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NATIONAL FLAGS are not merely
have its own national flag instead of showing the Britsymbols of a country. Their colors andish “Union Jack.” The new design replaced the “Uniondesigns convey past history and futureJack” with thirteen white stars on a blue field. Thegoals. Flags have powerful connotations. They speak
thirteen stars of the flag represented the thirteen newto the people and politicians. Flags show identity andstates. The following remark about the design is atare flown by international carriers and transport vetributed to Washington:
hicles for this purpose. Flags show
We take the stars from heaven,national pride; many athletes, forthe red from our mother country,
example, after winning an internaseparate it by white stripes, thus
tional sports event drape themshowing that we have separated
selves with their national flag.
from her...
It is interesting to point out
It is not known who actuallythat the United States did not evendesigned this flag. Betsy Ross, ahave a standardized flag until 1912.
seamstress, is said to have contribCalled the “Stars and Stripes,” oruted to its design. She had an up“Old Glory,” the flag is one of theholstery business, which mademore complicated in the world, reflags for navy ships in Pennsylvaquiring 64 pieces of fabric to make.
nia. A legend still persists that she
The current flag has thirteen red
showed George Washington how
and white alternating stripes (repto make a five-pointed star, andresenting the original 13 states)suggested thirteen stars in a circle
and fifty stars (each star representfor the first flag. Her descendants
ing one of the states of the Union)
claimed that she offered Washingon a blue background.
ton the design. Actually, it is unknown whether she
The American flag has changed designs more thanand George Washington ever met.
any other flag in the world. The first flag, called theThere were few public ceremonies honoring the“Grand Union,” designed by George Washington, was“Stars and Stripes” until 1877. In that year, on June
flown at the headquarters of the Continental Army on14, the first official Flag Day was observed, and ConJanuary 1, 1776. This flag contained the British flag,
gress requested that the flag be flown from every govthe “Union Jack,” in the upper left corner, and hadernment building in honor of the centennial of thethirteen stripes of red and white.
adoption of a national flag. Schools
On June 14, 1777, after the Declahad unfurled American flags overPREVIOUS PAGE: An American flag flies proudly in the sun.
ration of Independence, Congress ABOVE: It is said that Betsy Ross, a seamstress, sewed the their doors or outside the building
proposed that the United States first American flag in 1776.
long before this; but in 1890,
C E L E B R AT I O N S87F L A G D AYNorth Dakota and New Jersey made a law that rethe flag every weekday morning. However, many peoquired their schools to fly the flag daily. New York wasple felt that this requirement violated individual rights
the first state to proclaim June 14 as Flag Day, to be
outlined in the U.S. Constitution. Some people alsocelebrated as an annual event. Other states were slow
felt that the words, “under God,” which had been
to follow. Some people thought that the day was tooadded to the Pledge in 1954, had no place in a patriotclose to Memorial Day and Independence Day. In
ic pledge, and should be removed. Much debate and1916, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Flag
controversy arose over these issues, and on June 25,
Day a national celebration.
2002, the 9th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals ruled
In August 1949, President Harry S. Truman signed
unconstitutional the requirement that public school
the national Flag Day Bill, officially recognizing June
children recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Private schools
14 as Flag Day. Since then, the President proclaims theand institutions were free to make their own decisionscommemoration yearly, and encourages all Americans
about the pledge. The words, “under God,” remain inin the country to display the “Stars and Stripes” outthe pledge:
side their homes and businesses. Individual states deI pledge allegiance to the flag of the United
termine how they will observe the day. Usually the flag
States of America, and to the republic for which itis flown from all public buildings, speeches are madestands, one nation under God, indivisible, within public places, and ceremonies take place in someliberty and justice for all.
towns and cities.
Americans take the treatment
Until 2002, elementary schoolof their flag seriously, and in thechildren across the nation recited Above: Chairs are lined up and ready for those who 20th century this became an importhe Pledge of Allegiance in front of want to sit down to observe the Flag Day parade.
tant and sometimes controversial
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C e l e b r at i o n sdrape: v. to cover or hang with fabricstandardize(d): v. to make to look the same; to havecommon characteristics or goals
complicated: adj. having many parts; involved
fabric: n. cloth; material
Union: n. refers to the United States
seamstress: n. woman whose profession is sewing
upholstery: n. materials such as cloth, leather, andpadding used to make a soft covering, usually forfurnituredescendant(s): n. children, grandchildren, greatgrandchildren
centennial: n. one hundred year anniversary
adoption: n. taking as one’s own
unfurl(ed): v. to unroll; to unfold
bill: n. lawcommemoration: n. a ceremony or observation toremember someone or a group or event or action
recite(d): v. to say out loud from memory or read out
loud
Pledge of Allegiance: phrase. the oath of fidelity to theUnited States. To pledge is to make a serious promise
or agreement. Allegiance refers to loyalty or faithfulness
to a government or group.
indivisible: adj. cannot be divided into smaller parts
controversial: adj. pertaining to opposing, disputed, or
debatable views
issue: n. a topic or matter of discussion
code of ethics: phrase. a set of moral issues and ofwhat is good and bad conduct or behavior; a set ofissues defining what actions or activities are right andwhat is wrong
dip(ped): v. to lower slightly
upside down: adv. with the top turned so as to bepositioned on the bottom
distress: adj. emergency; of great trouble
amendment: n. an addition or change
anthem: n. a song that is symbolic of a people, a group,
a culture, a movement; usually a song of praise
inspire(d): v. to encourage; to give an idea toissue. Included in the code of ethics governing the handling, use, and display of the flag are such rules as: The
national flag should be flown between sunrise and sunset, except on some special occasions. Though it is not illegal to fly the flag 24 hours a day, it should be spotlighted
if flown at night. It cannot cover a monument or any ceiling. It must not be folded while being displayed. No one
should write on an American flag. Ships can lower theirflags slightly in greeting each other, as can military color
guard in ceremonies, but otherwise it should not bedipped for any other object or person. The flag should
not be hung upside down, unless done so as a distresssignal. The flag is flown at half-mast in honor of a national hero or leader upon his or her death, or to honor acelebrity or group of people such as soldiers who gave somuch, including their lives, for their country.
As in every country of the world, the treatment of theflag displays an opinion or statement. In the late 1960s,
American students wore small flags sewn to their clothing
and draped flags around their shoulders, symbolicallychallenging the American government and protesting its
involvement in the Vietnam War. They burned the American flag in front of the Capitol Building in Washington,D.C., as a statement of protest. In the early 1990s, senators suggested an amendment to the Constitution thatwould make wearing and burning of the flag illegal. Theproposition was opposed because many others felt that
this change would be a violation of Americans’ constitutional rights to express their opinions freely.
The flag is one of the nation’s most powerful andsignificant symbols, and as such, is celebrated every
June 14th in the United States. In fact, the symbolic nature of the flag is what inspired the U.S. national anthem. In September 1814, during the War of 1812 between the British and Americans, a lawyer named Francis Scott Key watched a fiery battle in the Baltimore
Harbor. The morning after the battle he saw the flagwaving, and was inspired to write a poem. This poem
became the national anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner.” The actual flag from that battle is on exhibit at theMuseum of American History in Washington, D.C.
Glossary
convey: v. to suggest; to show; to carry meaning
connotation: n. meaning; suggestionC e l e b r at i o n s89F l a g D ay

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