While there are many examples of 13-star arrangements, some of those flags included blue stripes[26] as well as red and white. He said to George Washington, "While the field of your flag must be new in the details of its design, it need not be entirely new in its elements. Because blue promotes intelligence, it is often used to sell new and innovative products. The flag of the USAhas a few nicknames. [40][41] This contradicts the legend of the Betsy Ross flag, which suggests that she sewed the first Stars and Stripes flag at the request of the government in the Spring of 1776. [80] Comparing practice worldwide, Testi noted in 2010 that the United States was not unique in adoring its banner, for the flags of Scandinavian countries are also "beloved, domesticated, commercialized and sacralized objects".[81]. The American flag is over 200 years old. The flag has a width-to-length proportion ratio of 10:19. Each should respect the role of the other. [10] Benjamin Franklin once gave a speech endorsing the adoption of the company's flag by the United States as their national flag. [13] On the other hand, the resemblance is obvious, and some of the Founding Fathers of the United States were aware of the East India Company's activities and of their free administration of India under Company rule. Juneteenth Colors: Red, Blue, Black and Green Meanings - Good Housekeeping When the flag is affixed to the right side of a vehicle of any kind (e.g., cars, boats, planes, any physical object that moves), it should be oriented so that the canton is towards the front of the vehicle, as if the flag were streaming backward from its hoist as the vehicle moves forward. (1950). CMYK: C-100, M-68, Y-0, K-54. The flags history can be traced back to 1775, when Betsy Ross sewed it together using three strips of fabric: one red, one white, and one blue (with a stripe width ratio of 1:1:1). But how did this flag come to be so pervasive? What, if anything, does a blue-and-white American flag mean? The "official" dimensions apply to the executive branch of Government and are required for flags that are displayed in specific government areas. It was not until 1834 that the artillery was allowed to carry the American flag; the army would be granted to do the same in 1841. The top of the flag represents the 50 states in the U.S., and the bottom of the flag represents criminals, chaos and anarchy. In 1958, Robert Heft was a high school student. The phrase came to popularity in the 1950s by Los Angeles County Police Chief Bill Parker. Fold the lower half of the stripe section lengthwise over the field of stars, holding the bottom and top edges securely. This tab is used to secure the flag to the pole. To properly fold the flag: There is also no specific meaning for each fold of the flag. Black: Often used to represent determination, ethnic heritage and/or the defeat of enemies. What is flag day? Here's when and how to celebrate the summer holiday [46] Furthermore, her grandson admitted that his own search through the Journals of Congress and other official records failed to find corroborating evidence for his grandmother's story. [citation needed], The first recorded use of fringe on a flag dates from 1835, and the Army used it officially in 1895. Similarly, when the flag is to be lowered from half-staff, it should be first briefly hoisted to the top of the staff.[131]. In 1986, presidentRonaldReaganinterpreted the colors this way: "Thecolorsof ourflagsignify the qualities of the human spirit we Americans cherish. The two made a deal that if the design was accepted by Congress, Taft would change the grade to an A. Heft's design was chosen by Congress and President Dwight D. Eisenhower from over 1500 submissions, and the rest is history. The color blue signifies justice, vigilance, and perseverance as well as peace, happiness, comfort, and relaxation. In Montclair, New Jersey, a police leader begged residents on a Zoom call not to view the flag as a symbol of racism.. Indeed, nearly a century passed before Ross's grandson, William Canby, first publicly suggested the story in 1870. The colors were derived from Great Britains banner with a red cross for Saint George, a blue field for Saint Andrew, and a white background for Saint Patrick. Gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery decorated with U.S. flags on Memorial Day. In every country, the colors chosen for the national flag have significant meanings. [50] Researchers accept that the United States flag evolved, and did not have one design. Red, on the other hand, stands for courage and sacrifice. The 50-star flag was ordered by then president Eisenhower on August 21, 1959, and was adopted in July 1960. The flag should be repaired or replaced if the edges become tattered through wear. The first U.S. postage stamp to feature the flag as the sole subject was issued July 4, 1957, Scott catalog number 1094. The stars represent the citizenry who stand for justice and order. As Jacob built the company, a Blue Lives Matter movement was growing in the wake of news stories of multiple officers shot to death in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Brooklyn, New York; and Dallas, Texas. He said that, "The colors are those used in the flag of the United States of America. Blue reminds us of the ocean and the big blue sky. However, when Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Continental Congress, presented a proposed U.S. seal in 1782, he explained its center section in this way: The colours of the pales are those used in the flag of the United States of America; White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness & valor, and Blue, the colour of the Chief signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice.[82]. The Meaning and History of the American Flag and Why We Honor It Criminologists Don L. Kurtz and Alayna Colburn have analyzed the language police officers use in formal interviews, and argue that the thin blue line idea is an example of popular culture informing internal police culture, highlighting the assumed differences between officers and citizens and further progresses an us versus them mentality among officers.. Every body went to see the kwa kee chuen [; Fkesyhn], or "flower flagship". Owing to the United States's emergence as a superpower in the 20th century, the flag is among the most widely recognized symbols in the world, and is used to represent the United States. Blue represents introspective journeys and symbolizes wisdom and depth of understanding. Flags that adhere to these dimensions are considered G-Spec or Government Specified. The American flag has thirteen horizontal stripes because the thirteen original colonies were united under one nation. Turn the outer end point inward, parallel to the open edge, to form a second triangle. The stars on the American flag signify the countrys 50 states. [87] Flags that are made to the prescribed 1.9 ratio are often referred to as "G-spec" (for "government specification") flags. The 13 stripes on the American flag represent the 13 original colonies at the country's founding. In modern flag design it usually refers to the topleft corner(upper hoist), which is the position of honor. In 1907 Eben Appleton, New York stockbroker and grandson of Lieutenant Colonel George Armistead (the commander of Fort McHenry during the 1814 bombardment), loaned the Star-Spangled Banner Flag to the Smithsonian Institution. The 13 Stripeson the American flag represent the 13 original colonies/states of Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Virginia. Red, for example, denotes tenacity and bravery, whilst white depicts purity and innocence. Blue represents vigilance, perseverance, and justice. The phrase was further popularized by the novels of Joseph Wambaugh, himself a former police officer in Los Angeles, and it typified Parkers philosophy: Having served in the military, he wanted to end corruption and professionalize the police force. Before that, the admission of Alaska in January 1959 had prompted the debut of a short-lived 49-star flag. The stars of Hawaii and Alaska were being added to the flag and new design submissions were being accepted. [citation needed], To properly fly the flag at half-staff, one should first briefly hoist it top of the staff, then lower it to the half-staff position, halfway between the top and bottom of the staff. [66], Chinese now refer to the United States as Migu from Mandarin (simplified Chinese: ; traditional Chinese: ). Q . The stars symbolize a new constellation, with one other star added for each state in the Union. But what does it mean, and when is it appropriate? [60], On July 4, 2007, the 50-star flag became the version of the flag in the longest use, surpassing the 48-star flag that was used from 1912 to 1959.[61]. A grommet is ametal ringor eyelet embedded in the header. The term "the thin blue" came before the flag. It symbolizes freedom and democracy that Americans have flown for centuries. The thirteen horizontal stripes of red alternating with white, with the red stripe being at the top and bottom. In both versions, the black space above the blue line represents society, order and peace, while the black below, crime, anarchy, and chaos. This is designed to hold a rope. Throughout American history, the flag has always been a symbol of national pride, representing a range of values from personal identity to military support. Federal Specification DDD-F-416F specifies the exact red, white, and blue colors to be used for physical flags procured by federal agencies with reference to the Standard Color Reference of America, 10th edition, a set of dyed silk fabric samples produced by The Color Association of the United States. I dont really care if it bothers people or hurts their feelings to see that flag. An American flag flown at half-mast is an important symbolic gesture in the United States. Naval Captain Samuel C. Reid[57] in which the flag was changed to have 20 stars, with a new star to be added when each new state was admitted, but the number of stripes would be reduced to 13 so as to honor the original colonies. It was occasionally used for police, they write. [citation needed], The U.S. flag took its first trip around the world in 17871790 on board the Columbia. Here are the do's and don'ts for the June 14 holiday. The 13 stripes on the flag represent the 13 original colonies while the 50 stars represent the 50 states of the USA. Colonists, therefore, flew the company's flag to endorse the company. [63] William Driver, who coined the phrase "Old Glory", took the U.S. flag around the world in 183132. No specific law governs the legality of fringe. With our countrys significant influence in international affairs and trade relations, it is unsurprising that this color scheme was eventually adopted by other countries such as India (before independence) and Argentina. It can also be used to describe the length (horizontal measurement) of the flag. People can buy a $5 rubber bracelet with the thin blue line flag on it through Tuesday. It fosters this us versus them mentality, he said. Mullets were comparatively rare in early modern heraldry. Timeline of the flag of the United States, coat of arms of George Washington's family, Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington, History of the flags of the United States, List of U.S. states by date of admission to the Union, First Amendment to the United States Constitution, The Color Association of the United States, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, flag of the Mountainous Republic of the Northern Caucasus, 2016 statehood referendum in the District of Columbia, Flags of the Confederate States of America, Colors, standards and guidons United States, "USFlag.org: A website dedicated to the Flag of the United States of America "OLD GLORY! The practice of using more saturated colors than the official cloth is not new. Parker used the phrase thin blue line constantly in his speeches. [7] 2. According to lawyers James Clapp and Elizabeth Thornburg, who have dug up the history behind popular phrases, the idea migrated to other professions, with other colors, from a thin white line of bishops to a thin blue line of public schoolboys in blazers.. After Parkers sudden death in 1966, the city named the police headquarters after him. The Eagles have a solid fan base in the . [7][8] The name "Grand Union" was first applied to the Continental Colors by George Henry Preble in his 1872 book known as History of the American Flag. American Flag - Understanding the Parts of the US Flag. George and Virginia Schaun. In January 1776, the Continental Congress adopted this design for the national flag, which became known simply as the Stars and Stripes. All of the profits go to the Douglas County Fallen Officers' Fund the charity Parrish's family chose. State Symbols and Honors; Subtitle A; Chapter 3100, "Sovereign Citizens Are a Sometimes Violent Fringe Group Rejecting All Government", Rebuttal of "martial law flag" claims by tax protesters, "state.co.us: "Colorado Court of Appeals Order Order Affirmed: Colorado v Drew" (Munsinger) 13 May 2010", "Consider Recycling, not Burning, a Retired Flag", "What Does It Mean To Disrespect The U.S. Blue is representative of vigilance, perseverance, and justice. [99][100], The flag should never be allowed to touch the ground and should be illuminated if flown at night. The national flag of the United States, often referred to as the American flag or the U.S. flag, consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton, referred to as the union and bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows . By name, the official colors used on the flag are "Old Glory Blue," "Old Glory Red," and "White.". [25], Despite the 1777 resolution, the early years of American independence featured many different flags.