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We have the 4th of July to celebrate our independence, President's Day to recognize and honor our presidents, Memorial Day to honor those that fought and died for their country, Veterans Day to honor those that once served and continue to serve this great nation and last but not least Flag Day, June 14th, to celebrate our nations great flag!!
Betsy Ross was the gifted seamstress that had the honor of sewing this nations very first flag. While George Washington was the father of our country, Betsy Ross was the mother of our flag. An image much like the one we see here always comes to mind when we think of our flag.
Our flag can be seen at every state capitol, in the front of our schools and post offices, and any and all other government offices as well as non government office. It is flown with pride. Our athletes carry it in the olympics, our military have carried it into war and our children are taught to salute and say a pledge in grammer school. For every acheivement we have made, from climbing the highest mountain to landing on the moon our flag has waved nobly.
The Congress of the Confederation chose white to mean purity and innocence, red for valor and hardiness, and blue for vigilance, perseverance, and justice for the Great Seal of the United States in 1782. We have no written records as to why the Continental Congress chose the colors, red, white and blue. Folklore has George Washingtonreferring to the stars being taken from the sky, the red representing British colors, and the white stripes secession from the home country.
We know who sewed our flag, but did Betsy Ross design it too? The experts say Mr.Francis Hopkinson was the man behind the stitches, so to speak. He was a New Jersey delegate to the Continental Congress and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Flag etiquette-the rules and regulations for proper handling of the American flag.
How to Fold the Flag
Fold the flag in half width-wise twice. Fold up a triangle, starting at the striped end ... and repeat ... until only the end of the union is exposed. Then fold down the square into a triangle and tuck inside the folds.
How to Display the Flag
1. When the flag is displayed over the middle of the street, it should be suspended vertically with the union to the north in an east and west street or to the east in a north and south street.
2. The flag of the United States of America, when it is displayed with another flag against a wall from crossed staffs, should be on the right, the flag's own right and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag.
3. The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day.
4. When flags of States, cities, or localities, or pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United States, the latter should always be at the peak. When the flags are flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. No such flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of the United States or to the right of the flag of the United States.
5. When the flag is suspended over a sidewalk from a rope extending from a house to a pole at the edge of the sidewalk, the flag should be hoisted out, union first, from the building.
6. When the flag of the United States is displayed from a staff projecting horizontally or at an angle from the window sill, balcony, or front of a building, the union of the flag should be placed at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half-staff.
7. When the flag is used to cover a casket, it should be so placed that the union is at the head and over the left shoulder. The flag should not be lowered into the grave or allowed to touch the ground.
8. When the flag is displayed in a manner other than by being flown from a staff, it should be displayed flat, whether indoors or out. When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag's own right, that is, to the observer's left. When displayed in a window it should be displayed in the same way, that is with the union or blue field to the left of the observer in the street. When festoons, rosettes or drapings are desired, bunting of blue, white and red should be used, but never the flag.
9. That the flag, when carried in a procession with another flag, or flags, should be either on the marching right; that is, the flag's own right, or, if there is a line of other flags, in front of the center of that line.
10. The flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of States or localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from staffs.
11. When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height. The flags should be of approximately equal size. International usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace.
12. When the flag is on a platform, as if facing the audience, it should be on its right.
13. When the flag is off a platform, as part of the audience, it should be on its right.
The American flag through the years.
 | The first American flag. The stars were in a circle so that no one colony would be viewed above another. No one knows what happened to the first flag. Very few flags from that time have survived. |
 | When Vermont and Kentucky joined the union this flag was adopted in 1795. |
 | This flag was adopted when the union consisted of 20 states. |
 | This flag was adopted when the union consisted of 28 states. |
 | This flag was adopted when the union consisted of 34 states. |
 | This flag was adopted when the union consisted of 48 states. |
| The United States flag today. |
Other Interesting Flag Links
American Flag Page
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"Flag Store"
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Jefferson - Enlightenment: United States v. Eichman - Burning the
American Flag
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MFPG Books: American Flag
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Free American Flag for Deceased Veterans
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"American Flag - Arizona Ghost Town"
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This web site was created by CL&M Tuck © 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 & 2001.
This site was last updated Wednesday, September 19, 2001.
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