by Yvonne Moore

Created on: June 14, 2008

If you are looking for a reason to delay cleaning the house or running errands this Saturday, June 14th, the celebration of Flag Day is a viable excuse. During your school years you probably learned about this patriotic event. It originated in 1877 when the stars and stripes became the official flag of the United States of America. I am sure some of your homework assignments as a youngster included projects requiring drawings and book reports about Old Glory. But I bet none of them included this project. Your Flag Day assignment as an adult is to assemble and prepare a red, white and blue dinner which is to be consumed in the evening while viewing a rented DVD about American history. Furthermore, proper dress is required for the event.

To get started, here are some menu ideas. Prepare a fruit salad consisting of blueberries, strawberries and red apple chunks. Stuff homemade hamburger patties with blue cheese then either grill or bake in the oven. After cooking, top with red onion slices. Cut unpeeled red potatoes and red peppers in chunks, coat with olive oil then roast in a greased baking sheet. Using a white cake mix, bake cupcakes and spread with white icing. Top with red and blue sprinkles. Offer either red wine or red beer with your Flag Day dinner.

There are plenty of historical movies that can be rented at your local video store or through your cable or satellite service. For example, "Flag of Our Fathers" is the story of the Marines that raised the American flag in honor of the soldiers who lost their life during the battle of Iwo Jima. Or how about watching "Patton"? The movie's most famous scene has the American Flag as the backdrop during the General's speech. The nostalgic, "Yankee Doodle Dandy," is also an option for those enjoying musicals. You should not have any problems renting the "Patriot" starring Mel Gibson or "The Crossing;" the latter addresses George Washington's crossing of the Delaware.

Now that you have rented a movie and shopped for your meal, the next phase of this project requires searching your closet and drawers for anything to wear that is red, white or blue. This need not be a perfect ensemble; a red and blue polka dot necktie with a white tee shirt, blue jeans and white socks will suffice. It is also acceptable to pull out the red cocktail dress, if you have one hanging in the closet.

While the main entre and vegetable dish are cooking, grab a queen or king size flat red, white or blue sheet to cover the couch with. If you are fortunate enough to have all three colors, use one of them to cover the coffee table. You are sure to have some white candles around the house for emergency use or some leftover red ones from Valentine's Day or Christmas. Place them in a candle holder or empty wine bottle to use as a centerpiece. Position the colorful salad, meat, vegetable, cupcakes, beer and wine on the coffee table. Then relish in the completion of your adult Flag Day project by plugging in the movie of your choice while wining and dining buffet style in your red, white and blue outfit.

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