As I looked through my “stash” of material for future articles, I found the following: “History of the American Flag.” It had been sent to me by “who knows whom.” Thank you very much to “someone.” Readers, you are welcome to take all or part of this feature as total history! (I did do some more research beyond what was sent to me.)
Who made the 1st American Flag? The origination of our “Stars and Stripes,” as many announcers like to term our banner, is probably a part of American folklore, because there is no actual proof that Betsy Ross designed and sewed the first flag! But, there are records that relate she “made” pennants and ensigns for the Philadelphia Navy during the war. It seems, however, that several “Colonial American” towns have claimed to be the birthplace of our Flag, which took close to 200 years to become the flag that we see flying today. (In 1960, the 50-star flag was put into use.)
Information supports the claims that several patriots made flags for our “new nation” during the Revolutionary War. Four were the following: Rebecca Young, Cornelia Bridges, and ELIZABETH “BETSY” ROSS of Pennsylvania, and John Shaw of Annapolis, Maryland. Although Ross made flags for the Pennsylvania Navy in 1777 and made flags for 50 or so years, there is no PROOF that she made the 1st “Stars and Stripes,” even though she is the best known of the four persons above. According to what I have read, the flag which arranged stars in a circle and which is widely known as the “Betsy Ross Flag” is not known to have been in existence before the early 1790s.
I have found the following bits of “history” and cannot find anything to discredit them. For what it is worth, I relate the following.
1/1/1776—The “Grand Union” was displayed by George Washington and became the unofficial national flag, flying before the “13 star, 13 stripe” version.
6/14/1777—The “Stars and Stripes” was adopted as the U. S. Flag by the Continental Congress.
1818—After making a few changes in design, the U. S. Congress decided to keep the Flag’s 13 stripes and to add new stars, reflecting each new state entering the Union.
6/14/1877—The 100th anniversary of the Stars and Stripes marked the national observance of Flag Day for the 1st time. (I have found a source or two that list 1875. I am going to stick with the 100th anniversary date!)
6/14/1937—The 1st U. S. state to celebrate Flag Day as an official state holiday was Pennsylvania.
7/4/1960—A new 50-star flag was flown for the 1st time, the same design as is used today.
Additional information follows:
Battle of Cooch’s Bridge (also called Battle of Iron Hill), September 3, 1777— fought in Delaware between Continental Army and American Militia against primarily Hessian (German) Soldiers and the British Army during the American Revolutionary War and TRADITIONALLY the first battle which displayed the U. S. Flag.
1912—President Howard Taft signed the Executive Order that clarified the appearance of the U. S. Flag.
1949—President Harry Truman signed the legislation, marking the 14th of June as National Flag Day.
Why red, white, and blue? Some folks believe that red was chosen for valor and hardiness; blue for vigilance, perseverance, and justice; white for purity and innocence. (These are the colors of U. S. The Great Seal.)
I will admit that I still get the “chills” every time I take part in or witness the raising of our FLAG and hear our NATIONAL ANTHEM played!
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