FORUM

Content  
  
  
  
It evolved gradually during early American history, and was not designed by any one person. The flag exploded in popularity in 1861 as a symbol of opposition to the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter. It came to symbolize the Union in the American Civil War; Union victory solidified its status as a national flag. Because of the country's emergence as a superpower in the 20th century, the flag is now among the most widely recognized symbols in the world. Other organizations that wear flag patches on their uniforms can have the flag facing in either direction. The flag is customarily flown year-round at most public buildings, and it is not unusual to find private houses flying full-size (3 by 5 feet (0.91 by 1.52 m)) flags.  
  
Why is the American flag flown at half-staff?  
  
When converted to RGB, the colors are "Old Glory Red" #BF0A30,[107] "Old Glory Blue" #00205B,[108] and #FFFFFF for white.The first "official" flag was "the Continental Colors," also known as the "Grand Union Flag," which consisted of thirteen red and white stripes and the United Kingdom’s flag in the upper-left-hand corner, also known as the canton.Francis Hopkinson, signer of the Declaration of Independence from New Jersey, claims that he designed the "Stars and Stripes" that was designated as the national flag.Because of the way the U.S. code is written, using the word "should," it is not actually illegal to use the flag as clothing -- just against standards.Lowering the flag is done for a ceremonial occasion, such as Memorial Day, or by order of the President of the United States or a state governor.Well-known nicknames for the flag include "the Stars and Stripes", "Old Glory", "the Star-Spangled Banner", and "the Red, White, and Blue".We wave the symbol of freedom and liberty at parades and sporting events and even planted it on the moon.  
  
Francis Hopkinson, signer of the Declaration of Independence from New Jersey, claims that he designed the "Stars visit this patriotic eCommerce site and Stripes" that was designated as the national flag. The above resolution was adopted from the Marine Committee, who had been using these guidelines for flags since July 4, 1776. Francis Hopkinson was chairman of the Navy Board’s Middle Department which was under the Marine Committee at the time that these guidelines were established in 1776. On May 25, 1780, he requested a quarter cask of wine in payment for his help in designing the national flag and aiding in designing the Great Seal for the United States.  
  
The Evolution of American Flags in HistoryThe Evolution of American Flags: A Timeline of Design and Symbolism The American flag, as we know it today, tells a tale of evolution led by history itself. Its transformation is a vivid reflection of America’s journey from colonial aspirations to sovereign independence. The changes were not random; each new star or stripe added was […]Posted: Fri, 31 Oct 2025 12:18:09 +0000 [source]  
  
Is it illegal to wear the American flag?  
  
It’s also against flag code to use the flag on anything disposable, which includes patriotic paper plates and napkins. Any advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown. Congress later pulled back the number of stripes and set it at 13 (imagine a flag with 50 stripes!). Stars were added as states were added to the Union, and new flags go into effect every July 4th after the new states are admitted to the Union. The last two iterations, the 48- and 50-star versions, have been in use the longest.  
  
  
  
Things You Need to Know About the American Flag  
  
U.S. flags are displayed continuously at certain locations by presidential proclamation, acts of Congress, and custom. Both the stripes (barry) and the stars (mullets) have precedents in classical heraldry. Mullets were comparatively rare in early modern heraldry. However, an example of mullets representing territorial divisions predating the U.S. flag is the Valais 1618 coat check out this military flags provider of arms, where seven mullets stood for seven districts.  
  
  
  
Display in museums  
  
  
  
Believe it or not, there have been 27 variations of the U.S. flag. Most of the changes came in relation to the number of stars added, representing the states joining the U.S. The flag’s last change was on July 4, go to this online flag business 1960, to add Hawaii, which became the 50th state on Aug. 21, 1959.  
  
  
  
Every U.S. astronaut since the crew of Gemini 4 has worn the flag on the left shoulder of their space suits, except for the crew of Apollo 1, whose flags were worn on the right shoulder. Several government websites have given Pantone (PMS) equivalents for the flag colors. These colors are "Old Glory Red" PMS 193C and "Old Glory Blue" PMS 281C.  
  
  
  
Display on vehicles  
  
This flag depicts a rattlesnake with the phrase "DONT TREAD ON ME" in a field of yellow. The Continental Marines used the Gadsden Flag during the early years of the war and the flag still flies today as a sign of American patriotism. The flag’s 13 alternating red and white stripes represent the 13 original colonies. The flag’s 50 white stars on a blue field represent the 50 states. Though still popularly called the "Betsy Ross" design, the 13 stars in a circle on the field of blue was likely not designed by Betsy Ross -- but the design was the choice of the flagmaker.  
  
The Come and Take It Flag and the Battle of GonzalesThe Come and Take It Flag: The Story of the Battle of Gonzales As dawn broke on October 2, 1835, the small town of Gonzales, Texas found itself caught in a spectacular face-off against the might of Mexican military. The heart of this standoff? A tiny bronze cannon. But this was not about the cannon […]Posted: Fri, 31 Oct 2025 00:18:35 +0000 [source]  
  
  
  
How Long Do Flags Last?What is the typical lifespan of a flag? The lifespan of a flag largely depends on several factors, including the material it’s made from, the environmental conditions it’s exposed to, and how well it’s cared for. Generally, a flag used outdoors under typical weather conditions can last anywhere from 3 months to over a year. […]Posted: Sat, 01 Nov 2025 00:18:07 +0000 [source]  
  
Generally, flags are flown at half-staff when the nation (or state) is in mourning, such as after the death of a government official, a national tragedy like 9/11, or a day of remembrance. On Memorial Day, flags are flown at half-staff from sunrise until noon. Now that we know the proper way to display, care for, and put away the flag, there are also plenty of interesting and surprising aspects in the history and background of the U.S. flag.