| |
The most
important symbol of any nation is the
national flag. Since ancient
times, flags or banners have served to
identify and unify groups of people,
especially in times of war.
In
the first years of the Revolutionary
War, Americans fought under many
flags. But the colonists wanted
one flag, not many. So, on June
14, 1777, the Continental Congress
passed the following resolution:
"Resolved, That the flag of the
thirteen United States be thirteen
stripes alternate red and white; that
the union be thirteen stars, white in
a blue field, representing a new
constellation."
It is
believed that the first American flag
was sewn by Betsy Ross in 1776.
There are others who disagree with
this account; however, there have been
sworn statements from various persons
who claim this to be true. Some
of these statements came directly from
Betsy's daughters, nieces, and
granddaughters. And...historical
records show that she did make flags
for the government in 1777.
According to historians, Betsy was
called upon by General George
Washington and other members of the
Congressional Committee to make the
first flag..
Through the years, the American flag
has undergone many changes. With
the addition of new states, there
arose the need for a new flag.
Today, the American flag has 13
horizontal stripes, 7 red and 7 white.
These stripes represent the 13
original states. The flag still
has its field of blue, which
represents the Union and today
contains 50 stars, one for each state.
Here
is what the colors of the American
flag represent...
Red -
Courage.
White
- Purity.
Blue
- Loyalty.
As
well as going through many changes,
the flag has also adopted several
nicknames. The "Stars and
Stripes" is the most popular name for
the American flag. No one knows
where this name came from, but we do
know the origin of several other
names. Francis Scott Key first
called the American flag the
"Star-Spangled Banner" when he wrote
the poem which became the American
national anthem. Later, William
Driver, a sea captain from Salem,
Massachusetts, called the flag "Old
Glory", which he derived from a flag
that was given to him as a farewell
gift when he took command of his ship
in 1824. |
|
