United States Flag History & Trivia

What role did these flags play in the history of the United States?
Flag Facts

Betsy Ross sewed the first American flag. It’s not clear who actually designed it. The experts at the Betsy Ross House suggest it was Francis Hopkinson, a New Jersey delegate to the Continental Congress and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

The flag has thirteen stripes representing the original thirteen colonies, seven red and six white. In the upper left corner is a navy blue field with fifty white stars each one representing a state.

There is no official designation or meaning for the colors of the flag. There is no record stating why red, white, and blue where chosen for the flag. However, when the Great Seal of the United States was chosen this is what was listed for them.

  • white for purity and innocence
  • red for valor and hardiness
  • blue for vigilance, perseverance, and justice

Folktales say that George Washington interpreted the flag in this way: the stars were taken from the sky, the red from the British colors, and the white stripes signified the secession from the home country.

Flag Trivia
  • If the flag is flown upside down it signals distress. It means “I need help, I’m in trouble.”
  • Worn out flags are destroyed, usually by burning.
  • When flown at half-staff, the flag is raised to the top of the flag pole, then lowered to half-staff (half way up the pole). When taken down, the flag is again raised to the top and then brought down.
  • A flag is flown from dawn to dusk. However, it may be flown for 24 hours if illuminated during the hours of darkness.
  • The flag should never touch the ground, the floor, or water.
Now, about those flag above:

The St. George Cross was carried to the New World by most of the early English explorers.

The Gadsden Flag was flown in early 1776 by the first Commander-in-chief of the Continental Fleet. Its inscription represented a warning by the colonists to the British.

Raised in 1776, the Cambridge Flag or Continental Colors, was the first, unofficial, national flag of the United States.

The British Union Flag was the standard flag raised by the Jamestown settlers in 1607.

In 1707, Queen Anne adopted a new flag for the United Kingdom — The Union Jack on a field of red. Called the British Red Ensign, Cornwallis surrendered under this flag at Yorktown in 1781.

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