As the United States prepares to celebrate its Semi-quincentennial (yes I had to look that up) we should admire the perseverance of our national emblem, the Bald Eagle.
As the United States approaches our 250th Anniversary, we’re also hosting the soccer World Cup. There was hope America and England would face off on Independence Day, but unfortunately not to be. Now the Internet is flooded with stories about how visitors are enjoying being here. The food, friendly locals, air conditioning, our big trucks, Cosco, Wal-Mart, cheap gas, everything. The visitors have impressed the locals with drinking multiple bars dry.
Something else on the Internet since 2014, Jackie and Shadow. Two Bald Eagles in Big Bear Valley in the San Bernardino Mountains of Southern California. In 2025 millions watched the livestream of the couple as Jackie laid three eggs (one unfortunately did not make it), resulting in Sunny and Gizmo. In 2026, two more chicks arrived, Sandy and Luna.
The Bald Eagle was adopted as our national symbol in 1782, as it “symbolized courage, strength, freedom, and immortality.” At the time there were tens of thousands of them across the country. However farmers considered eagles a threat to livestock and shot them. As people moved west, the birds were threatened by humans and loss of food sources.
In 1940 the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act was passed, prohibiting hunting or otherwise killing of the birds. Both started to recover until soon after WWII, as pesticides went into wide use, particularly DDT. These chemicals came into the water and if not outright killing the birds, the females laid eggs with shells so thin they would collapse under an adult’s weight.
By 1963, there were approximately 400 nesting pairs in the lower 48 states. DDT was banned in 1972, and the Endangered Species Act passed in 1973. The Bald Eagle began a steady recovery. As of 2007 there were over 10, 000 nesting pairs, and the Bald Eagle was removed from the endangered species list.
The United States of America has had its low and high points. We’ve expanded our nation and generated more wealth than any country in history. We kicked the can down on the road on the “peculiar institution” of slavery, resulting in a Civil War costing over 600, 000 lives. We saved multiple nations in two world wars, and one cold one. America kept Europe from starving with the Marshall Plan. The United States is the only country to put a man on the Moon, with its lander appropriately named the Eagle.
So as we celebrate our nation’s birthday, we can say without question, the Eagle is still flying strong and high.
Happy Independence Day!
Michael A. Thiac is a retired Army intelligence officer, with over 23 years experience, including serving in the Republic of Korea, Japan, and the Middle East. He is also a retired police patrol sergeant, with over 22 years’ service, and over ten year’s experience in field training of newly assigned officers. He has been published at The American Thinker, PoliceOne.com, and on his personal blog, A Cop’s Watch.
Opinions expressed are his alone and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of current or former employers.
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