Miscellaneous Flag Facts
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- A flag expert is called a "vexillologist."
- In 1776, General George Washington raised the Continental Army
flag. The flag was red-and-white striped and included the British Union Jack
where we now have stars. From 1776 - 1777, several different flag designs with 13 stripes were used.
- The official U.S. Flag, adopted on June 14, 1777, is the fourth oldest national
flag in the world. Denmark's flag, adopted in 1219, is the oldest. The Founding Fathers gave the United States its first
symbol with just 28 words in a jewel-like message: "The Flag of the
United States be 13 stripes, alternate red and white, that the Union be 13
stars, white on a blue field representing a new constellation."
- In 1916 President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed June 14 as Flag Day. While
Flag Day was a popular celebration in scores of communities for many years
after Wilson's proclamation, it didn't receive its official Congressional
designation until 1949.
- Washington explained it this way: "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."
- In September 1777, the new American Flag was first carried in battle at
Brandywine, Pennsylvania. In the 1790's after Vermont and Kentucky became
states, Congress approved adding two more stars and two more stripes. The
original thirteen colonies were now states. This was the "Star Spangled
Banner" of which Francis Scott Key wrote in 1814. As other states
entered the Union, it became obvious that stripes could not be continually
added, so Congress reestablished the 13-stripe flag in 1818 and allowed for
additional stars for new states
- The Continental Congress defined the symbolic meanings of the colors red,
white, and blue, as used in the flag, "White signifies Purity and
Innocence; Red, Hardiness and Valor; and Blue, Vigilance, Perseverance and
Justice."
- The blue field on the U.S. Flag is called the "union."
- The reason the flag is folded into a triangular shape is to symbolize the
shape of the cocked hats worn by soldiers of the American Revolution.
- The Founders of the American Republic wanted to give a constant reminder
that the Liberty they had bequeathed to was:
- a "New Constellation" in the firmament of Nations;
- a "New Constellation" in the galaxy of governments;
- a "New Constellation" in the relationship of man to government,
government to man and
- both to God.
- Historically in the United States the tallest flag pole was erected
outside the Oregon Building at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International
Exposition in San Francisco, California and trimmed from a Douglas Fir. The
flagpole stood 299 feet 7 inches high and weighed 51.8 tons.
- Currently, the tallest standing flagpole is in Gladsen, AL measuring 242
feet high with a 5 H.P. motor to hoist a flag 60 feet by 100 feet at the
Pollock Motor Company premises.
- The Humphreys Flag Company of Philadelphia, PA completed a 505 feet by 255
feet flag in 1992. It weighs one and one-half tons. The flag was
commissioned by Ski Demski of Long Beach, CA. The fabric alone cost $30,000
wholesale. Sewing it took "several thousand man hours."
- Flag of the United States, popularly called the American flag, consists of
13 horizontal stripes, 7 red alternating with 6 white, and in the upper
corner near the staff, a rectangular blue field, or canton, containing 50
five-pointed white stars. The stars represent the
50 states of the Union and each point to heaven. The American flag is frequently called the
Star-Spangled Banner, the Stars and Stripes, or the Red, White, and Blue
because of its stars, stripes, and colors
- Americans may display the Flag on any day, and especially on:
New Year's Day, January 1
Inauguration Day, January 20
Lincoln's Birthday, February 12
Washington's Birthday, February 22
Presidents' Day
Easter Sunday
Mothers' Day
Armed Forces Day
Memorial Day, May 30 and Observed Memorial Day
Flag Day, June 14
Independence Day, July 4
Labor Day
Constitution Day, September 17
Columbus Day, October 12
Discoverers' Day
Navy Day, October 27
Marine Corps Birthday, November 10
Veterans' Day, November 11
Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day, December 25
and other days as may be proclaimed by the President of the United States
and on state holidays.