The American Flag is more than a piece of fabric. It symbolizes the fabric of our nation as a society. It is a symbol of American pride and an emblem of our freedom.
Here are ten facts about the American Flag.
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Facts About the American Flag
There were 27 versions of this American Flag.
Many iterations and changes have occurred to the Flag since the original 1777 design, which had 13 stars and thirteen stripes for the American colonies. A star was added for each state that was added to the union. Of course, we now have 50 stars and 13 stripes.
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The Flag may be displayed for 24 hours.
Federal law requires that the Flag be visible from sunrise to sunset, except inclement weather. However, there are ways to display the Flag throughout the day. Proper illumination of the Flag is all that’s required to make it visible in the dark.
We have carefully chosen the colors.
Red, White, and Blue were not accidental. The founding fathers wanted the colors not only to be visually appealing but also to have meaning. Red is a symbol of hardiness and valor. White symbolizes purity, innocence, and justice. Blue symbolizes vigilance, perseverance, and justice.
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This design was not professionally created.
Robert G. Heft of Lancaster, Ohio, a high school student at the time, submitted the design to a 1958 contest. President Dwight Eisenhower selected it from over 1,500 submissions.
The Flag currently in use is the only one that has lasted longer than 50 years.
The design of the American Flag has undergone many changes, as we have already mentioned. The current version of the symbol is the longest-running, probably because no new states have joined the union since 1959.
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A small snippet about the Star-Spangled Banner flag was sold in 2011.
Francis Scott Key immortalized the Flag that flew at Fort McHenry. It is still in existence. It was purchased at auction for $38,000 in 2011, and a 2”x5″ piece of it was also sold. The remainder of the Flag can be seen at Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
The Flag is recognized on a national day.
Flag Day is a celebration of the anniversary of the Flag Resolution in 1777. It was established by the Proclamation from President Woodrow Wilson on May 30, 1916, after many years of local celebrations.
Flags must be removed in a “dignified” manner.
You can burn an American Flag with dignity if it is beyond repair. Flag burnings are held in many cities on Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.
The Flag may touch the ground but can still be used
It is believed that a flag must be destroyed or burned once it touches the ground. This is not true. Flags that are soiled or touch the ground can be washed and dried cleaned to continue to be used.
Five American Flags made it to the Moon.
Neil Armstrong was most likely seen on the Moon carrying an American Flag. However, he isn’t the only one who has placed one on the lunar surface. An astronaut placed a flag on the Moon during five additional Apollo missions (12, 14, 15, 16, and 17).
