History of the United States of America Flag
by Martha Rogers
With
Flag Day coming on June 14, I thought it would be interesting to learn more
about our flag. The actual beginnings of our flag as we know it, are surrounded
by controversy and differing opinions. Although Betsy Ross is the name most
associated with the origin of the flag, a congressman named Francis Hopkinson
is most likely the one to have designed it. In fact, one historian said the
flag was not the design of any one person, but the compilation of many. Betsy
Ross is claimed to have been the producer of flag, but evidence for and against
her family claims exists.
Reasons
for doubt:
·
No
records show any one person or committee assigned to design the flag.
·
No
evidence George Washington and Betsy Ross knew each other
·
No
mention ever made any diaries or letters of Washington
·
Flag
Resolution of 1777 first documented meeting with discussion or debate about a
flag.
Support:
·
George
Washington was in Philadelphia in the spring of 1776 where he served on a
committee that approved money for acquisition of tents and other sundry
articles for the Continental Army.
·
On
May 29, 1777, Betsy Ross was a paid a large sum of money from the Pennsylvania
State Navy Board for making flags.
·
Rachel
Fletcher, Betsy’s daughter gave an affidavit of the story.
Before
the official new flag was commissioned, the very first flag flown for the
Revolutionary troops was the Union Flag carried the first year.
However, until 1912 there were no
stipulations for the order of the stars or the proportions of the flag. The
only two requirements were that the stars be on the blue background, and there
were to be 13 red and white alternating stripes, except for the years 1795 to
1818 when the flag had 15 stripes. At that time, the flag went back to 13
stripes and one star for each state, with new states to be added on the 4th
of July following the states admission.
Here are a few of the various forms displayed before the standard was adopted.
In
1912, Taft established the proportions for the flag and provided the
arrangement of stars to be six rows of eight each with a single point of the
five-pointed star be upward. The staggered rows came into being with an
Executive Order by President Eisenhower in 1959. Later that year, the star
arrangement become nine rows staggered horizontally and eleven rows staggered
vertically.
In the
early years of the flag, it was seen only with army troops and at special
celebrations of our country. It flew over forts, federal buildings, and at
other government functions. It flew at Ft. McHenry during the famous battle
when Francis Scott Key penned the words to the song, The Star Spangled Banner,
which became our National Anthem. That flag rests in the Smithsonian Institute
today.
As the
years progressed and people became more patriotic, the flag was flown at more
and more events and especially at Flag Day exercises and celebrations.
On June
14, 1889, George Balch, a kindergarten teacher in New York City, planned
appropriate ceremonies for the children of his school, and his idea of
observing Flag Day was later adopted by the State Board of Education of New
York. On June 14, 1891, the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia held a Flag Day
celebration, and on June 14 of the following year, the New York Society of the
Sons of the Revolution, celebrated Flag Day.
President
Wilson established a Flag Day and it was celebrated for years, but June 14th
became the official date in an Act of Congress signed by President Truman in
1949.
Certain
rules of etiquette surround the use, display, and retirement of the American
flag fondly known as Old Glory. These are the rules in general:
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.
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.
There are others, but these are the main ones to be followed by American citizens. It is flown at half-mast on the occasion of deaths of prominent leaders such as the President or military/government leaders.
One of the most famous pictures of our flag in war times is the one of it being raised on Iwo Jima. I was a young girl when I saw it in the newsreels and then on a magazine cover. It is a picture I'll never forget.
This week as we celebrate Flag Day and honor Old Glory, remember the battles she has seen, the many coffins of military heroes she has covered, and the ones commemorated by flying her at half-mast.
If, like me, you learned something new about the flag today, tell me what you learned or some other fact not mentioned here.
If, like me, you learned something new about the flag today, tell me what you learned or some other fact not mentioned here.

Find
Martha at: www.marthawrogers.com
Thank you, Martha, for your most interesting post. I always feel a sense of pride when I see our flag waving in the breeze.
ReplyDeleteSo do I, Melanie. My husband is a veteran and our flag is up all year-round and lighted by our front porch light at night.
ReplyDeleteWow, I learned a lot...thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete