| What is the design of the American flag? |
| | The canton design of the American Flag depicts 50 white five pointed stars on a blue rectangular background and 13 horizontal stripes |
| | The stars are arranged in 9 horizontal rows of six stars at the top and bottom alternating with rows of five stars |
| | The canton on the American Flag is specifically referred to as the "union" |
| | The thirteen equal horizontal stripes are displayed as red at the top and bottom with alternating red and white stripes between. |
| What is the common decoration of the American flag? |
| | A golden fringe surrounding the perimeter of the American flag. |
| | The golden fringe was first used in1835 |
| | The golden fringe decoration was officially used by the American army in 1895 |
| What do the stars symbolize? |
| | The 50 white stars represent the 50 states of America |
| | According to ancient heraldry the star symbolizes honour, achievement and hope |
| What do the stripes symbolize? |
| | The thirteen stripes on the American flag represent the 13 original colonies, which are known as 'Old Glory' |
| | According to ancient heraldry a pattern of horizontal (barwise) stripes, in different colors, is called a 'Barry'. |
| What are the colors of the American flag? |
| | The precise colors of red, white, and blue used in the American flag are specified with reference to the Color Association of the United States (CAUS). The colors are specifically referred to as "Old Glory Red", "White" and "Old Glory Blue". |
| What do the colors mean, or symbolize, in heraldry? |
| | The color blue symbolizes vigilance, truth and loyalty, perseverance & justice |
| | The color white is a symbol of peace and honesty |
| | Charles Thompson, Secretary of the Continental Congress, described the symbolism of the colors as "White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness & valour, and Blue, signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice." |
| | George Washington (1732-1799) explained the symbolism of the colors of the 'Union Flag' as follows: "We take the stars from Heaven, the red from out mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her, and the white stripes shall go down to posterity representing liberty." |
| What is the shape and American flag ratio? The 'Hoist' is the width and the 'Fly' is the length. |
| | The ratio is 1:5 meaning it is 1 unit tall for every 5 units wide. Size 2 × 3 ft. or 4 × 6 ft. |
| Who designed the American Flag? |
| | Elizabeth Griscom Ross, aka Betsy Ross (January 1, 1752 – January 30, 1836), is recognized for sewing the first American flag. Betsy Ross was a seamstress who often mended the clothes of George Washington. The 'Betsy Ross Flag' depicts red and white stripes with the stars in a circle |
| | The man credited with designing the current American flag in 1958 is Robert Heft. His updated design featured 50 stars. His work was part of a class project which was adopted by presidential proclamation after Alaska, and before Hawaii, was admitted to the union in 1959. |
| What is the history of the American Flag? |
| | 1775: Sons of Liberty flag consisting of horizontal red and white stripes |
| | 1776 January 1: American forces led by George Washington marched under the 'Grand Union' flag which had 13 alternate red and white stripes and the British Union Jack in the upper left-hand corner (the canton) |
| | 1776 May: Betsy Ross reported that "she sewed the first American flag" |
| | 1777, June 14: The Marine Committee of the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution establishing a new design: "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." |
| | | The resolution did not, however, define how the stars should be displayed or how many points each star should have. There was therefore a variety of designs depicting 5 or 6 pointed stars and with stars arranged in rows or as a circle |
| | 1779: The John Paul Jones (1747-1792) or Serapis design was flown. The colors of the stripes were red, white and blue |
| | 1781, March 15: The Guildford design was flown at the Battle of Guilford Court House. The canton had a white background with blue stars and the stripes were red and blue |
| | 1795: 15 stars and 15 stripes design when Vermont and Kentucky were added to the original Thirteen Colonies) |
| | 1818: 20 stars when Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, Indiana, Mississippi were added and 13 stripes (which remained on all subsequent designs) |
| | 1819: Star added to represent Illinois |
| | Stars were added as other states joined the Union 1820: 23 stars (Alabama, Maine) 1822: 24 stars (Missouri), 1836: 25 stars (Arkansas), 1837: 26 stars (Michigan), 1845: 27 stars (Florida), 1846: 28 stars (Texas), 1847: 29 stars (Iowa), 1848: 30 stars (Wisconsin), 1851: 31 stars (California), 1858: 32 stars (Minnesota), 1859: 33 stars (Oregon), 1861: 34 stars; (Kansas) |
| | 1861: First Confederate Flag (Stars and Bars) adopted in Montgomery, Alabama |
| | Following the Civil War additional stars were added as states achieved statehood. 186335 stars (West US), 1865: 36 stars (Nevada), 1867: 37 stars (Nebraska), 1876: 38 stars (Colorado) |
| | 1889-1890: Flag with 43 stars North Dakota (November 2, 1889), South Dakota (November 2, 1889), Montana (November 8, 1889), Washington (November 11, 1889), Idaho (July 3, 1890) |
| | 1891: 44 stars (Wyoming), 1896: 45 stars (Utah) |
| | 1897: Adoption of State Flag Desecration Statutes |
| | 1908: American Flag with 46 stars (Oklahoma) |
| | 1912: 48 stars (New Mexico, Arizona) |
| | 1912: Executive Order of President Taft established proportions of the American flag and provided for arrangement of the stars in six horizontal rows of eight each, a single point of each star to be upward pointing |
| | 1942: American President Roosevelt approved the Federal Flag Code |
| | 1949 August 3: American Flag Day (June 14) observance each year by proclamation. |
| | 1959: American Flag with 49 stars (Alaska) |
| | 1959: Executive Order of President Eisenhower provided for the arrangement of the stars in nine rows staggered horizontally and eleven rows staggered vertically |
| | 1960: American Flag with 50 stars (Hawaii) |
| When was the American Flag officially adopted by legislature? (Most US flags were designed in 19th & 20th centuries) |
| | The American Flag was officially adopted January 31, 1861 |
| What is the American Pledge of Allegiance and Salute? |
| | The American Pledge of Allegiance is as follows: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." |
| | The salute should be made by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. |
| The American Flag is kept and used as required by the code specified in the Constitution of the United States. |