The state symbol and standard of America has changed more than once since its inception. And it happened in June 1777, when the Continental Congress passed a new Flag Act. According to this document, the American flag was supposed to be a rectangular canvas with 13 stripes and 13 stars on a blue background. That was the original design. But time has changed him ...
What does the American flag look like?
Of course, everyone saw the banner of America. This is a rectangular panel, the aspect ratio of which is 10 to 19, respectively. And how many stripes on the American flag, you know? Answer: 13. There are six white and seven red horizontal lines on the US banner that alternate with each other.
The upper corner of the flag at the pole itself is called the "canton". It is made in dark blue. There are fifty white stars on this square .
It is also interesting how they call the American flag in their homeland. The most common names are Stars and Stripes, which means “Stars and Stripes,” and Star Spangled Banner, “Star-Spangled Banner.” There are a few less common names. For example, Star-Striped, Old Glory, or Striped Stars. Americans generally treat their flag with trepidation and consider it the most beautiful symbol of their Country.
What does the American flag mean?
Like any state symbol, the US flag is the face of the country. Each element depicted on a rectangular canvas has a special meaning.
So, the colors of the American flag (white, red and blue) were chosen for a reason. They are full of meaning. The blue color is a symbol of vigilance, perseverance, devotion, loyalty, friendship and justice. Red means valor, zeal, and courage. And the white color is a sign of innocence and purity of moral principles.
The official names of the blue and red colors of the American flag are “Blue of Old Glory” (sometimes the name is “Naval Blue”) and “Red of Old Glory”. These colors are much darker than those used on the banners of other powers. There is an opinion that such shades were specially chosen so that they fade more slowly on the flags of ships during sea voyages.
The stars on the American flag symbolize the heavens and divine goals that mankind has been striving for since time immemorial. Each star is one state of the country. There are 50 of them on the modern banner. The stripes are rays of light coming directly from the sun, as well as 13 colonies of America that revolted in the struggle for independence.
From the history
The American flag is one of the oldest national standards of all time. And despite the fact that there is no documentary evidence that could confirm who the author of his first design was, historians suggest that Francis Hopkinson is behind it, whose signature is under the Declaration of Independence. It is believed that it was he who made the changes to the previously existing Continental flag and gave it the look that the banner has today.
In 1776, the flag of the Continental Army was raised by General George Washington. This banner had red and white stripes, as well as the British Union Jack, located in the place where 50 stars sparkle against a blue background today.
Several different variants containing 13 bands were used throughout 1776–1777. Until the official American flag was approved by Congress - June 14, 1777. Today is US Flag Day, which is celebrated annually. The Congressional resolution stated that “the banner of 13 united states contains 13 alternating white and red stripes, as well as a blue field and 13 white stars on it, which represent the new constellation.” The first president of America, Washington, explained the design of the flag in his own way: “We took these stars from heaven, red means our Motherland, and the white lines that separate it symbolize our separation from it; these stripes will become a symbol of our freedom. ”
The first place the new American flag was first used was Brandywine in Pennsylvania. This happened during a grand battle in October 1777. And it was first raised over foreign shores in 1778 when the Americans captured Fort Nassau in the Bahamas.
Betsy Ross and the first official flag
The history of the American flag, or rather, its creation is surrounded by legends. And the most beautiful of them is associated with the tailor Betsy Ross.
So, in 1780, Congressman Hopkinson sent a dispatch to Congress asking him to pay him a fee in the form of a barrel of wine for his work on the design of the American flag. However, he was refused, since a completely different person actually worked on the flag - the dressmaker Betsy Ross from Philadelphia. Back in June 1776, General Washington, along with Colonel Ross and financier Morris, visited the studio of the wonderful woman Betsy Ross. It was to her that Washington showed a sketch of the flag that he invented. It is believed that Betsy replaced the six-pointed stars that were in the sketch with five-pointed ones, since they were difficult to make. And soon the first US national flag was made.
However, this is just a legend. After all, how could Washington, which had been in Philadelphia for only about two weeks, find time during the difficult and critical time for a young country to create free hours to create a flag design, and even organize a special committee on this issue? This is almost unrealistic. And there are no corresponding records anywhere.
In the 90s of the XVIII century, Kentucky and Vermont received the status of states. Then Congress approved the addition of two more stripes and stars to those that in the original meant the first 13 colonies that became states. In 1814, Francis Scott Cray sang this Starry Banner.
As more and more states joined the union, the question arose: how many stripes on the American flag should be depicted? Their addition was simply not possible anymore. Then in 1818, Congress decided to restore the original 13-way flag. From that moment on, only stars symbolizing the new states were allowed to add to the banner.
Final design
According to the 1818 Act, the stripes on the US flag are only horizontal, red, alternating with white, and 20 stars were depicted on the canton. That's how many united states were then. However, neither the size nor the color of the stars were specified. Therefore, in the country there were many different options for the banner. For example, during the Civil War, gold stars in a circle were popular.
In 1912, it was decided to correct this confusion. At that moment, there were already 48 united states. A single version of the banner was developed. It tightened in 1960, when the states became 50.
The requirements were as follows: the American flag should contain 6 white and 7 red stripes. They go from top to bottom and alternate among themselves. The canton is navy blue and is located in the upper left of the flag. It has 50 stars with five ends, lined up in 9 horizontal lines. In even rows - 5 stars, in odd rows - 6.
Flag day
In 1861, the "star-striped" soared up. This happened the first summer of the Connecticut Civil War . And this day was the day of the flag of the United States. Many patriotic groups supported the idea of celebrating this event throughout the country every year. However, the holiday was not official.
At the end of the 19th century, they again returned to this question. Then many schools conducted programs dedicated to Flag Day. Thus, they tried to “Americanize” immigrant children. Thanks to this, the celebration of Flag Day was held by individual communities.
However, it was not until 1916 that the president of the United States proclaimed national veneration of the banner on that day. And after 33 years, Congress decided to make this day a national holiday. By the way, Flag Day is a working day. The only exception is Pennsylvania.
USA Flag Code
In the United States, the flag is treated with great reverence and respect. There is even a special “Flag Code” - a set of rules for its use.
- So, the banner of America should never touch the earth. There is even a legend that if a flag falls to the ground, it must be burned in order to protect itself and the country from misfortune.
- The symbol of the country should always be visible. Even at night, it must be illuminated.
- You cannot use banner images for advertising purposes or as bedding, towels, or clothing. An exception is the drapery of the coffin during a funeral.
- Flag cannot be flipped. The canton should always be on top. The exceptions are distress signals, mourning or military action.
- The symbol of America should always fly freely in the wind. It must not be squeezed or twisted. After all, he is the personification of the country's freedom.
When the flag is hung
As a rule, the American flag is hung during celebrations. Moreover, it hangs around the clock - from dawn to dusk.
Mandatory days when the US flag should be hung:
- December 31–01.01 - on the New Year;
- The third Monday of January, which is dedicated to Martin Luther King;
- January 20, every four years, is the Inauguration Day of the President of America;
- February 12, when Abraham Lincoln (16th US President) was born;
- The third Monday of February, dedicated to the country's presidents;
- The third Saturday of May is US Army Day;
- last Monday of May - Day of sorrow and memory of the dead soldiers;
- June 14 - Flag Day;
- July 4 - US Independence Day (on this day, in addition to hanging the flag, there is also a festive firework);
- September 17 - Constitution Day;
- the first Monday of October, dedicated to Christopher Columbus, who discovered America;
- October 27 - US Navy Day;
- Fourth Thursday of November - Thanksgiving, etc.
Eternal symbol
The US flag, as a rule, hangs a day, and then, at the end of the holiday, it is lowered. But there are several places where the banner flutters forever:
- over Fort McHenry in Baltimore (it is there that hangs a copy of the same “Star-Spangled Banner” that became the prototype of the US Anthem);
- over the White House, which is the current residence of the President of America;
- over the Capitol of Congress;
- in Arlington, over the US Marine Corps Memorial;
- at the points of border and customs control;
- as many as fifty flags hung in the US capital - Washington, over the Monument to the first president of America - George Washington;
- at the South Pole of the Earth;
- on the surface of the moon.
Missing USA symbol on the moon
In 1969, the first American flag appeared on the surface of the moon. On July 20, the Apollo crew landed on Earth’s satellite and set their symbol there. The first American on the moon - Neil Armstrong - then said that this small human step would be a jump in development for all of humanity.
During each subsequent mission to the Earth satellite, the Americans left their national flag in the
lunar soil . This has become a tradition for them. There were six flights in total - and so were the flags.
However, 40 years after the last expedition, NASA experts were amazed at the new images that came from the satellite: where did one of the banners disappear? Now there are only five of them fluttering. Where did one of the canvases left in the ground go?
There are many versions. From explainable to completely unrealistic. Some argue that someone in the Cosmos has too long hands, others - that this is the work of the "competitors". The minds of NASA suggest that the flag could burn out during the take-off of the Apollo 11 rocket back in 1961. But there is no official version yet. And it is unlikely that we will ever know where the national symbol of America disappeared.