House of Gordon USA
Kids Corner Fun Facts!
Did you Know...?
... Scotland is called Alba in Gaelic? Alba gu bra
means Scotland forever!
Check back later, because we will be adding MORE fun facts!
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Did you know that the Saltire (say salter) is the national flag of Scotland, and is
the is the oldest continuously used sovereign flag in the world, having been in
use since AD 832!
According to legend, in 832 A.D. King Óengus (II) (or King Angus) led the Picts
and Scots in battle against the Angles under a king named Athelstan near
modern-day Athelstaneford in East Lothian. King Angus and his men were
surrounded and he prayed for deliverance. During the night Saint Andrew, who
was martyred on an "X" shaped cross, appeared to Angus and assured him of
victory. On the following morning a white saltire against the background of a
blue sky appeared to both sides. The Picts and Scots were heartened by this,
but the Angles lost confidence and were defeated. This saltire design has
been the Scottish flag ever since.
Did you know the Declaration of Arbroath was signed on April 6, 1320. It is a
formal declaration of independence and we celebrate its signing with Tartan
Week and Tartan Day? Thomas Jefferson modeled our Declaration of
Independence on the Declaration of Arbroath, and was one of the first times
that the idea of the people choosing their own ruler was put forward! Did you
know that it was Adam Gordon who was sent as ambassador by Robert the
Bruce to the Pope who presented the Declaration of Arbroath and pled the
case of the Scottish people?
Did you know that George Washington was influenced by the Declaration of
Arbroath? The Declaration stated that "...for, as long as but a hundred of us remain
alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is in truth not
for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom – for that
alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself."
George Washington's back-up plan was always to stand with the Scots and Ulster
Scots in his native Virginia! He said, "If all else fails, I will retreat up the valley of
Virginia, plant my flag on the Blue Ridge, rally around the Scotch-Irish of that region
and make my last stand for liberty amongst a people who will never submit to British
tyranny whilst there is a man left to draw a trigger."
Did you know Scotland's motto is "No one provokes me with impunity." That means if you push me around,
you won't get away with it, cause I will make you pay for it! In America we said "Don't Tread On Me!" Same
thing!
Did you know that television, telephone, video cassette recorder, finger printing, golf, tarmacadam, (that's
black top) tires and penicillin were all Scottish inventions -- well sort of at least they were all Scots who
invented them!
Did you know Scotland includes 787 islands, of which most belong to groups known as
the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland but only 62 are over 3 square miles! This is one
reason that so many Scots have been great sailors.
John Paul Jones was born in Kirkcudbright, Scotland. He went to sea at thirteen and
later moved to Fredericksburg, Virginia, where he met George Washington and Richard
Henry Lee. He volunteered for service in the Continental Navy and through his daring
example became known as the father of the United States Navy!
