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Our first search, for the simple phrase "national bird," netted us disappointing results, just some random links to the Audobon Society and NBA Hall-of-Famer Larry Bird. Back to the drawing board. Our next search was more specific, as we decided to search on four relevant terms: why, eagle, symbol, America. The list of Web Page Matches provided more than enough web sites for us to find the answer. We first visited GreatSeal.com, a site that purports to present the "true story of America's most eloquent symbol." We learned the eagle was originally a minor symbolic
element in the first designs of the great seal, and that it was Charles Thomson who decided to use the American bald eagle -- the only eagle unique to North America -- as the centerpiece of the Great Seal. Furthermore, in Thomson's original 1782 sketch, the eagle carries symbols representing "the power of peace and war." At HomeOfHeroes.com, we learned that the American bald eagle "gained immediate, unofficial recognition" as our national bird on June 20, 1782. However, official designation did not come for a few more years, as the symbol of America was fodder for fierce debate among
the young country's political leaders. Benjamin Franklin disapproved, stating that it was of "bad moral character" and proposed the turkey as the country's national bird. American Bald Eagle Information states that the bald eagle was finally adopted as the emblem of the United States in 1787 because "its long life, great strength, and majestic looks, and also because it was then believed to exist only on this continent." A few eagles have even become American heroes. Old Abe, the mascot of a Wisconsin regiment during the Civil War, traveled 14,000 miles with the troops. He was a constant target of enemy riflemen, but survived 42 battle engagements.
A turkey wouldn't have lasted 10 minutes, Mr. Franklin.
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