The U.S. Army was created by the Continental Congress as the Continental Army on 14 June 1775 to fight a war for independence against the British king and Parliament. The Second Continental Congress passed a resolution on 14 June 1777 that unified all colonial fighting forces under a single flag.
The flag designers stated the “flag of the United States be 13 stripes, alternate red and white,” and that “the union be 13 stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.” In 1916, June 14th was officially designated as Flag Day.
The Flag Design
The flag is a representation of the United States of America. The currant flag of the USA is the 27th official version. It has 13 stripes to represent the original 13 colonies. The stripes alternate between red and white to start and end with red.
The canton or “Union” section at the top left of the flag currently has 50 stars to represent each of the 50 states. The last state to join the union was Hawaii on 4 July 1960. The current version of the flag is the longest serving version.
The flag is often cotton or nylon material. The flag colors have specific meanings. Red represents valor, strength and hardiness. White represents purity of spirit and innocence. Blue represents loyalty, perseverance, vigilance and justice.
The flag has several names including “The Stars and Stripes,” “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Old Glory.”
The military authorized three primary sizes of flags. They are Storm, Post and Garrison. The height of a flag is the “hoist” and the width is the “fly.”
Flags fly on a staff on land or mast on ships and at naval stations ashore. When the nation or a state is in mourning, flags are raised to full staff and lowered to “half-staff.”
Flag Day is observed nationally, but only an off day in Pennsylvania.
There are 20 annual flag holidays. The most recent flag holiday is Juneteenth, which became a federal holiday in 2021 and commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the USA.
United States Flag Code
The U.S. Flag Code establishes the rules for display and care of the flag. The following is an abbreviated version.
The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing, unless it is the ensign responding to a foreign ship salute.
The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.
The flag should never be displayed upside down, except to signal extreme danger to life or property.
The flag should never touch anything beneath it.
The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free. (Flags on the moon are excepted.)
The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds but always allowed to fall free.
The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.
The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.
The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever.
When displayed vertically against a wall, the union should be to the observer’s left.
The Ross Flag and Origin
The original flag was influenced by Congressman Francis Hopkinson. Originally, the stars were to be six-pointed. It was said to have been modified by Betsy Ross, a professional upholsterer. The “Ross Flag” has a circle of five-pointed stars and is one-third longer than wide rather than the original square design.
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Mark M. Hancock, GRI, MRP, AHWD
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