The Patriotic History of the Stars and Stripes
Do You Know the Patriotic History of the Stars and Stripes?
By Steve Coffman
On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress passed the following resolution:
"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."
On that historic day, the birth of the flag of the United States of America came into existence and this basic form remains unchanged to the present day. In 1777, Congress had not specified any particular design for the arrangement of the stars and some flags had thirteen stars in a circle. Others had twelve in a circle with the thirteenth in the center. In 1782 the Congress of the confederation reaffirmed the choice of the Continental Congress by stating that our national seal and the flag would remain red, white and blue. The thirteen original states would always be represented by the seven red stripes and the six white ones. However, they left open the question of how the stars on the blue union would be arranged. A deeper meaning was also given to the flag and its design.
In the following years to come, new states were constantly being admitted to the Union and the United States had thirteen national flags between 1817 and 1861. During this period the President usually proclaimed how the stars would be arranged and that all flags stars must be aligned with the presidential proclamation. During the Civil War, with the admission of Kansas and West Virginia we had another two flags. Union troops fought under a 33-star flag during the first three months of the war; a 34-star flag until 1863; and a 35-star flag until the end of the war. Throughout the duration of The Civil War President Lincoln refused to take out the stars of the southern states which had seceded. After the Civil War ended, the nation began to move west. Then Nebraska joined the Union in 1867; followed in 1877 by Colorado; 1890 by North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Washington and Idaho; 1891 by Wyoming; 1896 by Utah; and 1908 by Oklahoma. During this period of transition in the country, we had six more national flags. The 23rd flag, adopted in 1896, was the flag that we fought under during the Spanish-American War in 1898. In 1912, Arizona and New Mexico were also admitted to the Union and once more the United States needed another new flag. This was the 25th flag, adopted in 1912, and which lasted 47 years until 1959. A total of 47 years this flag version flew over the nation. This flag was also carried to the battlefields of World War I and World War II, as well as the Korean War.
Then in 1959 Alaska was admitted as the 49th state of the Union. The 49-star flag, adopted in 1959, was first raised at 12:01 a.m. on July 4th, 1959, over Ft. McHenry to signal the official admittance of Alaska. This flag lasted only but a short time because on July 4th, 1960, the United States raised the present 50-star flag, signaling the admission of Hawaii as our 50th and last state on March 18, 1959. 48 years the current flag has been waiving over the United State and is now the oldest version in the history of the country. To date, there have been twenty-seven national flags, and every one has flown in glory over this great nation with honor. This flag has endured through many years of hardship and toil. Many patriots have died in honor of its name. It is widely known and respected throughout the world. It is recognized to be the beacon of democracy, freedom, liberty and justice, and it is to this banner the countless millions of people came from all over the world in their personal search for political and religious freedom. Some of today's Americans have come to take for granted the proud Stars and Stripes. Perhaps to some Americans, our flag means nothing more than apple pie and another day off on Fourth of July. Let us never forget that this flag was born of blood and has been preserved by blood. This flag is the symbol of liberty and the great cost of liberty is dear indeed. I pray that God will always bless the Stars and Stripes, and that God will also always bless the United States of America.
By Steve Coffman
On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress passed the following resolution:
"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."
On that historic day, the birth of the flag of the United States of America came into existence and this basic form remains unchanged to the present day. In 1777, Congress had not specified any particular design for the arrangement of the stars and some flags had thirteen stars in a circle. Others had twelve in a circle with the thirteenth in the center. In 1782 the Congress of the confederation reaffirmed the choice of the Continental Congress by stating that our national seal and the flag would remain red, white and blue. The thirteen original states would always be represented by the seven red stripes and the six white ones. However, they left open the question of how the stars on the blue union would be arranged. A deeper meaning was also given to the flag and its design.
In the following years to come, new states were constantly being admitted to the Union and the United States had thirteen national flags between 1817 and 1861. During this period the President usually proclaimed how the stars would be arranged and that all flags stars must be aligned with the presidential proclamation. During the Civil War, with the admission of Kansas and West Virginia we had another two flags. Union troops fought under a 33-star flag during the first three months of the war; a 34-star flag until 1863; and a 35-star flag until the end of the war. Throughout the duration of The Civil War President Lincoln refused to take out the stars of the southern states which had seceded. After the Civil War ended, the nation began to move west. Then Nebraska joined the Union in 1867; followed in 1877 by Colorado; 1890 by North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Washington and Idaho; 1891 by Wyoming; 1896 by Utah; and 1908 by Oklahoma. During this period of transition in the country, we had six more national flags. The 23rd flag, adopted in 1896, was the flag that we fought under during the Spanish-American War in 1898. In 1912, Arizona and New Mexico were also admitted to the Union and once more the United States needed another new flag. This was the 25th flag, adopted in 1912, and which lasted 47 years until 1959. A total of 47 years this flag version flew over the nation. This flag was also carried to the battlefields of World War I and World War II, as well as the Korean War.
Then in 1959 Alaska was admitted as the 49th state of the Union. The 49-star flag, adopted in 1959, was first raised at 12:01 a.m. on July 4th, 1959, over Ft. McHenry to signal the official admittance of Alaska. This flag lasted only but a short time because on July 4th, 1960, the United States raised the present 50-star flag, signaling the admission of Hawaii as our 50th and last state on March 18, 1959. 48 years the current flag has been waiving over the United State and is now the oldest version in the history of the country. To date, there have been twenty-seven national flags, and every one has flown in glory over this great nation with honor. This flag has endured through many years of hardship and toil. Many patriots have died in honor of its name. It is widely known and respected throughout the world. It is recognized to be the beacon of democracy, freedom, liberty and justice, and it is to this banner the countless millions of people came from all over the world in their personal search for political and religious freedom. Some of today's Americans have come to take for granted the proud Stars and Stripes. Perhaps to some Americans, our flag means nothing more than apple pie and another day off on Fourth of July. Let us never forget that this flag was born of blood and has been preserved by blood. This flag is the symbol of liberty and the great cost of liberty is dear indeed. I pray that God will always bless the Stars and Stripes, and that God will also always bless the United States of America.
posted by MaximumBob | 6:14 PM
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