Showing posts with label American Flag. Show all posts
Showing posts with label American Flag. Show all posts

Saturday, August 11, 2018

History Of The American Flag Explained

American Flag
It was on January 1, 1776, that the Continental army was restructured and adjusted according to a Congressional resolution which heralded American forces to the command of George Washington. On that day, the American Continental Army was blockading Boston which had been taken over by the British army. It has been said that the first American flag was made in May of 1776 by Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia seamstress who was actually a friend of George Washington and acquainted with other prominent and high-ranking Philadelphians.

Ross suggested that the five-pointed star is used instead of the star with six points. This is because the five-pointed star can be cut off easily with a few trims of the scissors. It is also said that Betsy Ross was the one who made the flags for the Pennsylvanian navy. However, the first unofficial flag of America was called the Grand Union Flag, also known as the Continental Colors. It was raised at the order and command of General Washington close to his headquarters outside Boston January 1, 1776. This first unofficial flag was composed of thirteen alternating white and red horizontal stripes, with the British Union Flag in the canton. However, the first official American flag was accepted by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. This flag was also known as the Stars and Stripes for it consisted of 13 stars which represented the first 13 colonies. However, there is no assurance of who actually designed and made this flag. It is said that it was Francis Hopkinson, a Continental Congress member, designed the flag.

However, between 1777 and 1960, the Congress implemented procedures that varied its shape, design, and structure of the flag. And it was decided that there was a need for additional starts to represent all the states of America. It was on January 3, 1959, that President Eisenhower issued an executive order which states that the arrangement of the stars should be in six horizontal rows of eight, every single point of every star directed upward. In 1791 and 1792, after Kentucky and Vermont were added to the Union, two stars and two stripes were added during 1795.



This brought inspiration to lawyer Francis Scott Key to write and compose a poem which later became the U.S. National Anthem. It was in 1818 that five more states had been added and declared and the Congress decided to pass legislation that fixes the number of stars and stripes. The stars would have equal numbers as the states. On July 4, 1960, the last new star was added after Hawaii became a state, which gives a total number of fifty stars. The American Flag has been the emblem of the nation’s power and harmony for more than 200 years. It serves as the binding material that brings millions of citizens together in attaining one goal.






Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Bizarre Flag Facts – Q & As

American Flag - Photo: Wikimedia
Test your Patriotic Knowlege of the American Flag:

Question: Is it ok to fly the American Flag upside down?
Answer: The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property. 

Question: My flag was accidentally dropped and got dirty. Does it have to be destroyed?
Answer: The flag should never be allowed touch the ground, the floor or water. If it does accidentally touch the ground, it does not have to be destroyed. It should merely be cleaned.

Question: I’m thinking of making a quilt out of old flags. Is this ok?
Answer: The flag should never be used as clothing, bedding, or curtains.

Question: Is it alright to print a picture of the American Flag on my parent’s 50th Anniversary party napkins?
Answer: The flag should never be embroidered on fabric or printed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed to be used once and then thrown away. 

Question: Is it ok to fly my American Flag outside 24/7?
Answer: The flag is usually flown only from sunrise to sunset. The flag may be displayed at night if it is lit during the hours of darkness. 

Question: Should I raise my American Flag slowly, ceremoniously? 
Answer: The flag should be raised quickly and lowered slowly. 

Question: Should I take my flag down when it’s raining, hailing or snowing outside?
Answer: The flag should not be flown on days during bad weather, except when using an all-weather flag.

Question: Where should I expect to see the American Flag being flown?
Answer: The flag should be displayed daily at the main administration building of every public institution, including schools and polling places on election days. 

Question: During parades, where should the American Flag is placed?
Answer: The flag should be at the centre and at the highest point of the group when flags of states, cities or other groups are displayed.

Question: When a group of flags are displayed which one should be raised first?
Answer: When the flags of states are flown on neighbouring staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. No other flag may be placed higher than the flag of the United States or to the United States Flag's right. 

Question: During the Olympics, why were all the countries flags flown at the same height? Shouldn’t the gold medal winner’s flag be flown higher?
Answer: When displaying the flags of two or more countries, they are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height. The flags should be of approximately equal size. International usage forbids flying the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace.

Question: How should the American Flag be used when hanging over our Main Street on Memorial Day?
Answer: 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.

Question: Can the American Flag be used to unveil our town’s new statue?
Answer: The flag can be used at the ceremony of unveiling a statue or monument, but it should never be used as the covering for the statue or monument.

Question: Is there a special way of raising the American Flag for half-staff?
Answer: When flying the flag at half-staff, it should first be raised 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.



Question: How should the American Flag be used during a funeral?
Answer: When the flag is used to cover a casket, it should be so placed that the union (stars) is at the head and over the left shoulder. The flag should not be lowered into the grave or allowed to touch the ground. 

Question: What do the colours of red, white and blue stand for on the American Flag?
Answer: The flag consists of thirteen horizontal stripes, seven red alternating with 6 white. The stripes represent the original 13 colonies, the stars represent the 50 states of the Union. Red stands for Hardiness and Valor, White stands for Purity and Innocence and Blue stands for Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice.