On July 4, 1776, a nation was born.
The United States of America claimed its independence from England. On July 4, 1776,
the Declaration of Independence was signed by all 13 colonies.
- Every day thousands
of people leave their homeland
- to come to the "land of the free and the home of
- the brave" so they can begin
their American Dream.
Some Flag Day Facts
Who designed the flag? No one knows for sure!
- Some historians say that in 1776 it
was Betsy Ross who made the first American flag and that it was she
who suggested that the stars be five-pointed.
- Other historians say
that it was Francis Hopkinson, signer of the Declaration of Independence and a
member of the Continental Congress, who designed the first American flag.
Past & Present
- In 1776, the 13 stars and the 13 stripes of
the flag represented the 13 original colonies.
The stars were in a circle so that no one colony would be viewed above
another. According to the Flag Resolution of June
14, 1777, the flag should contain "13 stars, white in a blue field,
representing a new Constellation."

- Today, our flag has fifty stars representing
the fifty states and 13 stripes representing
the 13 original colonies. White stands for purity and innocence.
Red
stands for hardiness and valor. Blue stands for vigilance, perseverance
and justice.

Important People & Dates
-
1814: Francis Scott Key wrote the poem
"The Star Spangled Banner" on September 14, 1814. It later became our National Anthem.
- 1892: Francis Bellamy wrote the Pledge
of Allegiance in 1892 for the observance of the 400th Anniversary of the discovery of America by Columbus.
- 1909: Robert Peary placed a flag
sewn by his wife at the top the North Pole in 1909.
- 1949: Flag Day is celebrated on June 14th.
On
August 3, 1949, President Truman signed an act of Congress designating June
14 as National Flag Day.
- 1963: Barry Bishop placed a flag on
the top of Mount Everest in 1963.
- 1969: Astronaut Neil Armstrong
placed the flag on the moon on July 20, 1969. The Moon is the most remote place in
which the American flag is displayed.
Did You Know?
- During the playing of the National
Anthem, you
should face the American flag and remove your hat.
- No other flag may ever be placed above
the U.S. flag.
- A vexillologist is someone who is an
expert on flags.
- If a new state were to be added to the
United States, its star would be added to the flag on the following July 4th
after the territory had become a state.
- You can buy a flag that has flown over the
Capitol Building in Washington, DC. Contact your states senator to
make this purchase.
- The American flag usually flies over the White
House except when the President is not in Washington, DC.
- The flag is flown at half staff to
show mourning for the death of a high ranking government official or past
president.
- According to the U.S. Flag Code, our flag is
usually displayed from sunrise to sunset. However, it may be
displayed at night if it is properly lighted.
- You should hang the flag upside down
only when you are in trouble. The flag should never be displayed upside
down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to
life or property.
- No part of an American flag should be used
as a costume or athletic uniform. However, flag patches may be worn on
the uniforms of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of
patriotic organizations.
- The flag must never touch the ground
and it should not be flown outside during bad weather.
- A flag should be flown near every
school during school hours.