Our Flag

Having just celebrated Memorial Day and looking forward to the 4th of July I thought this would be an appropriate time to do a little research on the Flag of the United States of America. Just a simple search on the internet will reward you with a wealth of information, information on the meanings behind the flag, how the flag came to exist, when and how to fly or display the flag, inappropriate displaying of the flag and the numerous opinions on the age old discussion about flag burning. It was a real eye opener when I realized that most of this is no longer taught is our schools.

While it is widely accepted that Betsy Ross created the first flag that displayed the 13 stars, it is not true that this was the first official flag of the United States. Legend states that George Washington, Colonel Ross and Robert Morris requested met with Betsy Ross there is some speculation as to whether or not George Washington was actually present. For the first year after the signing of the Declaration of Independence there was no official United States of America flag. There were plenty of homespun designs and the Betsy Ross flag is without doubt the most recognizable of the early flags of the United States. Whatever the circumstances that surround this particular flag it is still a flag that patriotic Americans look at with pride.



According to USFlag.org the first official flag of the United States was voted on by the Continental Congress on June 14th 1777. There is strong evidence that NJ Congressman Francis Hopkinson was the designer of this flag. According to USFlag.org Hopkinson, who was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, designed the flag while serving on the Continental Navy Board.




The only President to serve under this flag was George Washington. There is also disagreement as to whether the colors on the flag have any special meaning or were they just adopted from the colors on the British flag. According to legend, George Washington interpreted the elements of the flag 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. However, there is no official designation or meaning for the colors of the flag. However, in 1782, the Congress of the Confederation chose these same colors for the Great Seal of the United States. While introducing the design of the Great Seal to the Continental Congress Charles Thompson, Secretary of the Continental Congress made the following statement; "The colors of the pales are those used in the flag of the United States of America; White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness and valour, and Blue, the color of the Chief signifies vigilance, perseverance and justice.". So the question is, have we adopted the colors of the Great Seal for an explanation of the colors on the flag, or did the Great Seal adopt its colors and meaning from the Flag? Whichever case it is America has forgotten the meaning of the flag, the Great Seal and the colors of both. The number of stars and stripes do have significant meaning. The 13 stripes represent the original 13 Colonies, the stars represent the number of States currently recognized as official States of the United States of America. The stars on a blue background represent the United States of America as a new Constellation. Since the adoption of the flag in 1777 the only change has been the addition of stars as new States were added to the Union.

Although it is totally appropriate to fly the flag anytime of the year there are specific times when the flag should be flown. According to the US Flag Code the following are dates the flag should be flown:
• New Year's Day, January 1
• Inauguration Day, January 20
• Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, third Monday in January
• Lincoln's Birthday, February 12
• Washington's Birthday, third Monday in February
• Easter Sunday (variable)
• Mother's Day, second Sunday in May
• Armed Forces Day, third Saturday in May
• Memorial Day (half-staff until noon), the last Monday in May
• Flag Day, June 14
• Father's Day, third Sunday in June
• Independence Day, July 4
• Labor Day, first Monday in September
• Constitution Day, September 17
• Columbus Day, second Monday in October
• Navy Day, October 27
• Veterans Day, November 11
• Thanksgiving Day, fourth Thursday in November
• Christmas Day, December 25
• Other days as may be proclaimed by the President of the United States
• Birthdays of States (date of admission)
• State holidays.
These days were chosen for significant reasons. Reasons such as the discovery of America, the birth of the United States of America, the birth of the longest standing Constitution in the world, the birth of the National Flag, the birth of the first President and the birth of the President that brought the states back together, the birthday of a man that dedicated his life to ensuring that the words of our founders was applied to all men regardless of race, the birthdays of the organizations that have ensured the freedom of our country (the Army and Navy), a day honoring all who have fought and died to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America, a day to honor the resilience of those that first came to these shores and started the colonies that later became the United States and those Native Americans that helped them through the hard times, a day honoring the mothers that have raised their sons and daughters to fight in defense of the Constitution, a day celebrating the start of a new year and new hope and a day honoring the workers that gave their strength and sweat to create this great Nation we live in. There are other dates that are listed that have a significance that is constantly under fire, their meaning is not lost on those that believe in the work our Founding Fathers did, these dates include, Easter and Christmas, proving that Judeo-Christian beliefs played a major role in the formation of our Constitution. While we are not only a Christian Nation, Christianity and its basic beliefs in right and wrong were strong influences in the creation of this great Nation.
The US Flag Code also specifies the proper way to fly or display a flag and inappropriate displaying of the flag. In general the flag is to be displayed in a respectful manner. The blue field, the union, should always be at the highest point of the flag. When displayed in a window or on a wall the union should be in the uppermost left hand corner from the viewers’ position. When used on a stage and hung flat it should be above and behind the speaker with the union in the upper left hand corner when viewed from the audience. When the flag is displayed with other banners and pennants it should be in the center and either forward of the other flags (such as in a parade) or on a staff that is higher then the other staffs. When displayed with another flag on the same staff the American flag will be on top. When displayed with flags of other nations the flags shall be displayed on separate but equal height staffs and the flags should be of equal size. When you read these requirements it should become obvious that America is not trying to show or prove any dominance over other countries as many believe. When displayed with State flags the US flag should be in a position of prominence just as the Nation when taken as a whole is in prominence. Inappropriate displays include the wearing of the flag as clothing, flags painted on cars, printed on plates or napkins, flags as bandanas or headbands and flags used as coverings for tables or other furniture. Many of these are overlooked simply because the showing of patriotism to the country is always a good thing. Flying of the flag upside down is also addressed in the Flag Codes. The flying of a flag upside down should only be used in times of dire distress to life or property, displaying it upside down as a political statement does not constitute dire distress.
The Flag Code goes on to specify the actions to be taken when the flag is raised or lowered and when the National Anthem is played. If playing the National Anthem while hoisting the flag: the flag shall be raised in a manner that will have the flag at full staff as the Anthem ends. If hoisting the flag without playing the National Anthem the flag shall be raised in a slow but steady manner. In neither case should any part of the flag be allowed to touch the ground while be unfurled. Bystanders should stop and honor the flag by either saluting if they are military in uniform or if they are veterans, or by placing their right hand over their left breast, close to the heart, if they are wearing headgear it should be removed with their right hand and placed over their heart. Citizens of other countries that are present should show respect to our flag by standing during the hoisting of the flag and the playing of the Anthem. Lowering of the flag should be done in a brisk manner without allowing the flag to touch the ground and then properly folded.
Many Americans have forgotten not only the history of our flag; they have also forgotten how to respect our flag and the freedoms it represents. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you feel about the subject, the very freedoms that our flag represents are the freedoms that allow for the desecration of our flag. In this country it is not unusual to see the flags of other countries flown at homes and businesses while in the minimal travels I have done overseas I have only seen the American flag flown over American Military establishments. In recent months we have seen the American flag flown below the Mexican flag and upside down in demonstrations to the illegal immigrations stance that the State of Arizona has taken, my question to those demonstrators is whether they could do that in Mexico? I am torn personally in how I feel about the allowing of the burning of the flag or the flying of the flag in a disrespectful manner such as the above mentioned demonstrations. On one hand I agree with the whole freedom of speech argument, on the other I wonder why we have hate speech laws that apply to the desecration of the symbol of someone else’s country, religion or race but not to the symbol of our own country, the one country where they can burn the flag without being faced with legal action.

Steve Avery
June 6, 2010