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Veteran Celebration Sub-MenuPage Created on January 26, 2008 |
A Flag is a word used to describe a banner, pennant or ensign, or a cloth with colors or patterns, used as a symbol of a nation. A Flag is an honored symbol of a nation's unity, achievements, glory and high resolve. The Flag of the United States of America is such symbol, of freedoms bravely fought for and won, of protection under the Constitution of the rights and privileges of all Americans.
The first flag to fly over North America may have been the Viking banner, a black raven on a white field, a symbol of good luck carried by Leif Ericsson as he visited Newfoundland circa 1,000 a.d. In 1492, Christopher Columbus carried two flags, the flag of Spain and his personal flag. The Spanish flag was designed in four quarters, with two alternate quarters in red with two gold castles of Castile, and two alternate quarters in silver-white with two crimson lions of Leon. Columbus' personal flag was a white banner with two gold crowns, a green cross, and the letters F and Y (for King Ferdinand and Queen Ysabella) emblazoned on it.
Further explorers of North America carried the royal flag of France, a blue ensign with three gold Fleurs-de-lis on it, and the flag of England, a white flag with the red cross of St. George. The later used British Union lack flag was a combination of the St. George flag and Scotland's St. Andrew flag, a blue banner with a diagonal white cross.
When the American War of Independence started, various flags were used by individual ships and military regiments, including pine trees and several rattlesnake "Don't Tread on me" flags. Not even all thirteen colonies had standardized flags for use. This caused a great deal of confusion.
In January 1776, General George Washington proclaimed the organization of the Continental Army and raised the Continental Colors. This was the first red-and-white thirteen striped flag, with the British Union Jack in the canton (upper left-hand corner).
The Continental flag remained as the unofficial national flag until the Continental Congress adopted a Resolution establishing the thirteen star-and-stripe U.S. National Flag on June 14, 1777. This was the birthday of the American Flag and is why June 14 is celebrated as Flag Day.
Little or no documentation from the Continental Congress explains the design or origins of the flag. Only in later years attempts were made to reconstruct the history of the first Stars and Stripes. Various claims have been advanced as to the origin or inspiration for the flag; many of the stories are possible, but unproven. The most popular story of Philadelphia seamstress Betsy Ross sewing the first such flag also seems to be unlikely.
The most likely candidate for designer of the Flag appears to be Francis Hopkinson, a delegate from New Jersey to the Continental Congress. He was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a recognized designer. A record was found of Mr. Hopkinson submitting a bill of $2,700 to Congress for "currency designs, design for the Great Seal of the U.S., a treasury seal, a design for the Flag."
George Washington later characterized the color scheme and design of the Flag as being symbolic of America itself. The white stripes represent the purity and serenity of the nation, while the red stripes represent the blood spilled by Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. The white stars symbolize the purity, liberty, and freedom within the nation. The royal blue field stands for freedom and justice. The number of stars and stripes represented the thirteen states of course.
With the admission of Vermont and Kentucky as new states to the Union, the design of the flag was upset. Congress adopted a resolution on Jan. 13, 1794, that the new flag would be of fifteen stripes and fifteen stars, to become official on May 1, 1795. This was the flag flown by the U.S. during the War of 1812.
The admission of yet more states proved to be a dilemma. Although adding more stars was not a problem, additional stripes would eventually run together as to be undiscernible. Congress adopted a flag resolution in 1818 that stabilized the number of stripes to thirteen, representing the original thirteen states, while a new star would be added for each new state admitted, to take effect on the following July 4th. This resolution settled any further design changes to the U.S. Flag.
The United States adopted a detailed flag code in 1942, which established rules and customs for display and honoring of the national flag. While strictly adhered to by the Armed Forces, the flag code is treated as a matter of etiquette by civilians. The Pledge of Allegiance is also recited in the U.S. to show respect for the Flag.
In 1989 and 1990, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down laws declaring flag burning to be desecration, and instead reaffirmed First Amendment rights of self-expression. These rulings caused a great deal of anger among patriotic groups, which have in turn called for a Constitutional Amendment to protect the U.S. Flag as a symbol of our Nation.
