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Flag Day
by Gabriella True
The American Flag is more than simply Stars and Stripes sewn together
in Red, White and Blue. It is a sacred emblem of our country, the
United States of America. It carries the history of America in those
Stars and Stripes. In that history is our freedom, liberty, courage,
bloodshed, popular sovereignty, and patriotism. It was created during
our fight for freedom in which we gained national independence and a
democratic government. It embodies the spirit of America.
On June 14, 1777 the Stars and Stripes flag was adopted as the new
American Flag. The Union Jack was completely removed from the flag from
that day forward. America was an independent nation from England and no
longer wanted the symbol of England on their flag.
Since 1777, there have been many changes to the American Flag but it is
still the Stars and Stripes. Originally, the flag was to have a star
and stripe for each state. But as the number of states that entered
the Union increased, it became evident that this would not be
possible. So, in 1818 Congress decided that the number of
stripes should be 13 to represent the original 13 colonies.
An additional star would be added with each succeeding state. Thus, two
stripes were removed from the flag because Vermont in 1791 and Kentucky
in 1792 had been admitted to the Union and they were not among the 13
colonies. In 1960, the last star was added to mark that Alaska had
joined in the Nation. Now there are 13 stripes (one for each original
colony) and 50 stars (one for each state).
Flag Day celebrates the birth of the American Flag; June 14, 1777. BJ
Cigrand, a teacher in Fredonia Wisconsin, organized a Flag Birthday
celebration for her students on June 14th, 1885. After that year,
Cigrand wrote several articles to newspapers advocating that Flag Day
be observed nationally. On June 14, 1889, George Balch also organized a
Flag Day for his students. Later that year the State Board of Education
of New York decided that Flag Day would be celebrated every year in New
York State in all schools. Two years later, on June 14, 1891, the Betsy
Ross House in Philadelphia celebrated Flag Day. In 1893, Colonel J.
Granville Leach, historian of the Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of
the Revolution and the Colonial Dames of America put forth a
proposition that the school children of Pennsylvania celebrate Flag Day
too. Their proposition was successful and every child
was given a small flag to carry during the school day. Chicago
soon followed suit and celebrated Flag Day in its schools in 1894. Also
in 1894, the governor of New York decreed that the Flag should be
displayed on all public buildings on June 14th. In 1916, President
Woodrow Wilson signed a bill to request that Flag Day become a national
holiday to be celebrated every year on June 14th. On August 3rd, 1949,
President Truman signed an Act of Congress that decreed June 14th as
the national Flag Day.
Elizabeth Griscom Ross (1752-1836), otherwise known as Betsy Ross, is
the mythological designer of the American Flag. But, like many stories
associated with our first President, George Washington, they are simply
that, stories and not factual histories. Betsy Ross and George
Washington did definitely know each other. She was a seamstress in
Philadelphia and lived near the State House on Chestnut Street. She
often sewed the ruffles onto his shirts and more than likely did sew an
American Flag or two. But she neither designed the flag nor sewed the
first one. The Betsy Ross is as follows. In 1776, George Washington was
the General of the Continental Army. He brought two members of the
Continental Congress, Robert Morris and Colonel Ross, with him to her
house in Philadelphia. The three men had brought with them a rough
sketch of a flag. The flag included 6 pointed stars. But Mary suggested
that the stars have five points instead because she would be able
to cut them more easily.
Her grandson William J. Canby popularized this myth during a meeting of
the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in 1870. Then in 1909, William
Canby's brother George Canby and his nephew Lloyd Balderson wrote the
book, The Evolution of the American Flag and continued the myth. Adding
to the interest in Betsy Ross, Charles H. Weisgerber painted the famous
image of the 'Birth Of Our Nation's Flag' depicting the mythological
meeting of Betsy Ross and George Washington. It was exhibited in 1893
at the Colombian Exposition in Chicago. It created even more interest
in Betsy Ross. And soon there was a campaign to save the Betsy Ross
house. To raise money, a subscription was sold to people for 10 cents
apiece and in return the subscriber would receive a reproduction of the
now famous painting by Weisgerber, her house and her grave along with a
lifetime membership into the Betsy Ross society.
Francis Hopkinson was the actual designer of the first Stars and
Stripes American Flag. He was a signer of the Declaration of
Independence and a New Jersey Congressman. In 1780, Hopkinson wrote a
letter to the Board of Admiralty requesting payment for his design
since it was being used on the flag and on many other official seals
and papers. The Board forwarded the letter to Congress. Congress said
that the bill was acceptable and they passed it on to the Board of
Treasury for payment. After many years and many investigations led by
Congress, the Treasury actually never paid Hopkinson much to his
chagrin and the Continental Congress. The Treasury said that Hopkinson
as a high paid member of the Congress should be willing to give extra
services to the nation for no added cost. But they never did deny that
he was the original designer of the Stars and Stripes.
It is thought that George Washington said that "we take the stars from
Heaven, the red from our mother country, separating it by white
stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her, and the white
stripes shall go down to posterity representing Liberty." But, there
are many anecdotes about George Washington, like the cherry tree, and
this just maybe one of them. The House of Representatives published the
book Our Flag in 1989. They said that when the flag was adopted in
1777, the colors of the flag did not hold any specific meanings. But a
year prior, on July 4, 1776, Congress began to create an American Great
Seal. Like most resolutions, they take a very long time to pass and the
Great Seal was not officially passed until 1782. The Great Seal's
colors did have designated meanings however. So, Congress most likely
did start thinking about the colors that would be used in the Great
Seal and what they would symbolize. The same colors that are used in
the Great Seal are used in the American Flag. And, the colors do hold
the same meaning today, whether or not this was the original intention.
The red in the American Flag symbolizes the courage and honor that
Americans have that enable them to face danger in times of defending
the United States of America. The white in the American Flag is a
symbol for purity. This purity is an emblem of America's liberty and
equality. The blue in the American Flag is emblematic of heaven and
thus signifies justice, faith, and loyalty. The star is a symbol of the
heavens. The star also is emblematic of the sovereignty of
each state in the Union. Each state has its own star and sovereignty
within the Federal Government. The Stripes symbolize the rays
of light coming from the sun.
About Gabriella True
Gabriella
True from New York/California writes articles on France,
Holidays and Food for www.splendidpalate.com and other
websites. She can be contacted at gabriella@splendidpalate.com
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