Celebrating Flag Day: History and Trivia of the American Flag

Flag Day is a day to honor the national flag of the United States of America, which was adopted by the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. The flag has gone through several changes since then, reflecting the growth and development of the nation. Here are some history and trivia facts about the American flag that you may not know.

History of the American Flag

• The first official flag of the United States was called the?Continental Colors, and it had 13 red and white stripes and a British Union Jack in the corner.?It was used by the Continental Army during the American Revolution, but some people thought it was too similar to the British flag1.
• The?Stars and Stripes?flag was designed by?Francis Hopkinson, a delegate from New Jersey who signed the Declaration of Independence.?He proposed a flag with 13 stars arranged in a circle on a blue field, representing a new constellation, and 13 stripes alternating red and white2.?Some people believe that?Betsy Ross, a seamstress from Philadelphia, made the first Stars and Stripes flag, but there is no historical evidence to support this claim1.
• The flag had?15 stripes?when Vermont and Kentucky joined the union in 1791 and 1792, respectively.?However, this proved to be impractical as more states were added, so Congress passed the Flag Act of 1818, which restored the number of stripes to 13 and established that a new star would be added for each new state on July 4th following its admission3.
• The current design of the flag, with?50 stars?and 13 stripes, was created by a?17-year-old Boy Scout?named Robert Heft in 1958. He submitted his design as a school project, for which he received a B-minus.?His teacher promised to raise his grade if his design was accepted by Congress, which it was in 1960, after Hawaii became the 50th state4.

Trivia Facts About the American Flag

• The colors of the flag have no official meaning, but they were inspired by the Great Seal of the United States, which was created in 1782.?According to the seal’s description, red signifies hardiness and valor, white signifies purity and innocence, and blue signifies vigilance, perseverance, and justice2.
• The flag has several nicknames, such as?Old Glory,?The Star-Spangled Banner,?The Stars and Stripes,?The Red, White, and Blue, and?The American Flag.?The term “Old Glory” was coined by a sea captain named William Driver in 1831, who named his flag after receiving it as a gift from his friends5.
• The flag should be displayed with respect and dignity, according to the US Flag Code.?Some of the rules include: never letting the flag touch the ground or water; never using it as clothing or drapery; never displaying it upside down unless as a signal of distress; never burning it except as a means of disposal when it is worn out or damaged; and always flying it at half-staff on designated days of mourning6.
• The flag has been planted on several places outside of Earth, such as?the Moon?by Apollo astronauts;?Mars?by robotic rovers; and?the North Pole?by explorer Robert Peary.?However, some of these flags may not have survived due to harsh conditions or solar radiation7.
• The largest celebration of Flag Day is held in?Appleton, Wisconsin, where an annual parade has been held since 1950. The parade features floats, bands, veterans groups, and civic organizations.?The oldest continuous Flag Day parade is held in?Fairfield, Washington, where it has been held every year since 19098.

Conclusion

Flag Day is a day to celebrate the history and symbolism of the American flag, which represents the values and ideals of the United States of America. The flag has evolved over time to reflect the changes and challenges that the nation has faced. By learning more about the flag’s origins and trivia facts, we can appreciate its significance and honor its legacy.