The amazing stories behind the American flag

The Gadsden flag - Named after the American general and politician Christopher Gadsen (1724-180), who designed it in 1775 during the American Revolution, this is one of the first flags ever flown over American soil. The emblematic snake, a timber rattlesnake, is found in the area of the original Thirteen Colonies. The motif remains popular today, and is widely reproduced.

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The Grand Union flag - The Grand Union Flag is considered to be the first national flag of the United States of America. Also known as the “Continental Colors,” it was first hoisted during the early days of the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). The thirteen stripes represent the Thirteen Colonies.

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Francis Hopkinson - Francis Hopkinson (1737-1791) is recognized as the designer of the first official American flag, after the Grand Union Flag was withdrawn.

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The Francis Hopkinson flag - On June 14, 1777, the Stars and Stripes was adopted by the Second Continental Congress as the first official national flag of the newly independent United Sates. Hopkinson submitted an idea for the Naval Flag of the United States showing 13 stars in rows (top right in image). It flew from 1777 to 1795.

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Betsy Ross - Betsy Ross (1752-1836) is also widely credited with making the first original 13-star version of the American flag. However, there is no archival evidence or other recorded verbal tradition to substantiate this story.

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The Betsy Ross flag - The Betsy Ross flag is a 1792 design of the flag of the United States using the common motifs of alternating red-and-white striped field, with five-pointed stars in blue canton arranged in a circle.

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Flying for the first time - The first American flag flown anywhere in the US was the Francis Hopkinson-designed version, hoisted over Fort Stanwix, New York on August 3, 1777.

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The American flag predates the Constitution - The American flag was authorized by the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. The Constitution was written 10 years later, and ratified in 1789.

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The 50th state - On July 4,1960, Hawaii became the 50th state to be represented by a star on the American flag. The image shows the Stars and Stripes flying with the Hawaii state flag.

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Present state - The current flag, with 50 stars and 13 stripes, was designed in 1958 by 17-year-old high school student Robert G. Heft (1941-2001), as Alaska and Hawaii were being considered for statehood. President Dwight D. Eisenhower chose his design out of 1,500 entries.

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Variations on a theme - All in all, there have been 26 official versions of the American flag spanning over 240 years of history.

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The Star-Spangled banner - The 15-star version of the flag flying over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812 inspired Francis Scott Key to write the national anthem, 'The Star- Spangled Banner.' The lyrics were set to a popular British song composed by John Stafford Smith.

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Red, white, and blue - The flag’s colors represent Valor (red), Liberty and Purity (white) and Justice and Loyalty (blue).

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The proper way to view the flag - While civilians stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, all persons present in uniform instead render the military salute.

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The flag’s role at military funerals - A special United States burial casket flag drapes the casket of deceased veterans to honor the memory of their service to the country. The flag is always placed in such a way that the blue field is at the head and over the left shoulder of the deceased.

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The flag at half-staff - The lowering of the flag to half-staff is only authorized on Memorial Day–from sunrise until noon–and by executive order of the President or State Governor in the face of a tragedy.

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Day and night - The flag can be viewed 24 hours a day at the following places: The White House, The Washington Monument, Fort McHenry National Monument, Flag House Square (Baltimore), Arlington Memorial (pictured), On the Green of the Town of Lexington, United States Customs Ports of Entry, and National Memorial Arch (Pennsylvania).

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After dark - Many places fly the flag at night as a patriotic gesture by custom. However, federal flag laws and regulations stipulate this can only be done if the flag is “properly illuminated.”

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Flag Day - Flag Day is celebrated annually on June 14 to commemorate the adoption of the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777. On June 14, 1937, Pennsylvania became the first US state to celebrate Flag Day as a state holiday.

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Stamps of approval - The first US postage stamp to feature the flag as the sole subject was issued July 4, 1957.

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Great Seal of the United States - The seal is used to authenticate certain documents issued by the US federal government. The design incorporates elements of the American flag–the bald eagle holds a bundle of 13 arrows in its left talon (referring to the 13 original states), while over its head there appears a “glory” with 13 stars on a blue field.

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Etiquette - When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.

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The superflag - According to the Guinness Book of Records, the world’s largest American flag measures 505 ft wide by 225 ft tall, and weighs approximately 3,000 lbs. It was sewn together in Pennsylvania, and cost $80,000 to manufacture.

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Out of this world - In July 1969, Neil Armstrong placed the first US flag on the moon. Five more Apollo moon landings (from missions 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17) resulted in five more flags being planted on the lunar surface.

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New York Stock Exchange - The mid-1990s saw full facade banners hung from the NYSE to celebrate listings and special events. After 9/11, however, a huge banner flag was unfurled over the Exchange’s Corinthian columns, a gesture still practiced today and elaborated upon over the Christmas period.

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Popular culture - Fictional superhero Captain America made his first appearance in the ‘Captain America Comics’ in 1941, wearing a costume bearing an American flag motif.

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Flag fashion - Throughout the years, fashion designers have drawn on the American flag for patriotic inspiration. Recent collections featuring the flag include Ralph Lauren and his weathered, vintage Denim & Supply apparel.

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Ceremonial touches - It’s common to see the American flag fringed with gold trim, especially during military parades and ceremonies. The decoration has no specific purpose other than to highlight the tricolor.

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The flag and 4th of July -

The American flag plays a hugely significant role in the nation’s 4th of July celebrations, and food plays a deliciously appetizing role in proceedings. On the first anniversary of America’s founding, John Adams and his wife enjoyed a meal of turtle soup. Today, some creative cooks get very patriotic in the kitchen.

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