Throughout history in the United States our flag has taken a
beating from protesters and rioters trying to make a point. The only thing such
a display has done is anger many Americans. Not only the ones who fought for
our freedoms but those who believe in the United States and all we stand for.
Our flag isn’t just a piece of cloth to be stomped on and burned when someone
is throwing a temper tantrum. Perhaps a little lesson on what it meant to those
who gave it life will help others understand its importance now.
Do you know what we celebrate on June 14th? That’s
right, the American Flag. Why? Simple, it was on June 14th, 1777 the
Second Continental Congress passed the Flag Resolution which stated, “Resolved,
That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red
and white; that the union be thirteen stars, while in a blue field, representing
a new constellation.” Now this resolution may have been written in 1777 but it
still left a lot of unanswered questions. For instance it didn’t state how the
stars would appear on the flag or if the flag was to have seven red stripes and
6 white or vice versa. So flag makers made different styles with some having
the 13 stars scattered around the blue square while others had them in a
circle. Even with this resolution in place the early years American
Independence featured many different varieties of the flag but it still meant
the same thing.
No one is actually sure who designed the first official flag
of the United States of America but it is believed to have been Congressmen
Francis Hopkinson of New Jersey. Congressman Hopkinson was a naval flag
designer as well as a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was
appointed as the Chairman of the Continental Navy Board’s Middle Department in
1776. There is evidence such as bills to Congress for the work done on the flag
and journal entries of Congressman Hopkinson as the person responsible for the
design. Since George Washington was our first President (1789-1797) he is the
only President to serve under this flag which lasted for a period of 18 years.
What did the stars and stripes represent? Each star and
stripe represented the original 13 Colonies united together by the Declaration
of Independence. The original 13 Colonies are listed in the order they joined
the union: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut,
Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York,
North Carolina, and Rhode Island.
We have been taught that Betsy Ross made the first official
flag of the Union but there have been no official documents over the years to
verify she was the one person responsible for making the first flag. However,
an article was published in “Harper’s New Monthly Magazine” in 1873 that gave
this account of Betsy Ross’ involvement in the making of the flag. Her story
was told to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania by her grandson, William
Canby, in 1870. He gave a recount of the story his grandmother had told him and
his family many times. Betsy Ross told them she was visited by General George
Washington, Robert Morris and George Ross, her husband’s uncle in late May or
early June of 1776. It was during this meeting they showed her a sketch of a
flag and asked her if she could make it. Of course she agreed but suggested
some changes be made to the design. She thought the stars should be in a circle
and suggested instead of six point stars they be made in five points instead.
When her grandson gave his account of Betsy’s story to the magazine he supported
it with affidavits from Betsy Ross’s sister, niece and granddaughter. As I said
before it is believed Congressman Francis Hopkinson drew up the first design of
the flag but was never paid for it. Yes he did submit bills to Congress for his
work but his petition for payment was denied on grounds “he was not the only
one consulted” on the design.
What do the colors of our Flag mean? There was a book
published in 1989 by the House of Representatives “Our Flag”. As you can tell
by the title of this book the subject is Our Flag, the red, white and blue. Contrary
to popular belief the colors of the stars and stripes did have meaning when it
was adopted in 1777. They did however, have meaning in the Great Seal of the
United States. It states “Charles Thompson, Secretary of the Continental
Congress, reporting to Congress on the Seal, state:
“The colors of the pales (the
vertical stripes) are those used in the flag of the United States of America; White
signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness and valor, and blue, the color
of the Chief (the broad band above the stripes) signifies vigilance, perseverance,
and justice.”
In another book published by the House of Representatives in
1977 it says: “The star is 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.”
As we know with each new state our flag has changed by
adding a star to represent the new state. It was changed in 1795 with the addition
of Vermont and Kentucky to the Union but for a time they didn’t add additional
stars to the flag because they believed it would make it look too cluttered. It
was the design of 15 stars and 15 stripes that inspired Francis Scott Key to write
“Defence of Fort M’Henry but we don’t know it as that. We call it “The Star
Spangled Banner” our National Anthem. This flag of 15 stars and 15 stripes is
on display at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History.
It is in a two story display chamber that protects the flag but still allows it
to be viewed.
It was decided on April 14th 1818 by Congress the
flag be changed to 20 stars with a new star to be added for each new state welcomed
into the union. This was suggested to Congress by U.S. Naval Captain Samuel C.
Reid. It was also decided that instead of 15 stripes the flag will now have 13
stripes in order to honor the original 13 colonies. The most recent changes to
the flag was admitted on July 4th 1960 with the addition of Alaska
in January and Hawaii in August of 1959. The 50 star flag is the longest used
version of the American flag since the 48 star flag which was in use from 1912
to 1959.
Is there a proper way to display or handle the flag? The flag
should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as
a sign of distress. When a flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the
ground or any other object. It should be received by waiting hands and arms. To
store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously. Always clean and
mend it when necessary. If a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol
of our country then it should be destroyed by burning it in a dignified manner.
We are not talking about burning it in the streets folks. Actually most
American Legion Posts regularly conduct a dignified flag burning ceremony
usually on Flag Day, June 14th.
Do some research and you will find there is a proper way to
display the flag outdoors, indoors, as well as a proper way to raise or lower
the flag and to salute the flag. At the start of the school day, community
meetings, ball games etc. we proudly stand to salute our flag by reciting The
Pledge of Allegiance which is then followed by the singing of the National
Anthem.
So why is she called “Old Glory?” Going back to 1831 Captain
William Driver who was a ship master in Salem, Mass, while leaving for one of
his voyages aboard the CHARLES DOGGETT, some of his friends decided to present
him with beautiful flag showing 20 stars. As this beautiful flag flew open in
the ocean breeze for the first time Captain William Driver exclaimed, “Old
Glory!” When he retired to Nashville, Tenn. in 1837 he took his gifted flag
with him so when the Civil War broke out just about everyone in and around
Nashville recognized Captain Driver’s “Old Glory.”
As a matter of fact when Tennessee seceded from the Union,
it is said Rebels did all they could to destroy his flag but they were unable
to locate it. It was in February of 1862
when the Union forces took control of Nashville they raised the American flag
over the capital. It was rather small so in seeing it the people of Nashville
and surrounding areas started to ask Captain Driver if “Old Glory” still
existed. The Captain was happy to have soldiers with him as he had them go with
him to his house where he ripped apart his bed-cover at the seams to disclose
where he had been hiding her all this time.
Gently he gathered up “Old Glory” and returned with the
soldiers to the capitol and at sixty years old, the Captain climbed up to the
tower to replace the smaller flag with his “Old Glory.” The soldiers cheered as
they saluted the flag and later adopted the name “Old Glory,” for their own. Today
that story is told over and over again to help explain Captain Driver’s
devotion and love for a flag we honor still to this day. His love for that
flag, his devotion to it was an inspiration to those who served and fought so
she could fly high once again in a land that was united and free.
The next time you see someone stomping on the flag, stop
them. Stand up for what you believe in the way they stand up for what they don’t
believe in. This is America, she is our flag, and we are honored to have her
fly high and proud. No American should tolerate the disrespect to our country
from those who feel they are owed and need not worry about working for what
they get, or those who feel they are wronged for breaking the law, or any other
reason for stomping or burning our flag. A symbol of honor to this great
nation. A nation that has had to overcome hard times and struggles. A nation
who had to learn how to respect all and work together as one so we could grow
and become better than all others.
When I see that flag flying high I remember the soldiers who
paid the ultimate sacrifice so I could have freedom of speech, the right to bear
arms, religious freedoms, and the privilege of living in the land of free and
the home of the brave. Thank each and every one of you and your families for
the sacrifices you have made. Thank you to our veterans and our troops of
yesterday, today and tomorrow. Without you there would be no United States of
America so let’s keep the home fires burning.
May God Bless America and may “Old Glory” always fly high
and free.
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