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Flag Facts
by
W.Holidays
What role did these flags play in the history of
the United States?
Scroll
down to find the answers.
   
Facts
Betsy
Ross sewed the first American flag. It is not clear who actually
designed it, but 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 13 stripes representing the original 13 colonies (7 red
and 6 white). In the upper left corner is a navy blue field with 50
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 says 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.
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.
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The
St. George Cross was carried to the New World by most of the early
English explorers. |
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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. |
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Raised
in 1776, the Cambridge Flag or Continental Colors, was the first
-unofficial- national flag of the United States. |
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The
British Union Flag it was the standard flag raised by the Jamestown
settlers in 1607. |
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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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