The American Flag
The American flag consists of 13 horizontal stripes, 7 red alternating with 6 white. The upper corner near the staff is a rectangular blue field that contains 50 five-pointed white stars. The thirteen stripes symbolize the 13 original colonies of the United states of America and the stars represent the 50 states of the Union.
White is said to symbolize purity and innocence; Red, hardiness and valor, and Blue, vigilance, perseverance and justice. The American flag is commonly called the Stars and Stripes, the Red, White and Blue, or the Star Spangled Banner.
In the year 1777 Congress decided that "The flag of the United States shall be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white, with a union of thirteen stars of white on a blue field…" As new states joined the Union there had to be representation of them in the flag. In 1795 Congress voted to increase the number of stars and stripes to 15, but in 1818 legislation reestablished the number of stripes at 13 and set up the policy, "That on the admission of every new state into the Union, one star be added to the union of the flag."
In 1846, the American flag contained 29 stars. At the start of the Civil War in 1861, the flag contained 34 stars. By 1898, the flag contained 45 stars. The 49th and 50th stars were added in 1959 and 1960 after Alaska and Hawaii were admitted to the Union.
Elizabeth Griscom Ross was born in Philadelphia in 1752. She was a seamstress and legend has said that she was the maker of the first American flag. According to the story often told, General George Washington, her late husband’s uncle, called her in 1773 and asked her to design a national flag. The Betsy Ross house has been preserved and can be visited by tourists. It is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States
President Benjamin Harrison proclaimed that it should be used during Columbus Day observances in public schools on October 12th, 1892.
The words have changed:
“I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the republic for which it stands:
one nation, indivisible, with libertyand justice for all."
On Flag Day, June 14th, 1924, the phrase “the flag of the United States of America” was substituted for the phrase “my flag.”
In 1954, Congress amended it to say “under God”
The current pledge:
“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and
to the republic for which it stands: one nation under God, indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all.”
Here are some rules to be followed when displaying the American flag:
1. The flag is usually displayed from sunrise to sunset in the
open.
2. It should be raised briskly and lowered ceremoniously.
3. It is displayed daily, weather permitting, and especially
on certain holidays, on or near the main administration buildings of all
public institutions.
4. It is also displayed in or near every polling place on election
days and in or near every schoolhouse during school days.
5. When carried in processions with another flag, the U.S. flag
is borne to the right of the other emblems carried by the marchers.
6. When carried with several other flags, it may be borne in
front of the center of the line formed by the other standards.
7. No other flag or pennant should be placed above the U.S. flag.
8. When displayed against a wall or in a window, the blue field
should be uppermost and left to the observer.
9. When displayed flat on a speaker’s platform, the flag should
be behind and above the head of the speaker.
Picture of Betsy Ross: from Multimedia Works
Sound clip of the Pledge of Allegiance recorded by Ali
Photo of flag in flower pot: Ali
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The American Flag
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Betsy Ross and the flag
Pledge
of Allegiance*
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Decorating with the flag.