Chester the Nester Laid an EggChester the Nester Laid an Egg“How the Bald Eagle Became Our National Symbol“How the Bald Eagle Became Our National Symbol””

The year was 1787. It had been a busy year for the young

country. But it was also busy in the forest. This was the year

that Chester the Nester laid an egg.

Chester lived in the beautifulforests of Central Pennsylvania.

Chester was a very proud parent, and he carefully

watched over his young egg.

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Chester sat on the egg and watched it carefully day and

night. He wanted to be a good father.

Meanwhile, down in the city of Philadelphia, another group of Fathers were

nurturing and protecting another young baby. This

baby was called the Constitution. This idea

would help us become a strong and powerful

country.

We had won a war againstEngland, but now we

needed a government.

Chester knew that his egg would become a fine young bird. He would become a young bald eagle that would make

a parent proud.

The birdwould have excellent vision. would be large, and strong,

and command attention.

He would be fearless.he would represent freedom.He would become a powerful

leader of the forest.

Our Founding Fathers also had a very important baby toProtect--our country. The Constitution,which is the set of

rules that our country follows, was accepted on September 13, 1788, and the United States of America

came to life.

Chester’s egg grew and grew.It grew bigger and stronger.

The baby eagle inside the eggshell knew that he had important things to do!

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Then one day the little eagle hatched!

The young eagle grew strong. One day he decided it was time to

try his wings. So he bravely pushed off the nest. He headed into the morning sunshine and flew south toward Philadelphia, In the distance he saw a beautiful building. The young eagle decided to fly around it.

As he circled the roof he saw a group of men looking up at thesky and waving their hands in

excitement. The young bald eaglethought he could hear the words, “our national symbol.”

But it was late and Chester would get worried. The young eagle

returned to the forest.

The Founding Fathers of the United States in 1782 chose the American Bald Eagle as our national symbol because unlike other eagle

species, the Bald Eagle alone is native to the United States. The bald eagle was first shown on the U.S. Great Seal in 1782.

Maybe this is Chester the Nester’s son?

U.S. Constitution

Painting of Founding Fathers

The End