Flag of the United States
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The flag of the United States consists of 13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars. The 50 stars on the flag represent the 50 states and the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies. The United States flag is commonly called "the Stars and Stripes" or "Old Glory," with the latter nickname coined by Captain William Driver, a 19th century shipmaster.
Because of its symbolism, the starred blue canton of the U.S. national flag is called the "union." This part of the national flag also serves as a flag in its own right: the Union Jack used as a maritime flag. The Union Jack served as the naval jack for U.S. warships until 2002, when it was replaced by the First Navy Jack as part of the War on Terrorism. However, the Union Jack continues to be used as a jack by U.S. vessels outside the Navy, including those of the U.S. Coast Guard and NOAA.
In blazons (a vexillological description using flag terminology), the U.S. flag is described as "a banner Gules, six bars Argent; the canton Azure charged with 50 mullets Argent". This translates to a red flag with six white horizontal stripes; the top left quarter is blue with 50 white stars.
Symbolism
The most widely used symbol of the United States is its flag.[[Citing sources citation needed]] The national flag is exceptionally widely used in the United States compared with other countries,[[Citing sources citation needed]] and is intimately tied to the civil religion of the American nation-state.
Many citizens understand the flag to represent the freedoms and rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution and its Bill of Rights and perhaps most of all to be a symbol of individual and personal liberty as set forth in the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Through the Pledge of Allegiance and other political uses the flag has also come to be associated with American nationalism, patriotism, and even militarism. The flag is a complex and contentious symbol, around which emotions run high.
In terms of the symbolism of the design itself, a book about the flag published by the Congress in 1977 states: "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." George Washington is credited for saying: "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."
Design
Specification
The basic design of the flag is specified by sections 1 and 2 of Title 4, United States Code (4 U.S.C. §§ 1, 2 (2004)). Executive Order 10834 which may be found as a note to section 1, specifies the proportions of the flag and the arrangement of the stars in the union. [link]. The specification gives the following values:
- Hoist (width) of flag: A = 1.0
- Fly (length) of flag: B = 1.9
- Hoist (width) of Union: C = 0.5385 (7/13, spanning seven stripes)
- Fly (length) of Union: D = 0.76 (1.9 × 2/5, two fifths of the flag length)
- E = F = 0.0538 (C/10, One tenth the width of the Union)
- G = H = 0.0633 (D/12, One twelfth the length of the Union)
- Diameter of star: K = 0.0616
- Width of stripe: L = 0.0769 (1/13)
Flag ratios
Note that the flag ratio (B in the diagram) is not absolutely fixed by law. Although the diagram in Executive Order 10834 gives a ratio of 1.9, earlier in the order is a list of flag sizes authorized for executive agencies. This list permits eleven specific flag sizes (specified by height and width) for such agencies: 20.00 x 38.00; 10.00 x 19.00; 8.95 x 17.00; 7.00 x 11.00; 5.00 x 9.50; 4.33 x 5.50; 3.50 x 6.65; 3.00 x 4.00; 3.00 x 5.70; 2.37 x 4.50; and 1.32 x 2.50. Eight of these sizes conform to the 1.9 ratio, within a small rounding error (less than 0.01). However three of the authorized sizes vary significantly: 1.57 (for 7.00 x 11.00), 1.27 (for 4.33 x 5.50) and 1.33 (for 3.00 x 4.00).
Colors
According to Flags of the World, the colors are specified by the General Services Administration "Federal Specification, Flag, National, United States of America and Flag, Union Jack," DDD-F-416E, dated November 27, 1981. It gives the colors by reference to "Standard Color Cards of America" maintained by the Color Association of the United States, Inc., as:
| Old Glory Blue | Old Glory Red | White | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cable No. | 70075 | 70180 | 70001 |
| Approximation to Pantone | 281 | 193 | Safe |
Union
The union of the current 50-star flag was designed by Robert G. Heft in 1958 while living with his grandparents in Ohio. He was 17 years old at the time and did the flag design as a class project. His mother was a seamstress, but refused to do any of the work for him. He originally received a "B-" for the project. After discussing the grade with his teacher, it was agreed (somewhat jokingly) that if the flag was accepted by Congress, the grade would be reconsidered. Heft's flag design was chosen and adopted by presidential proclamation after Alaska and before Hawaii was admitted into the union in 1959. According to Heft, his teacher did keep to their agreement and changed his grade to an "A" for the project.
Decoration
Traditionally, the flag may be decorated with golden fringe surrounding the perimeter of the flag itself as long as it does not deface the flag proper. Ceremonial displays of the flag, such as those in parades or on indoor posts, often utilize fringe to enhance the beauty of the flag. The first recorded use of fringe on a flag dates from 1835, and the Army used it officially in 1895. No specific law governs the legality of fringe, but a 1925 opinion of the attorney general approves the use of fringe. The United States Institute of Heraldry also confirms that there are no implications of symbolism in the use of fringe.
Flag etiquette
There are certain guidelines for the use, display, and disposal of the United States flag as outlined in the United States Flag Code of the federal government. These are US Federal law, but there is no penalty for failure to comply with them and they are not widely enforced — indeed, enforcement would often conflict with the First Amendment right to freedom of speech.
This etiquette is as applied within U.S. jurisdiction. In other countries and places, local etiquette applies.
Standards of respect
- The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing, unless it is the ensign responding to a salute from a ship of a foreign nation. This tradition comes from the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, where countries were asked to dip their flag to King Edward VII: the American team captain Martin Sheridan refused, famously proclaiming that "this flag dips to no earthly king."[London Olympics 1908 & 1948]
- The flag should never be flown upside-down. It is a common misperception that doing so is a signal of distress; in fact, such a display makes a very poor distress signal, since it can be seen only from a short distance, and as far as American military vessels are concerned, it is simply forbidden.
- The flag should not be used as a drapery, or for covering a speaker's desk, draping a platform, or for any decoration in general (exception for coffins). Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.
- The flag should never be drawn back or bunched up in any way.
- The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.
- The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed, or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard.
- The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, firefighters, police officers, and members of patriotic organizations. (Note that on military uniforms, where the flag is put on the sleeve of the uniform, the flag patch is displayed with the stars facing forward, in the direction the wearer is facing. This is done to give the impression of the flag flowing in the wind while being carried forward across the battlefield. This is known as the "Reverse Field Flag".)
- The flag should never have placed on it, or attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind.
- The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
- The flag should never be spit, urinated, or defecated upon.
- The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back of a vehicle, railroad train, or boat.
- When the 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.
- The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary.
- When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of the United States, it should be destroyed in a dignified manner, preferably by burning. (Note: Most American Legion Posts regularly conduct a dignified flag burning ceremony, often on Flag Day, June 14.)
Displaying the flag outdoors
- When the flag is displayed from a staff projecting from a window, balcony, or a building, the union should be at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half-staff. When it is displayed from the same flagpole with another flag, the flag of the United States must always be at the top except that the church pennant may be flown above the flag during church services for Navy personnel when conducted by a Naval chaplain on a ship at sea.
- When the flag is displayed over a street, it should be hung vertically, with the union to the north or east. If the flag is suspended over a sidewalk, the flag's union should be farthest from the building.
- When flown with flags of states, communities or societies on separate flag poles which are of the same height and in a straight line, the flag of the United States is always placed in the position of honor—to its own right. The other flags may be the same size but none may be larger.
- No other flag ever should be placed above it. The flag of the United States is always the first flag raised and the last to be lowered.
- When flown with the national banner of other countries, each flag must be displayed from a separate pole of the same height. Each flag should be the same size. They should be raised and lowered simultaneously. The flag of one nation may not be displayed above that of another nation.The flag of the United Nations is flown in a position of superior prominence or honor at the headquarters of the United Nations. The Flag Code specifically notes this custom and states that the Code should not be construed to render this custom illegal.
- The flag should be raised briskly and lowered slowly and ceremoniously.
- Ordinarily it should be displayed only between sunrise and sunset, although the Flag Code permits nighttime display "when a patriotic effect is desired." Similarly, the flag should be displayed only when the weather is fair, except when an all weather flag is displayed. (By Presidential proclamation and law, the flag is displayed continuously at certain honored locations like the United States Marine Corps Memorial in Arlington and Lexington Green.)
- It should be illuminated if displayed at night.
- The flag of the United States of America is saluted as it is hoisted and lowered. The salute is held until the flag is unsnapped from the halyard or through the last note of music, whichever is the longest.
Displaying the flag indoors
- When on display, the flag is accorded the place of honor, always positioned to its own right. Place it to the right of the speaker or staging area or sanctuary. Other flags should be to the left.
- The flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of states, localities, or societies are grouped for display.
- When one flag is used with the flag of the United States of America and the staffs are crossed, the flag of the United States is placed on its own right with its staff in front of the other flag.
- When displaying the flag against a wall, vertically or horizontally, the flag's union (stars) should be at the top, to the flag's own right, and to the observer's left.
Parading and saluting the flag
- When carried in a procession, the flag should be to the right of the marchers.
- When other flags are carried, the flag of the United States may be centered in front of the others or carried to their right. When the flag passes in a procession, or when it is hoisted or lowered, all should face the flag and salute.
- To salute, all persons come to attention.
- * Those in uniform give the appropriate formal salute.
- * Citizens not in uniform salute by placing their right hand over the heart and men with head cover should remove it and hold it to left shoulder, hand over the heart.
- * Members of organizations in formation salute upon command of the person in charge.
Pledge of Allegiance and national anthem
- The Pledge of Allegiance should be rendered by standing at attention, facing the flag, and saluting.
- When the national anthem is played or sung, citizens should stand at attention and salute at the first note and hold the salute through the last note. The salute is directed to the flag, if displayed, otherwise to the music.
The flag in mourning
- To place the flag at half-staff (or half-mast, on ships), hoist it to the peak for an instant and lower it to a position half way between the top and bottom of the staff.
- The flag is to be raised again to the peak for a moment before it is lowered.
- On Memorial Day, the flag is displayed at half-staff until noon and at full staff from noon to sunset.
- The flag is to be flown at half-staff in mourning for designated, principal government leaders.
- The U.S. flag is otherwise flown at half-staff (or half-mast, on ships) when directed by the President of the United States or a state governor.
- When used to cover a casket or coffin, the flag should be placed with the union at the head and over the left shoulder. It should not be lowered into the grave.
Folding the flag
Flags, when not in use, should be folded into a triangle shape. The final triangle shape result is said to invoke the image of the three-point hats popular during the American Revolutionary War. Former American territories, e.g. the Philippines, also use this method to fold their flags.
- To properly fold the flag, begin by holding it waist-high with another person so that its surface is parallel to the ground.
- Fold the lower half of the stripe section lengthwise over the field of stars, holding the bottom and top edges securely.
- Fold the flag again lengthwise with the blue field on the outside.
- Make a triangular fold by bringing the striped corner of the folded edge to meet the open top edge of the flag. Starting the fold from the left side over to the right
- Turn the outer end point inward, parallel to the open edge, to form a second triangle.
- The triangular folding is continued until the entire length of the flag is folded in this manner.
- When the flag is completely folded, only a triangular blue field of stars should be visible.
Display
The flag is customarily flown year-round from most public buildings, and it is far from unusual to find private houses flying full-size flags. Some private use is year-round, but becomes widespread on civic holidays like Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, Presidents' Day, Flag Day, and on Independence Day. On Memorial Day it is common to place small flags by war memorials and next to the graves of U.S. war dead.
Places of continuous display
According to Presidential proclamation, Congressional order, and custom, the American flag is displayed continuously at the following locations:
- Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Baltimore, Maryland, 15-star/15-stripe flag (Presidential Proclamation No. 2795, July 2, 1948).
- Flag House Square, Albemarle and Pratt Streets, Baltimore, Maryland, 15-star/15-stripe flag (Public Law 83-319, approved March 26, 1954).
- United States Marine Corps War Memorial (Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima), Arlington, Virginia (Presidential Proclamation No. 3418, June 12, 1961).
- Lexington, Massachusetts Town Green (Public Law 89-335, approved November 8, 1965).
- The White House, Washington, DC (Presidential Proclamation No.4000, September 4, 1970).
- Fifty U.S. Flags are displayed continuously at the Washington Monument, Washington, DC. (Presidential Proclamation No. 4064, July 6, 1971, effective July 4, 1971).
- By order of Richard Nixon at United States Customs Service Ports of Entry that are continuously open (Presidential Proclamation No. 4131, May 5, 1972).
- By Congressional decree, a Civil War era flag (for the year 1863) flies above Pennsylvania Hall (Old Dorm) at Gettysburg College. This building, occupied by both sides at various points of the Battle of Gettysburg, served as a lookout and battlefield hospital.
- Grounds of the National Memorial Arch in Valley Forge National Historic Park, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania (Public Law 94-53, approved July 4, 1975).
- Mount Slover limestone quarry (Colton Liberty Flag), in Colton, California (Act of Congress). First raised July 4, 1917.[link]
- Washington Camp Ground, part of the former Middlebrook encampment, Bridgewater, New Jersey, Thirteen Star Flag, by Act of Congress.
- By custom, at the home, birthplace, and grave of Francis Scott Key, all in Maryland.
- By custom, at the Worcester, Massachusetts war memorial.
- By custom, at the [plaza]in Taos, New Mexico, since 1861.
- By custom, at the United States Capitol since 1918.
- By custom, at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Deadwood, South Dakota.
- In addition, the American flag is presumed to be in continual display on the surface of the Earth's Moon, having been placed there by the astronauts of Apollo 11, Apollo 12, Apollo 14, Apollo 15, Apollo 16, and Apollo 17. It is possible that Apollo 11's flag was knocked down by the force of return to lunar orbit.
History
The flag has gone through 26 changes since the new union of 13 states first adopted it. The 48-star version holds the record, 47 years, for the longest time the flag has gone unchanged. The current 50-star version will tie the record if it is still in use on July 4, 2007.
At the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776, the most commonly flown flag was the Grand Union Flag. This flag was initially flown by George Washington and is recorded as being first raised by Washington's troops at Prospect Hill on New Year's Day in 1776. This flag formed the basis of the Stars and Stripes, consisting of 13 red and white stripes with the original British Union Jack in the canton. The Grand Union Flag is the same as the East India Company flag of the same era, although the East India Company flag could have from 9 to 13 stripes.
The red-and-white stripe — and later, stars-and-stripes — motif of the flag may have been based on the Washington family coat-of-arms, which consisted of a shield "argent, two bars gules, above, three mullets gules" (a white shield with two red bars below three red stars). Since 1937, the District of Columbia has used a flag based on this design. However, it could also be based on the flag of the Sons of Liberty, which used a red and white stripe combination
Bennington flag. This flag was most likely used at the Battle of Bennington
On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed the Flag Resolution which stated: "Resolved, That the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation." Flag Day is now observed on June 14 of each year. Tradition holds that the new flag was first hoisted in June of 1777 by the Continental Army at the Middlebrook encampment.
The Flag Resolution did not specify any particular arrangement for the stars. The pictured flag shows the thirteen stars arranged in a circle, the so-called Betsy Ross flag. However, though this is the most famous "first flag", this was the least popular design at that time; the preference was to arrange the stars in rows of 3, 2, 3, 2, and 3, as seen in the table below.
In 1795, the number of stars and stripes was increased from 13 to 15 (to reflect the entry of Vermont and Kentucky as states of the union) and the arrangement of the stars became horizontal. For a time the flag was not changed when subsequent states were admitted, probably because it was thought that this would cause too much clutter. It was the 15-star, 15-stripe flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner," now the national anthem.
Finally in 1818, a plan was passed by Congress at the suggestion of U.S. Naval Captain Samuel C. Reid in which the flag was changed to have 20 stars, and a new star would be added when each new state was admitted, but the number of stripes would remain at thirteen to honor the original colonies.
When the flag design changes, the change always takes place on July 4 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a consequence of the Flag Act of April 4, 1818. July 4, Independence Day in the United States, commemorates the founding of the nation. The most recent change, from forty-nine stars to fifty, occurred in 1960 when Robert G. Heft's design was chosen, after Hawaii gained statehood in August 1959. Before that, the admission of Alaska in January 1959 prompted the debut of a short-lived 49-star flag.
The flag flew in battle for the first time at Cooch's Bridge in Delaware on September 3, 1777 during the American Revolutionary War.
The origin of the U.S. flag design is uncertain. A popular story credits Betsy Ross for sewing the first flag from a pencil sketch by George Washington who personally commissioned her for the job. However, no evidence for this theory exists beyond Ross' descendants' much later recollections of what she told her family. The British historian Sir Charles Fawcett has suggested that the design of the flag may have been derived from the flag and jack of the British East India Company. [Comparisons] between the 2 flags support Fawcett's suggestion. Another popular theory is that the flag was designed by Francis Hopkinson. He reportedly originally wanted the stars arranged in four bands, one vertical, one horizontal, and two diagonal. By the same reports, this arrangement was initially rejected due to similarity to the British flag, although this similarity appears to have ultimately won favor, as it was the design finally chosen for the first official flag of 1777.
First salute
The Netherlands were the first country to salute the U.S. flag, as the Dutch fought at the side of the American rebels. The Dutch province of Friesland (Frisia) was the first nation/country to acknowledge the U.S. as a country of its own, closely followed by the rest of the Dutch provinces.
State stars and design duration
In the following table depicting the 27 designs of the United States flag, the star patterns for each flag are merely the usual patterns, with the exception of the 48-, 49-, and 50-star flags, as there was no official arrangement of the stars until the proclamation of the 48-star flag by President William Howard Taft 29 October 1912. The exact colors of the flag were not standardized until 1934. (For alternate versions, see [this page] at Flags of the World.)
Symmetry
Most of these arrangements of stars exhibit some form of symmetry.
- Symmetry with respect to horizontal axis: 50, 49, 48, 46, 44, 38, 37, 36, 34, 33, 32, 30, 28, 26, 24, 20, 15, 13 (standard)
- Symmetry with respect to vertical axis: 51, 50, 48, 46, 45, 44, 37, 36, 35, 34, 33, 32, 31, 30, 29, 28, 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, 21, 20, 15, 13 (standard and Betsy Ross)
- Both, hence also point symmetry: 50, 48, 46, 45, 44, 37, 36, 34, 33, 32, 28, 26, 24, 20, 15, 13 (standard)
- No symmetry: 43
- Chessboard pattern: 50, 49, 45, 15, 13 (standard)
- Rectangle of stars: 48, 35, 30, 28, 24, 20
Future of the flag
The United States Army Institute of Heraldry has plans for flags with up to 56 stars using a similar staggered star arrangement in case additional states accede.
There are ongoing statehood movements in Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and New York City. Other insular areas such as the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and American Samoa may eventually become states as well. There are also several minor secessionist movements in California,
Hawaii,
Associated people
- Francis Bellamy, creator of the Pledge of Allegiance
- William Driver, who owned and named "Old Glory"
- Charles Fawcett, British historian who suggested the design is based on the flag of the British East India Company
- Christopher Gadsden, after whom the Gadsden flag is named
- Robert G. Heft, designer of the current flag's canton
- Francis Hopkinson, designer (according to some historians)
- Francis Scott Key, writer of "The Star-Spangled Banner"
- Mary Young Pickersgill, maker of the banner hoisted over Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore
- Katha Pollitt, author of a controversial essay on post-9/11 America and her refusal to fly an American flag
- George H. Preble, author of History of the American Flag (1872) and photographer of the Fort McHenry flag
- Joe Rosenthal, photographer of Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima
- Betsy Ross, designer (according to legend)
- George Washington, who first flew the Grand Union Flag and on whose family arms the design may be based
See also
- American ensign
- Flags of the United States
- Flags of the U.S. states
- Flags of the United States armed forces
- Flags of the Confederate States of America
- Gallery of flags of United States cities
- Old Glory
Article sections
- Flag desecration: United States
- Colours and guidons: US Army Colors
Notes and references
External links
- [United States] at Flags of the World
- [U.S. Flag Etiquette (ushistory.org)]
- [Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports regarding the flag]
- [The United States Flag Page]
- [Encyclopedia Smithsonian: Facts About the United States Flag]
- [The Flag Code--U.S. Code Home: Title 4, Flag and Seal, Seat of Government, and the States--Chapter 1, The Flag]
- * Provides details about the design of the flag, treatment of the flag, the pledge of allegiance, etc.
- [Executive Order No. 10798], with specifications and regulations for the current flag
- [The Significance of the "Yellow Fringed Flag"]
- [Ben's Guide (3-5): Symbols of U.S. Government - Flag of the United States]
- [Designs for flags containing between 51 and 70 stars]
- [Illustrated US flag display guidelines]
- [Collection of rudimentary flag information:] flag care, protection & life extension; flag disposal (burning) instructions & ceremony; list of special flag-flying days; U.S. Air Force Academy flag-folding ceremony; guide for selecting appropriate flags for flag poles of various heights; flag shadow box lore & presentation, etc.
- [Why Isn't the US Flag Flying over Taiwan?]
| National flags | National coats of arms |
|---|---|
| Flags of sovereign states | Coats of arms of sovereign states |
| Flags of dependent territories Flags of unrecognized states | Coats of arms of dependent territories Coats of arms of unrecognized states |
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