Friday, January 18

IF YOU EVER WONDERED: The American Flag

It is the right of every American to proudly display the Flag of the United States at their home, their business, and elsewhere. When you "SHOW YOUR COLORS" you tell the world that you are proud to live in the "Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave." Throughout the proud history of America the U.S. Flag has been a steadfast symbol of Independence and Freedom, but it is so much more than that.


Many flags have flown over the geographical area that is the United States of America since explorers and settlers began making their way here in the 16th Century.  During that period the flags of Spain, France, Holland, Sweden, and England provided the rallying point for the earliest Americans.  The Flag of Great Britain, The Union Flagflew over the 13 American Colonies that were to become the first 13 United States, from 1707 to 1775.


In the latter part of 1775, the delegates to the Continental Congress realized the need for a unique symbol of the unity of the 13 American colonies.  A committee consisting of Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Harrison and Thomas Lynch were chosen to design a flag. After doing their homework they decided it was best to please not only the colonial leaders but the individuals that were still loyal to Great Britain. The resulting flag was named the Grand United Flag.  The body was comprised of thirteen alternating red and white stripes to represent the unity of our thirteen colonies and their attitudes towards independence. On the other hand, there was a field of blue in the upper left hand corner that included the Union Jack, appealing to the loyalists. On January 1, 1776 General George Washington's troops raised the new flag on the liberty pole at Prospect Hill.


The Declaration of Independence severed all ties between the 13 American Colonies and Great Britain.  For almost a full year after that first Independence Day, the flag of the new nation still bore the Union Jack among its red and white stripes.  All of that changed on June 14, 1777 when the Marine Committee of the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution establishing a new design.  The name of the "United Colonies" having been changed in September of the previous year, the resolution read... "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, a new nation." ...and, as they say, the rest is history. 


In 1818, it was agreed that the number of stars would change as states were added to the union but that the stripes would remain at thirteen. Since then the United States has seen 27 flags. Across the nation and throughout  American history, Old Glory has flown from homes, storefronts, churches, government houses, village greens, college quads and even the moon! Every U.S. citizen should feel the freedom to proudly proclaim their patriotism by displaying their flag. The Flag Code was written for this very purpose. More than being a set of laws regulating how the flag should be respected, treated and displayed, it is a guarantee of the right of every United States citizen to fly the flag. It also states...
"The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing." 

How awesome is that? A living thing, tangible and real. From July 4, 1960 onward, our flag has flown with fifty stars. This then is our flag..."Old Glory"..."The Stars and Stripes". It was not imposed on us from a conquering people, or handed down from an existing culture. It says we are American, not because of religion or race, or because we have a king, a common language, or an aristocracy, but because we are free. It's red, white and blue stand for black, brown, red, yellow and white...every man, woman, boy and girl who has inherited or achieved the privilege of calling themselves a citizen of the United States of America. Cherish it, honor it and never forget what it stands for and all of those that have gone before that have paid the price for such a symbol as our American flag. 

These beautiful flags were found on rareflags.com. They have simply breathtaking flags. Check them out.



Fly your flag today and take pride in being an American!
ENJOY!
~THE DOMESTIC CURATOR~
RONDA

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."  
....George Washington

1 comment:

  1. Based on the Amerike coat of arms, Bristol, England, which is also where America gets its name

    ReplyDelete