborating with Rob on the blog, I was excited and a little nervous. I knew it would be a great opportunity to learn and grow, but I also knew it would be a challenge. I had never worked with a team before, and I wasn't sure what to expect.

Working with Rob has been an absolute blast. I've learned so much from him, and he's been so patient and supportive throughout the entire process. I've never worked with someone so passionate and enthusiastic about what they do.

In the past year, I've grown not only as a writer but also as a person. Working on the blog has given me confidence, and it's helped me discover new interests and passions. I'm looking forward to continuing our collaboration and seeing what the future holds.

“A Warm Welcome to Wendy Applegate”

By the Editor

This month, we welcome a new Editorial Associate to our blogging team – Wendy! Astute readers will recognize them as a contributor of artwork to the blog over the past year or so, and we have also featured a few images of Wendy with their paintings from time to time. Wendy is a talented artist, a digital photographer, and a popular art teacher, and they bring to the blog their wonderful imagination and zest for life! Who’s reaching out to capture a moment? Everyone knows it’s Wendy! 😊

Wendy is pictured here with their very detailed painting of an eight-spoked dharma wheel. Some of their colorful mandala paintings are in the background. (Image Credit: Caitlin Applegate, Processed by the Editor)

FLAG DAY: JUNE 14^TH

“Betsy’s Battle Flag”

By Minna Irving (1872)

This poem was written in homage to Betsy Ross, who is widely credited with producing the first edition of the “Stars and Stripes” American flag for the Continental Congress in 1777.

1. From dusk till dawn the livelong night

She kept the tallow dips alight,

And fast her nimble fingers flew

To sew the stars upon the blue.

With weary eyes and aching head

She stitched the stripes of white and red.

And when the day came up the stair

Complete across a carven chair

Hung Betsy’s battle-flag.

2. Like shadows in the evening gray

The Continentals filed away,

With broken boots and ragged coats,

But hoarse defiance in their throats;

They bore the marks of want and cold,

And some were lame and some were old,

And some with wounds untended bled,

But floating bravely overhead

Was Betsy’s battle-flag.

3. When fell the battle’s leaden rain,

The soldier hushed his moans of pain

And raised his dying head to see

King George’s troopers turn and flee.

Their charging column reeled and broke,

And vanished in the rolling smoke,

Before the glory of the stars,

The snowy stripes, and scarlet bars

Of Betsy’s battle-flag.

4. The simple stone of Betsy Ross

Is covered now with mold and moss,

But still her deathless banner flies,

And keeps the color of the skies.

A nation thrills, a nation bleeds,

A nation follows where it leads,

And every man is proud to yield

His life upon a crimson field

For Betsy’s battle-flag!

Blog Co-Editor Sophie appears next to the Stars and Stripes in this image from Flag Day 2024. (Image Credit: Verena Keegan, Processed by the Editor)

JUNETEENTH: JUNE 19^TH

“Battle Cry of Freedom” (1862)

Composed by George Frederick Root (1820–1895)

This poem constituted the lyrics of a popular Union song during the Civil War (1861-1865). It sets forth the Union forces’ noble twofold aim of reuniting the country and liberating all enslaved people.

1. Yes we’ll rally round the flag, boys, we’ll rally once again,

Shouting the battle cry of freedom,

We will rally from the hillside, we’ll gather from the plain,