She's a Grand Old Flag

With June 14 being Flag day and Independence Day right around the corner, I thought I’d blog a bit about the American Flag. The flag, you ask? That seems a bit odd. Well, since I love history especially that of our great nation, I think it’s quite appropriate. Too many people do not pay enough, let alone any, attention to our history. Our flag has its own history, including the stars, colors, stripes, etc. Hopefully, you won’t feel I’m too insane and please enjoy.

In January 1776, the Continental Army was laying siege to Boston which had been captured by the British army during the Revolutionary War. George Washington, General of the Army placed above his headquarters the Grand Union Flag.

The flag displaying 13 alternating stripes, one for each of the original 13 colonies as well as the crosses of St. Andrew (White on a blue background) and St. George (Red on white).

The “Betsy Ross” Flag came around in May of 1776 when the seamstress claimed to have sewn the first flag.

The stars all point up toward heaven.

On June 14, 1777, in order to establish an official flag for the new nation, the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act: “Resolved, That the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation.”

In April of 1818 a congressional act established that the flags have 13 stripes and one star for each new state. The star is to be added on the flag on the 4th of July following the admission of the new state.

The colors in the flag have meaning as well.

RED is for hardiness and valor

WHITE is for purity and innocence

BLUE is for vigilance, perseverance and justice


Below, the flag we know today, 50 stars and 13 stripes. There are rules for displaying the flag, lighting it, destroying it etc.

The flag should be lighted at all times, either by sunlight or by an appropriate light source.
The flag should be flown in fair weather, unless the flag is designed for inclement weather use.
The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.
The flag should not be used for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.
The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard.
The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations.
The flag should never have any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind placed on it, or attached to it.
The flag should never be used for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.
The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary.
When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner.

These are the most common rules and regulations for the flag. I hope you enjoyed or at least weren’t too bored with today’s history lesson. Thanks again for reading. Tell your friends.