On June 14, 1777 the Second Continental Congress officially adopted the United States of America’s flag. At the time, they resolved that “the flag of the United States shall be of thirteen stripes of alternate red and white, with a union of thirteen stars of white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.” Therefore, in honor of Flag Day, I am sharing some fun flag facts.
Since its adoption in 1777 there have been 27 versions of the American flag. The original had 13 stars and 13 stripes for the American colonies. Each time a state was added to the country, another star was added as well. However, the original 13 stripes remain the same.
The colors also hold significance. The red symbolizes hardiness and valor, white symbolizes purity and innocence, and blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.
Now as to who designed the flag, well that is more uncertain. Many give credit to seamstress Betsy Ross, for designing the first flag. However, although it is documented that she helped the war effort by repairing uniforms and sewing tents, and even made flags for the Pennsylvania Navy, there is no evidence that she designed the first flag. In fact it wasn’t until 1870 when her grandson, William Canby, held a press conference on subject that her name even became associated with it. You can read his argument in his paper presented to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, “The History of the Flag of the United States.”
Some historians attribute the design of the first flag to Francis Hopkinson, a New Jersey delegate to the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence. Hopkinson sought payment from the Board of Admiralty for his design of the “flag of the United States of America,” as well as other seals he credited himself as designing, in his May 25, 1780 letter to Congress. It wasn’t as if Hopkinson was asking for a lot, simply, “whether a Quarter Cask of the Public Wine will not be a proper & a reasonable Reward for these Labours of Fancy and a suitable Encouragement to future Exertions of a like nature.” Congress ultimately disagreed, and refused payment on the grounds that he was a public servant, and “he was not the only one consulted” on the design. At least Hopkinson did receive credit for designing the Grand Seal of the United States. He didn’t get compensated for that either.
We do know for certain who designed the current flag as we know it today. That honor goes to Robert G. Heft, who as a high school student was assigned the school project of designing a flag for the admittance of Hawaii and Alaska as states in the United States. Apparently his teacher gave him a B- for his efforts, saying it “lacked originality.” The teacher did joke though if it was accepted by Congress, he would change the grade to an A. Well as the story goes – Challenge Accepted! Heft submitted his design, and out of approximately 1,500 entires, in 1960 his flag was approved by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Although individual states held Flag Day ceremonies to mark the day, it took awhile before it became observed nationally on June 14th. Both President Woodrow Wilson, in 1916, and President Calvin Coolidge, in 1927, issued proclamations asking for June 14 to be observed as the National Flag Day. Yet it wasn’t until August 3, 1949, that Congress approved the national observance, and President Harry Truman signed it into law, making June 14th Flag Day. However, it is not an official Federal Holiday.
For information on the proper treatment and care of the American Flag, visit the Federal Flag Code. For a more in-depth early history, we recommend Terry Ruggles’ History of the American Flag and Flag Facts.
