United States of America Flag - World Flags 101 - American Flags [ what's this? ] American Flag Meaning: The 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies of the US: Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Virginia. The 50 stars represent the individual states that make up the nation. Popular history states the red of the flag represents valor, white stands for liberty or purity and blue represents justice, loyalty and perseverance. These meanings are unofficial though. American Flag History: The current American flag was adopted on July 4, 1960. The American flag originated in the mid-18th century from flags used at the time of the American War of Independence with Britain. Congress officially set the design of the American flag in June 1777, stating that it should be 13 alternating red and white stripes, with 13 white stars on a blue field as there were 13 original member states in the newly formed Union. As new states joined the country a new star and stripe were added to the American flag.

In 1818, the American flag's design was changed to the original one of 13 stripes. Any new states were now represented by a white star only and would be added to the American flag on July 4th of the year they joined. Up until 1818, there was no specific pattern for the stars to follow and this led to a few different designs until the president stated they should be placed in parallel rows. The last star, representing Hawaii was added was in 1960, and it became the 27th version of the American flag. Like many of the worlds other old flags, there are many legends and myths that surround the flag of the United States of America. Interesting American Flag Facts: The American flag is often called "the stars and stripes" or "Old Glory." The American flag has influenced the design of many other of the world's flags Old and tattered flags are supposed to be burned in a simple ceremony once they become unacceptable for flying. However, may people have taken to public displays of burning the American flag to show their displeasure with the country. World FlagsAlphabetical list of all world flags. U National Symbol: The Flag The Flag The U.S.

flag has undergone many changes since the first official flag of 1777. On June 14, 1777 , the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act, which said that the flag would be made up of thirteen alternating red and white stripes and thirteen white stars on a blue field. Stars have been added to the flag as new states join the union. Currently, the flag contains 50 stars. Ever wonder why the flag is red, white, and blue? While the flag's colors did not have a specific meaning at the time, the colors were significant for the Great Seal of 1782. White: Signifies purity and innocence Red: Signifies valor and bravery Blue: Signifies Vigilance, perseverance, and justice Why stars and stripes? Stars are considered a symbol of the heavens and the divine goal to which man has aspired from time immemorial; the stripe is symbolic of the rays of light emanating from the sun. Facts About the U.S. Flag How many stars and stripes are on the flag? There are 50 stars representing the 50 states and there are 13 stripes representing the 13 original states.

Flag: thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small white five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; known as Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico. Why 7 Red and 6 White Stripes | American Flags Forum Why 7 Red and 6 White Stripes Why 7 red and 6 white stripes... lovemygrandkids said: I thought I read somewhere the reason for 7 red and 6 white stripes. I know that the total number stands for the 13 original colonies. However, my question is why not 6 red and 7 white? I hope you understand my question. I remember reading that there was a reason for choosing 7 red stripes...not 6; and vice versa. It had something to do with symbolism and what the red represented. Thanks for pondering my question.

Bianca sarahw Guest Bianca, I don't think there really was a reason for seven red stripes and six white stripes. Many people have tried to attach symbolism to the colors that simply wasn't there when the flag was designed. Some say George Washington remarked that the red represented the mother country and the white was separating the red, a symbol of liberty. The theory, then, is that the white is intersecting the red so that's why red is on the top and bottom. Other symbolism attached to the flag includes that red is blood or courage and white is purity or innocence. Maybe you need more courage than you need purity when you're building a nation? OK, that was a joke, but I think the number of stripes of each color maybe can't be called a coincidence, there's no historic record of what the designers were thinking. Sarah I would like to know what each color represents on the flag. Can anyone tell me? Peter Ansoff USA Flag Site Admin I would like to know what each color represents on the flag. Can anyone tell me? The colors of the US flag came from the colors of the British flag. The resolution that created the flag in 1777 did not say anything about the symbolism of the colors.

When the Great Seal of the United States was adopted in 1782, the explanation of the seal said: "The colours of the pales are those used in the flag of the United States of America; White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness & valor, and Blue, the colour of the Chief signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice." However, this was an after-the-fact explanation, because the flag had already existed for 5 years before it was written. Peter Ansoff ulv93@verizon.net New Member Thank you peter. I also heard that the red stood for the blood lost gaining our freedom. Is that true? Peter Ansoff USA Flag Site Admin Hi, I also heard that the red stood for the blood lost gaining our freedom. Is that true? Again, the colors don't officially stand for anything -- they're the result of our flag's descent from the British flag. Indivdual writers and poets have come up with lots of different ideas of what the colors mean to them, but those are just artistic license. Not all of their ideas are necessarily patriotic, either.

A British poet in the early 19th century compared the red and white stripes to the scars on the backs of American slaves who were whipped by their masters. Thanks for joining -- hope you enjoy the forum! Peter Ansoff Captgio New Member Greetings Peter, Do you know where the stripes originated? Dutch Masters and the church. Go research the 7 pillars. Go read about Flag Author Richardson and his wifes flags that were debunked. 13 Stars and 7 stripes flag, merchants of CT and MA. The great seal and all flag documents where kept in Stratford CT for a time before Washington was built. The stripes are origin to the church going back to Holland and Calvinism! The Stripes are not origin to the Sons of Liberty, 13 Stripes symbolic to States united by the church. 13 white Stars representing states in a blue canton seperated from the Stripes or church control! Peter Ansoff USA Flag Site Admin Hello, Captgio, Do you have any evidence for any of this? Stripes on flags have historically been used by many entities. Peter Ansoff - Similar I have studied Towers work and he is dead on!

Read about the section Mass colonies and CT colonies, the 4 joined! This is when new England was called the United Colonies and then the United States! The Salem MA minister who made himsef famous for burning witches! He was upset and came to CT, he burned a women in Stratford CT to prove a point of his power and the church among the 4 colonies. Rev Davenport, wrote a document that states all ships of New Haven have to fly the striped flag of red and white in reference to the United Colonies as ordered by the the good Rev. of Salem, MA. This document is very safe and will be brought forth when the time is right. Please, note this and do not lose this Peter. When you read towers document he states 7 provinces of Holland and the he also states reformation! Who reformed the churchs in England and Holland. What famous minister/Dr. that did this work or is noted for doing this work? When i present some of my work this will be clearer to you in the near future. If you care about American flag history. Research ship paintings that show these flag belonging to CT/MA. Keep this in mind, that the church controlled the Government back then.

Learn about the leaders of the 7 pillars of New Haven and Connecticut! 7 Stripes may have been in reference to them or the Colonies they controlled. Resolving this work is by researching the fathers of the church in New England. Gomac New Member Captgio said: ↑ Please, note this and do not lose this Peter. When you read towers document he states 7 provinces of Holland and the he also states reformation! Who reformed the churchs in England and Holland. What famous minister/Dr. that did this work or is noted for doing this work? When i present some of my work this will be clearer to you in the near future. If you care about American flag history. Research ship paintings that show these flag belonging to CT/MA. Keep this in mind, that the church controlled the Government back then. Learn about the leaders of the 7 pillars of New Haven and Connecticut! 7 Stripes may have been in reference to them or the Colonies they controlled. Resolving this work is by researching the fathers of the church in New England. Click to expand... Maybe a conspiracy theory there.

If the 7 stripes come from Holland - At the same time as the American Revolution the flag of the British East India Company was between 9 and 13 red and white stripes with the union flag (union Jack) as the Canton. The British East India Company came to prominance after The Glorious Revolution in England (1688) (nor Great Britain since the union between England and Scotland occured in 1707). The Glorious Revolution was bloodless and followed on from the English Civil Wars in the early to mid 1600's when Parliament and King fought for power and led to England being a republic for 12 years. After the death of Oliver Cromwell, the monarchy was re-instated, however the second monarch in, King James 2nd was not for having the nonsense of thought that had emerged in England and he was a strong Catholic to boot, that the monarchy was born to serve and not to be served. Therefore in a few English Parliamentarians went to Holland and asked Holland to invade, which William Duke of Orange gladly responded.

As a result of the invasion of England by Holland, William Duke of Orange became King of England (and Ireland - on a side note it's why there are Orangemen in Northern Ireland today) under the terms of the English Parliament, and that the natural order of things was "God, Parliament and then King". But also as a result the Dutch East India company, which at the time dominated trade to India was wound up in favour of the English East India company. The English East India comapny later became the British East India Company. therefore the flag could represent Holland, but also the pre-eminant company of the emerging British Empire. But more iterestingly when everything came to the boling point in 1773 and the Boston Tea Party, was the same year that the British Parliament (among stiff opposition) passed an act stating that land aquired by the East India Company would be for the Crown and not for the company. Is it possible that represention and taxation where not the real reasons for American Independence.

But was orchastrated by the shareholders of the East India company and those in Parliament who were either against or apenthetic towards monarch, and were in a sense "getting back" at those who had gone against it and supported the taking of "it's land"? Those same people could have introduced the tea tax, knowing full well that it was going to be met with hostility. It is true that American Colonists fought in the English Civil war with the aim of getting rid of the monarchy, so it has long rootes, but the taxation issue is a myth, an American paid 1 shilling in tax to 7 paid by and Englishman. It'd be interesting to know if the founding fathers had any links to the East India Company. Peter Ansoff USA Flag Site Admin Greetings, Gomac -- welcome to the Forum! The implication being American revolutionaries were fighting for the East India Company under the Grand Union Flag Sorry, but all of this just doesn't make very much sense. The East India Company could not have acquired land in the American colonies -- its charter specifically limited its trading activities to areas east of the Cape of Good Hope.

The tea shipments to Boston and the other colonies were a specific exception made by the Crown to assist the Company and provide the colonists with tea at reduced cost. The ships that brought the tea to America were not Indiamen, but ordinary merchant ships chartered for that particular voyage. Part of the motivation for the Tea Parties was that the shipments were undercutting the colonists' own smuggling activites. The Americans regarded the EIC as one of the bad guys -- later in the Revolution, they even named one of their ships after an Indian leader who was fighting against the EIC. Many people, including Charles Fawcett in his famous 1937 article, have tried to invent a rationale for the American Revolutionaries copying the EIC flag, but none have ever really done so. If there was a relationship, it was probably just the concept of "differencing" the British Red Ensign by adding stripes. We'll never know who actually came up with the deisgn of the Continental Colors, but it was probably one of the people involved in outfitting the American squadron in Philadelphia in the fall of 1775.

As for CaptGio's discussion about the origin of the stripes, I guess my reaction is like the folks from Missouri -- "show me!" Stripes have been used on the flags of many different nations and entities over the centuries, including England, the Netherlands, Catalonia, Bremen, Portugal, etc. etc. All this proves is that stripes are a common and highly-recognizable motif. Best regards, Steve Mitch New Member Here's my theory, don't shoot me down guys as its only an idea. I'm new to the site and have read only a few posts, mainly regarding the origins of the stripes on the star spangled banner. A little know fact outside of my home town is that Washington UK (now within the city of Sunderland) is the ancestral home of the first president of the United States - George Washington. A quick look back in history reveals that the Washington (UK) coat of arms is made up of horizontal red and white stripes with stars along the top. Is this a coincidence? Peter Ansoff USA Flag Site Admin Greetings, Steve! Welcome to the forum!

The story about Washington's coat-of-arms was discussed in this earlier thread: The idea that Washington's arms were related to the design of the US flag has been around for a long time. The most complete version of the argument was in a pamphlet published by Edward Tuffley, of Northhampton, in 1883. However, his arguments (and all the others that I've heard of) are of the "could have" variety, and are unconvincing. The bottom line is that nobody has ever produced any actual evidence that the design of the US flag was influenced by Washington's arms, and it would not really have made any sense in the context of 1775-77. Washington's arms are familiar to anyone who lives here in the Washington DC area, because they were the basis for the flag of the District of Columbia. There's no dispute about that one! Best regards, Captgio New Member Peter, Do not forget the Navy squadron you mentioned, the Alfred, was purchased by CT's Silas Dean when Barry Commanded the ship after her first voyage.

The Alfred, including other ships were being prepared, outfitted in New London before the ships went to Philadelphia where the US Navys 1st Admiral, Commodore and Commander in chief took command, Commodore Hopkins. Hopkins is my wifes direct bloodline, Peter. Do you know why he was picked as the Navys first Commander? Not because of his Brother the Governor of Rhode Island, because of the family bloodline to going to the church, head of education the 1500's at OXford. The Hopkins were the Sheriff of London, Keepers of Westminster Palace, under the king, the lord who headed all the lords council for all English Colonial Migration at the palace,which includes the British EIC migration! The same family of Hopkins at the same time was the Lord of the British Amiralty, producing several British Admirals! This is why Esek was chosen as a Commodore of the 1st US NAVY, a real slap in the royal face of other family members in England! The US NAVY historians do not teach you this history, do they? Commodore Hopkins had a side kick, Connecticuts, Capt. Dudley Saltonstall who took command of the Alfred in Philadelphia.

Why do you think he was chosen as Captain of the 1st US NAVY SHIP? Sir Saltonstall, the family was one of the lord's of the council at Westminster under the Hopkins Rule in the late 1500's into the 1600's involving the Pilgrims migration to MASS and CT. The New Haven church minister Davenport, including other church leaders made a deal with one of the B-EIC Governors of India. They requested money from this man who was rich and powerful, pretty corrupt in the company, when he was a boy he and his parents moved to the MASS Bay Colony for a while, I think his mother remarried one of the founders of Harvard. The money needed in New Haven was for creating a new school, you may know of this school. Named after the British East India Company member and Governor in India, Eliu YALE. The University recieved its name from the East India Companies own, Governor Yale. Connect the dots from the famous Divine, William Ames who United the Dutch and English Churches to the ministers of MA/CT, Calvinism! Steve, many people know of Washington's family arms having the 5 pointed stars.

The History of the five pointed star usage in Colony and 1st US History may now be proven that it comes from Robert Treat Paine, a signer of the Delaration of Indpendence. Two of his famous grandfathers were Major Simon Willard, who commanded the MA/CT forces in the King Philip's War, under his command was the commander of the Connecticut forces, Major Robert Treat, Paines other great grandfather. Treat became Governor of Connecticut, he was the one who refused to give up the charter when Governor Andross came to revoke MA and CT Colony Charters. When Treat was a boy he came to New England, on the same ship with SIR Richard Saltonstall, who was one of the founders/Governor of the MASS Bay Colony. Gov. Treats, personal seal, Governor seal is a heart with two arrows through the heart, above the heart is a five pointed star. Historians have always thought that the MASS Bay Colony or MASS State seal of 1780, depicting an Americian Indian native with a bow in hand, to the right of his head is a five pointed star.

Historians messed up the history thinking the seal with the star was created in 1780, the star was added to the seal in 1776-1777 now proven as a fact. A historic cannon showing the seal with the star was found on a shipwreck, the seal is on the cannon, giving proof the seal with the star was made prior to 1780. The reason why these guns with this specific seal was made with the star was to symbolize the history of MASS BAY History. Specifically for matching the devices or wood carvings of the the US Navy Frigates, Hancock and Boston. This is the kicker, the ships were finished in 1776, underway before he MASS made foundry cannons were finished or completed. The British documented the Frigate Hancocks designs in Nova Scotia. The original designs exist in the British archives, the stern of the ship shows a large five pointed star next to a coiled snake. A famous ship model maker named "Hahn" did all the documention work and built these models showing the five pointed star. Whats the connection to Robert Treat Paine?

Robert Treat Paine, member of Contiential Congress was appointed as chair person for making all CANNON in all the colonies by order of Congress. Roberts father Thomas was a minister, merchant ship owner/privateers and owned two foundries for making the first ever known cannons in the Americas. The five pointed star besides being English, Dutch, masonic as we know it, was first applied by these specific men in MASS John Hancock, Robert Treat Paine, Nathan Cushing, Thomas Cushing, specifically representing the Charter history and Connecticut not giving up the charter or freedom, prior to the American Revolution. Examine the Mass 1775 Seal before the 1780 Seal of Mass, shows the famous English patriot, during the English Revolution not giving up the Magna carta. A special note, Paine was also a minister bloodlined to the same ministers mentioned who were a part of founding Harvard. Paines, great grand father Major Simon Willard founded Concord. Robert Treats is also bloodlined to the Hopkins family, same line to Esek Hopkins.

I think it has to do with religious leader blood lines, Eaton the minister was also a grandfather, the Hopkins grandfather line goes back to Stephan in the 1550's, the right hand man of a Cardinal of the English Church, that hopkins was placed in a prison ship, released by orders of Queen Elizabeth. Connecting the History of Masonic Stars, we know Washington has three five pointed stars on his family arms. Why did he use a six or eight pointed stars on his flag? We know masons use 5,6,8 pointed stars and Washington was a mason? Who was the head of all North American Mason, where was that Lodge located? Located in Boston, think these mason leaders had any say over anything, the man who swore George Washington into office Was a the cousin to the to Cushing's mentioned above. Going back to Major Willard, Treat, Pain, Cushing these men were also all Judges also members of courts, government. Check out the old english history "Star Chamber" Councils, connected the history of old Government, courts back to these families mentioned, Willard, Treat. The story goes the chamber was burned, said to have five pointed stars.

Look up star chamber court and the purpose back in England, connect the history to the early MASS families mentioned! Peter Ansoff USA Flag Site Admin the Alfred, was purchased by CT's Silas Dean No, she was not. The Alfred was purchased by the Naval Committee of Congress for service in the Continental Navy. Silas Deane (note correct spelling) was a member of the committee. He was obviously involved in the decision to purchase her, but he did not do so himself. The Alfred, including other ships were being prepared, outfitted in New London before the ships went to Philadelphia No, they were not. The ships of the first Continental squadron were outfitted in Philadelphia, except for the Wasp and the Hornet which came from Baltimore. The squadron went to New London the Spring of 1776, when they returned from their cruise to the Bahamas. The US NAVY historians do not teach you this history, [about Commodore Hopkins] do they? No, probably because that "history" doesn't make any sense. Why would Congress care about who Hopkins' 16th century ancestors were?

He was chosen because he was a prominent citizen, had naval experience as a privateer captain during the Seven Years War, and because his brother was a member of the Naval Committee and former Governor of Rhode Island. Why do you think [Dudley Saltonstall] was chosen as Captain of the 1st US NAVY SHIP? Sir Saltonstall, the family was one of the lord's of the council at Westminster under the Hopkins Rule in the late 1500's into the 1600's involving the Pilgrims migration to MASS and CT. Again, this makes no sense. Why would Congress care about Saltonstall's distant ancestry? He was probably chosen because Silas Deane, a member of the Naval Committee, was his brother-in-law. I won't try to untangle your speculations about the stars, except to note that the ones on Washington's arms were not actually stars in heraldic terms -- they were "mullets." "Mullet" is a corruption of the French "moulette" which is a spur-rowel -- the little jagged wheel on a horseman's spur.

On coats-of-arms, mullets are sometimes depicted with a hole in the middle for the rowel shaft -- I've seen depictions of Washington's arms that show this. Mullets have been common elements of heraldic decoration since Medieval times. They are conventionally shown with five points, but not always. The number of points has no special significance -- they are still mullets. In heraldry, a "star" is something else altogether -- it has wavy points instead of straight ones. Nobody knows for sure why the stars on American flags ended up looking like mullets. My guess is that it was simply too difficult for flagmakers to cut out wavy stars, and they substituted straight-armed mullets because they were easier to make. That's just speculation, of course. Peter Ansoff Category:Flags with red and white stripes - Wikimedia Commons Category:Flags with red and white stripes From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository This category has the following 14 subcategories, out of 14 total. 3 Media in category "Flags with red and white stripes" The following 200 files are in this category, out of 204 total.

Stars and Stripes - Flag of the USA Englisch-hilfen.de/ Stars and Stripes – Flag of the USA There are 13 red and white stripes in the flag of the USA. These 13 stripes (seven red and six white ones) represent the former Thirteen Colonies . On 4 July 1776 these colonies became independent of Great Britain ( Declaration of Independence ). There are 50 stars in the blue rectangle on top left of the flag. These stars represent the 50 federal states . This has been the official flag since Hawaii became a member of the union on 21 August 1959. Older flags contain less stars depending on how many states belonged to the Union. (see States by Entry into the Union ) The flag of the United States of America is often called ›Stars and Stripes‹.

The Flag of The United States of America | District of Puerto Rico The Flag of The United States of America American Flag The Flag of the United States of America consists of 13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars. The 50 stars on the flag represent the 50 states and the 13 stripes represent the original Thirteen Colonies that rebelled against the British crown and became the first states in the Union. Nicknames for the flag include “the Stars and Stripes”, “Old Glory”, and “the Star-Spangled Banner”. Because of its symbolism, the starred blue canton is called the “union”. This part of the national flag can stand alone as a maritime flag called the Union Jack which served as the United States jack on warships from 1777 until 2002. United States warships now display as a jack, the Culpepper Ensign, which is displayed here.

The blue canton continues to be used as a jack, however, by various federally-owned vessels, including those of the Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. History of The Flag The flag has been changed 26 times since the new, 13-state union adopted it. The 48-star version went unchanged for 47 years, the longest time the flag went unmodified until July 4, 2007, when the current 50-star flag broke the record. First Flag At the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776, the United States had no official national flag. The Grand Union Flag, displayed here, has historically been referred to as the “First National Flag”. Although it has never had any official status, it was used throughout the American Revolutionary War by George Washington and formed the basis for the design of the first official United States flag. The origins of the flag’s design are unclear. It closely resembles the British East India Company (BEIC) flag of the same era, and an argument holds that the BEIC flag indeed inspired the design.

The BEIC flag could have from 9 to 15 stripes, however, and was not allowed to be flown outside the Indian Ocean. Another theory holds that the red-and-white stripe and later, stars-and-stripes motif of the flag may have been based on the Washington family coat-of-arms, which consisted of a shield “argent, two bars gules, above, three mullets gules” (a white shield with two red bars below three red stars). This is the design of the flag of the District of Columbia. More likely it was based on a flag of the Sons of Liberty, one of which consisted of 13 red and white alternating horizontal stripes. The Flag Resolution of 1777 On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed the Flag Resolution which stated: “Resolved, That the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation.” Flag Day is now observed on June 14 of each year. The Flag Resolution did not specify any particular arrangement for the stars.

The so-called Betsy Ross Flag (with the thirteen stars arranged in a circle), although never an official flag, is the oldest version of any United States flag to appear on any physical relic: it is historically referenced in contemporary battlefield paintings by John Trumbull and Charles Willson Peale, which depict the circular star arrangement. Popular designs at the time were varied and most were individually crafted rather than mass-produced. Given the scant archaeological and written evidence, it is unknown which design was the most popular at that time. The origin of the stars and stripes design is uncertain. A popular story credits Betsy Ross for sewing the first flag from a pencil sketch by George Washington who personally commissioned her for the job. No evidence for this theory exists, however, beyond Betsy’s descendants’ much later recollections of what she told her family. Another woman, Rebecca Young, has also been credited as having made the first flag by later generations of her family. Rebecca Young’s daughter was Mary Pickersgill, who made the Star Spangled Banner Flag. Another, more likely, popular theory is that the flag was designed by Congressman Francis Hopkinson.

Hopkinson was the only person to have made such a claim during his own lifetime, when he sent a bill to Congress for his work. Initially, he asked for a “Quarter Cask of the Public Wine” as payment. The payment was not made, however, because it was determined he had already received a salary as a member of Congress, and he was not the only person to have contributed to the design. It should be noted that no one else contested his claim at the time. Later Flag Acts In 1795, the number of stars and stripes was increased from 13 to 15 (to reflect the entry of Vermont and Kentucky as states of the union). For a time the flag was not changed when subsequent states were admitted, probably because it was thought that this would cause too much clutter. It was the 15-star, 15-stripe flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner,” now the National Anthem. On April 4, 1818, an act was passed by Congress at the suggestion of Captain Samuel C.

Reid, United States Navy, in which the flag was changed to have 20 stars, with a new star to be added when each new state was admitted, but the number of stripes would remain at thirteen to honor the original colonies. The act specified that new flag designs should become official on the first July 4 (Independence Day) following admission of one or more new states. Neither the order of the stars nor the proportions of the flag was prescribed until President Taft’s Executive Order of June 24, 1912, which provided for the arrangements of the stars in horizontal rows. Consequently, flags dating before this period sometimes show unusual arrangements of the stars and odd proportions, these features being left to the discretion of the flag maker. In general, however, straight rows of stars and proportions similar to those later adopted officially were used. Future of the Flag The United States Army Institute of Heraldry has plans for flags with up to 56 stars, using similar staggered star arrangements should additional states accede.

Historical Flags of Our Ancestors - Modern American Protest and Message Flags 1950-1953 50th Anniversary of the Korean War 1950-2000 The United States Department of Defense has added a Korean War Anniversary Flag to their officially sanctioned set of commemorative flags (Similar commemorative flags were issued for World War II and the Vietnam War ), both to honor and commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Korean War and those who served in it. The Korean War, often called the "Forgotten War" was the first "police action" of what would become known as "The Cold War" between the Western democracies and the Soviet Union. Often misunderstood by the American people, the war was fought between the forces of the United Nations and South Korea against the Communist North Koreans and Red Chinese between 1950 and 1953. The commemoration flag, authorized by Congress and issued by Department of Defense, was meant to thank and honor Korean War veterans and their families; especially those who lost loved ones. Over a four-year period, more than commemorative events were scheduled to show that a "grateful nation remembered" their service and sacrifice.

Between 2000 to 2003, events took place throughout the United States, Republic of Korea and the pacific region, reflecting the US military, its allies and the United Nations' concerted efforts during the Korean War. Centered on Korean War 50th Anniversary Flag is the symbol of South Korea surrounded by 22 gold stars representing the troops of the United Nations. The motto "Freedom is Not Free." appears in both English and Korean written in gold at the bottom of the flag. Also displayed honoring the Korean War Veterans has been the Korean War Veterans flag. Juneteenth Flag 2000 original design by Ben Haith Variant Stars and Stripes #1 "The Middle Passage Flag" original design by Carl Sharif Variant Stars and Stripes #2 "The Mainlander Flag" original design by Carl Sharif Variant Stars and Stripes #3 "The Islander Flag" original design by Carl Sharif Variant Stars and Stripes #4 First seen at the Inauguration of President Barack Obama 2009 Juneteenth Flags 2000 Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, is the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery in America.

It was on June 19, 1863 (Juneteenth), that Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to deliver the news that the Civil War was over and the slaves were free. Although they had been freed by the "Emancipation Proclamation," signed by President Abraham Lincoln almost two years earlier in 1863, it wasn't until Juneteenth that they learned of it. Since 1980 the Juneteenth Celebration has been an officially recognized Texas State holiday, and has now spread far beyond its Texas origins. Today more than 30 states have followed Texas's lead by either making it a state holiday, or sponsoring celebrations. Some cities sponsor week-long celebrations, culminating on June 19, while others hold shorter celebrations. The day is, of course, especially meaningful for black Americans, as it not only commemorates a historical day that forever changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of African Americans, but also marked one of the greatest moral victory's of our nation's history. It restored basic human rights to a group of Americans, who never should have been denied them in the first place.

Its growing popularity acknowledges this period in our history, one that shaped and continues to influence our society today. Credit for the creation of the original Juneteenth Flag goes to Ben Haith, the former Massachusetts Juneteenth State Director and, in 1997, the founder of the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation (NJCF). The original flag was raising in Boston, Massachusetts, in 2000. The tradition of raising the Juneteenth Flag at the Dillaway Thomas House in the Roxbury Heritage Park on every June 19 continues to this day. Besides the flying of the original flag, in recent years several variant versions of the Stars and Stripes have become increasingly popular, called the "All American Flag Series," they replace the red white and blue national colors with various combinations of the colors of the African Heritage movement. They were designed by Carl Sharif of Newark, New Jersey. The Middle Passage Flag (Variant #1) is dedicated to the memory of all Africans who lost their lives during the Middle Passage, the horible voyage faced by African slaves on their way to the Americas. Black stripes stand for their deaths and green ones for their youth, for most of them were young people.

The black canton stands for African origins of the flag users and red stars are for the blood loss by their ancestors, not only during the Middle Passage, but also during the latter sufferings and struggles in America, this symbolism being common to all the three flags. The Mainlander Flag (Variant #2) is meant to represent the North American people of African origin, which is why it resembles the original Stars and Stripes the most, with seven red and six green stripes. The Islander Flag (Variant #3) has the stripes in Garvey colors, reminding us that the African traditions in the New World are best preserved in the Caribbean Islands and South America, as well as that Marcus Garvey himself was a native of Jamaica. This set of flags thus represents the Afro-American population with all the complexities of its identity. A flag similar to the Islander Flag, but with the stars changed to green (Variant #4) was first seen in Washington, D.C. at the inauguration of President Barack Obama in January 2009. While nothing else is currently known about this flag, its meaning is obviously similar to that of the All American Flags, which might have provided the inspiration to its designers.

Also seen during the Juneteenth Parades and Celebrations are lots of the normal stars and stripes, but also other historical Afro-American flags variants. See the " Black Liberation Flag ," the " Hammons´ African American Flag ," the " African American Unity Flag ," and the " African American Flag House ," as examples of these flags. AIDS Awareness Flag HIV/AIDS Awareness Program Flag 2001 "The history of HIV and AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) in the USA began in 1981, when the United States of America became the first country to officially recognize a strange new illness among a small number of gay men. Today, it is generally accepted that the origin of AIDS probably lies in Africa. However, the USA was the first country to bring AIDS into the public consciousness and the American reaction undoubtedly contributed to the establishment of AIDS as one of the most politicized, feared and controversial diseases in the history of modern medicine." April 10 has been made National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, as part of the Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Month in the United States. Through education, prevention, and treatment many groups are working to eliminate the spread of HIV/AIDS, and eventually eradicate it. D.C.

Taxation Without Representation Flag D.C. Statehood Green Party Flag District of Columbia Statehood Movement Flag 2002 The District of Columbia Statehood Movement was a political movement that advocated making the District of Columbia a state which dates back to the 1970s. Statehood would give the citizens of Washington, DC, full representation in the United States Congress and full control over their own local affairs, which they don't enjoy at this time. Unfortunately, there is very little political support in Congress for the proposal and since 2003 the proposal seems mostly abandoned. Another suggestion made for the District of Columbia is that they create a special government district just around the National Mall in downtown Washington to include only the Capitol, the White House, and the Supreme Court (with no permanent residents), which would be under the direct control of Congress. The remainder of Washington could become a separate city, and once again be part of Maryland. In November of 2000, the DC Department of Motor Vehicles began issuing license plates bearing the slogan "Taxation without representation." President Bill Clinton had these plates placed on the presidential limousines; however, President George W. Bush, in one of his first official acts as president, had the plates removed.

The second flag shown here resulted from the merger of the DC Statehood and Green parties in 2006 forming the DC Statehood Green Party. Police Mourning Flag Police Mourning and Police Support c2002 Fire Fighters Support, Thin Blue and Red Line Flags This flag began as a police mourning arm band used in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, area and was at first typically worn when an officer was killed in the line of duty. It stood for the "thin blue line" of police protection. It evolved into an auto sticker and finally into a flag. It was also used as a show of respect for the police officers killed on September 11 and was also seen as a variant with a red stripe instead of a blue one for fire fighters.

Question: Is the bottom stripe on the USA flag red or white?
Answer: Red