[House Document 108-97]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

108th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - House Document 108-97

OUR FLAG

__________

"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."

108th Congress, 1st Session H.Doc. 108-97

OUR FLAG

JOINT COMMITTEE ON PRINTING

UNITED STATES CONGRESS

Printed by authority of House Concurrent Resolution 139, 108th Congress

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON : 2003

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office
Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512-1800; DC area (202) 512-1800, Fax: (202) 512-2250 Mail: Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-0001

PRINTED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON PRINTING
ROBERT W. NEY, Representative from Ohio, SAXBY CHAMBLISS, Senator from Georgia,
Chairman Vice Chairman
JOHN T. DOOLITTLE, Representative from California THAD COCHRAN,
Senator from Mississippi
JOHN LINDER, Representative from Georgia GORDON SMITH, Senator from
Oregon
JOHN B. LARSON, Representative from Connecticut DANIEL K. INOUYE,
Senator from Hawaii
ROBERT A. BRADY, Representative from Pennsylvania MARK DAYTON,
Senator from Minnesota
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 139
(Submitted by Mr. Ney)
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
108th Congress, 1st Session
April 7, 2003
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
SEC. 3. OUR FLAG
(a) IN GENERAL.-The 2003 revised edition of the publication entitled
"Our Flag" shall be printed as a House document under the direction of
the Joint Committee on Printing.
(b) ADDITIONAL COPIES.-In addition to the usual number, there shall
be printed the lesser of-
(1) 550,000 copies of the document, of which 440,000 copies
shall be for the use of the House of Representatives, 100,000 copies
shall be for the use of the Senate, and 10,000 copies shall be for the
use of the Joint Committee on Printing; or (2) such number of copies
of the document as does not exceed a total production and printing
cost of $198,108, with distribution to be allocated in the same
proportion as described in paragraph (1), except that in no case
shall the number of copies be less than 1 per Member of
Congress.

Introduction

During the night of September 13, 1814, the British fleet bombarded
Fort McHenry in the harbor at Baltimore, Maryland.
Francis Scott Key, a 34-year old lawyer-poet, watched the
attack from the deck of a British prisoner-exchange ship. He had gone
to seek the release of a friend but they were refused permission to go
ashore until after the attack had been made. As the battle ceased on
the following morning, Key turned his telescope to the fort and saw
that the American flag was still waving. The sight so inspired him
that he pulled a letter from his pocket and began to write the poem
which eventually was adopted as the national anthem of the United
States-"The Star-Spangled Banner." Key was returned to Baltimore and
later that day took a room at a Baltimore tavern where he completed
the poem. Years later, Key told a hometown audience in Frederick,
Maryland: "I saw the flag of my country waving over a city-the
strength and pride of my native State-a city devoted to plunder
and desolation by its assailants. I witnessed the preparation for
its assaults. I saw the array of its enemies as they advanced to
the attack. I heard the sound of battle; the noise of the conflict
fell upon my listening ear, and told me that 'the brave and the
free' had met the invaders."

The Joint Committee on Printing is pleased to present the latest
edition of Our Flag. This Congressional publication briefly describes
the history of the flag, and sets forth the practices and observances
appropriate to its display. The Committee hopes that this document
will be both useful and informative to its audience.

Acknowledgement

The Joint Committee on Printing extends thanks and appreciation to
the individuals and organizations that contributed their knowledge to
this booklet.

"Let the praise, then, if any be due, be given, not
to me, who only did what I could not help doing,
not to the writer, but to the inspirers of the song!"
-Francis Scott Key

The History of the Stars and Stripes

The Stars and Stripes originated as a result of a resolution
adopted by the Marine Committee of the Second
Continental Congress at Philadelphia on June 14, 1777.
The resolution read:
"Resolved, that the flag of the 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 gave no instruction as to how many points the stars
should have, nor how the stars should be arranged on the blue union.
Consequently, some flags had stars scattered on the blue field without
any specific design, some arranged the stars in rows, and some in a
circle.
The first Navy Stars and Stripes had the stars arranged in staggered
formation in alternate rows of threes and twos on a blue field. Other
Stars and Stripes flags had stars arranged in alternate rows of four,
five and four. Some stars had six points while others had eight.
Strong evidence indicates that Francis Hopkinson of New Jersey, a
signer of the Declaration of Independence, was responsible for the stars
in the U.S. flag. At the time that the flag resolution was adopted,
Hopkinson was the Chairman of the Continental Navy Board's Middle
Department. Hopkinson also helped design other devices for the
Government including the Great Seal of the United States. For his
services, Hopkinson submitted a letter to the Continental Admiralty
Board asking "whether a Quarter Cask of the public Wine will not be a
proper & reasonable Reward for these Labours of Fancy and a suitable
Encouragement to future Exertions of a like Nature." His request was
turned down since the Congress regarded him as a public servant.

An Early Stars and Stripes

During the Revolutionary War, several patriots made flags for
our new Nation. Among them were Cornelia Bridges,
Elizabeth (Betsy) Ross, and Rebecca Young, all of
Pennsylvania, and John Shaw of Annapolis, Maryland. Although Betsy
Ross, the best known of these persons, made flags for 50 years, there
is no proof that she made the first Stars and Stripes. It is known
that she made flags for the Pennsylvania State Navy in 1777. The flag
popularly known as the "Betsy Ross flag," which arranged the stars in
a circle, did not appear until the early 1790's.

The claims of Betsy Ross were first brought to the attention of the
public in 1870 by one of her grandsons, William J. Canby. In a paper
he read before the meeting of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania,
Canby stated:
"It is not tradition, it is report from the lips of the principal
participator in the transaction, directly told not to one or two, but
a dozen or more living witnesses, of which I myself am one, though but
a little boy when I heard it.... Colonel Ross with Robert Morris and
General Washington, called on Mrs. Ross and told her they were a
committee of Congress, and wanted her to make a flag from the drawing,
a rough one, which, upon her suggestions, was redrawn by General
Washington in pencil in her back parlor. This was prior to the
Declaration of Independence. I fix the date to be during Washington's
visit to Congress from New York in June, 1776 when he came to confer
upon the affairs of the Army, the flag being no doubt, one of these
affairs."

The Grand Union Flag

The first flag of the colonists to have any resemblance to the
present Stars and Stripes was the Grand Union Flag, sometimes
referred to as the Congress Colors, the First Navy
Ensign, and the Cambridge Flag. Its design consisted of 13 stripes,
alternately red and white, representing the Thirteen Colonies, with
a blue field in the upper left-hand corner bearing the red cross of
St. George of England with the white cross of St. Andrew of Scotland.
As the flag of the revolution it was used on many occasions. It was
first flown by the ships of the Colonial Fleet on the Delaware River.
On December 3, 1775, it was raised aboard Captain Esek Hopkin's
flag-ship Alfred by John Paul Jones, then a Navy lieutenant. Later
the flag was raised on the liberty pole at Prospect Hill, which was
near George Washington's headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
It was our unofficial national flag on July 4, 1776, Independence Day;
and it remained the unofficial national flag and ensign of the Navy
until June 14, 1777, when the Continental Congress authorized the
Stars and Stripes.
Interestingly, the Grand Union Flag also was the standard of the
British East India Company. It was only by degrees that the Union
Flag of Great Britain was discarded. The final breach between the
Colonies and Great Britain brought about the removal of the British
Union from the canton of our striped flag and the substitution of
stars on a blue field.

Fifteen Stars and Stripes

When two new States were admitted to the Union (Kentucky
and Vermont), a resolution was adopted in January of
1794, expanding the flag to 15 stars and 15 stripes. This
flag was the official flag of our country from 1795 to 1818, and was
prominent in many historic events. It inspired Francis Scott Key to
write "The Star-Spangled Banner" during the bombardment of Fort
McHenry; it was the first flag to be flown over a fortress of the
Old World when American Marine and Naval forces raised it above the
pirate stronghold in Tripoli on April 27, 1805; it was the ensign of
American forces in the Battle of Lake Erie in September of 1813; and
it was flown by General Jackson in New Orleans in January of 1815.

However, realizing that the flag would become unwieldy with a
stripe for each new State, Capt. Samuel C. Reid, USN, suggested to
Congress that the stripes remain 13 in number to represent the
Thirteen Colonies, and that a star be added to the blue field for
each new State coming into the Union. Accordingly, on April 4, 1818,
President Monroe accepted a bill requiring that the flag of the
United States have a union of 20 stars, white on a blue field, and
that upon admission of each new State into the Union one star be
added to the union of the flag on the fourth of July following its
date of admission. The 13 alternating red and white stripes would
remain unchanged. This act succeeded in prescribing the basic design
of the flag, while assuring that the growth of the Nation would be
properly symbolized.

Eventually, the growth of the country resulted in a flag with 48
stars upon the admission of Arizona and New Mexico in 1912. Alaska
added a 49th in 1959, and Hawaii a 50th star in 1960. With the
50-star flag came a new design and arrangement of the stars in the
union, a requirement met by President Eisenhower in Executive Order
No. 10834, issued August 21, 1959. To conform with this, a national
banner with 50 stars became the official flag of the United States.
The flag was raised for the first time at 12:01 a.m. on July 4, 1960,
at the Fort McHenry National Monument in Baltimore, Maryland.

Traditionally a symbol of liberty, the American flag has carried the
message of freedom to many parts of the world. Sometimes the same
flag that was flying at a crucial moment in our history has been flown
again in another place to symbolize continuity in our struggles for
the cause of liberty. One of the most memorable is the flag that flew
over the Capitol in Washington on December 7, 1941, when Pearl Harbor
was attacked. This same flag was raised again on December 8 when war
was declared on Japan, and three days later at the time of the
declaration of war against Germany and Italy. President Roosevelt
called it the "flag of liberation" and carried it with him to the
Casablanca Conference and on other historic occasions. It flew from
the mast of the U.S.S. Missouri during the formal Japanese surrender
on September 2, 1945.
Another historic flag is the one that flew over Pearl Harbor on
December 7, 1941. It also was present at the United Nations Charter
meeting in San Francisco, California, and was used at the Big Three
Conference at Potsdam, Germany. This same flag flew over the White
House on August 14, 1945, when the Japanese accepted surrender terms.
"Old Ironsides" in the War of 1812. Courtesy U.S. Naval Academy
Museum Following the War of 1812, a great wave of nationalistic
spirit spread throughout the country; the infant Republic had
successfully defied the might of an empire. As this spirit spread,
the Stars and Stripes became a symbol of sovereignty. The homage
paid that banner is best expressed by what the gifted men of later
generations wrote concerning it. The writer Henry Ward Beecher said:

"A thoughtful mind when it sees a nation's flag, sees not the
flag, but the nation itself. And whatever may be its symbols, its
insignia, he reads chiefly in the flag, the government, the
principles, the truths, the history that belongs to the nation that
sets it forth. The American flag has been a symbol of Liberty and
men rejoiced in it.

"The stars upon it were like the bright morning stars of God, and the
stripes upon it were beams of morning light. As at early dawn the
stars shine forth even while it grows light, and then as the sun
advances that light breaks into banks and streaming lines of color,
the glowing red and intense white striving together, and ribbing the
horizon with bars effulgent, so, on the American flag, stars and
beams of many-colored light shine out together ...." In a 1917 Flag
Day message, President Wilson said:

"This flag, which we honor and under which we serve, is the
emblem of our unity, our power, our thought and purpose as a
nation. It has no other character than that which we give it from
generation to generation. The choices are ours. It floats in majestic
silence above the hosts that execute those choices, whether in
peace or in war. And yet, though silent, it speaks to us-speaks to
us of the past, of the men and women who went before us, and
of the records they wrote upon it.

"We celebrate the day of its birth; and from its birth until now
it has witnessed a great history, has floated on high the symbol of
great events, of a great plan of life worked out by a great people....
"Woe be to the man or group of men that seeks to stand in
our way in this day of high resolution when every principle we
hold dearest is to be vindicated and made secure for the salvation
of the nation. We are ready to plead at the bar of history, and our
flag shall wear a new luster. Once more we shall make good with
our lives and fortunes the great faith to which we were born, and
a new glory shall shine in the face of our people."

Early American Flags

Archeological digs in northern India, dating around 3,500 B.C.,
have uncovered a seal, used to sign documents. The seal
shows a procession of seven men carrying square standards,
held aloft on poles like modern flags. While these ancient flags were
rigid, like boards, and not made of cloth as modern flags are, they
provided ample testimony that heraldry and the displaying of banners
dated to the earliest civilizations.

In American history, the Vikings carried a flag which bore a black
raven on a field of white. In 1492 Columbus sailed to our shores
with his three small ships displaying the Spanish flag bearing two
red lions on two white fields and two yellow castles on two red
fields. The Dutch brought their own striped flags when they settled
in New Amsterdam, which we now call New York, and pioneers from
other nations also brought along the standards of their countries
when they settled on our shores. It is only natural, therefore, that
America should create colonial flags as soon as the first colonists
settled. Given the disparate array of settlers, it is not surprising
that a wide variety of flags was created.

The first flags adopted by our colonial forebears were symbolic of
their struggles with the wilderness of the new land. Beavers, pine
trees, rattlesnakes, anchors and various other insignia were affixed
to different banners with mottoes such as "Hope," "Liberty," "Appeal
to Heaven," or "Don't Tread on Me."

In the early days of the Revolution, there were colonial and
regimental flags by the score. The Boston Liberty flag, consisting of
nine alternate red and white horizontal stripes, flew over the
Liberty Tree, a fine old elm in Hanover Square in Boston, where the
Sons of Liberty met. Still another was a white flag with a green pine
tree and the inscription, "An Appeal to Heaven." This particular flag
became familiar on the seas as the ensign of the cruisers commissioned
by General Washington, and was noted by many English newspapers of
the time.

Flags with a rattlesnake theme also gained increasing prestige with
colonists. The slogan "Don't Tread on Me" almost invariably appeared
on rattlesnake flags. A flag of this type was the standard of the
South Carolina Navy. Another, the Gadsden flag, consisted of a yellow
field with a rattlesnake in a spiral coil, poised to strike, in the
center. Below the snake was the motto, "Don't Tread on Me." Similar
was the Culpepper flag, banner of the Minutemen of Culpepper (now
spelled Culpeper) County, Virginia. It consisted of a white field
with a rattlesnake in a spiral coil in the center. Above the
rattlesnake was the legend "The Culpepper Minute Men" and below, the
motto, "Liberty or Death" as well as "Don't Tread on Me."

In December of 1775, an anonymous Philadelphia correspondent
wrote to Bradford's Pennsylvania Journal concerning the symbolic use
of the snake. He began the letter by saying:

"I recollected that her eye excelled in brightness that of any other
animal, and that she has no eye-lids. She may, therefore, be esteemed
an emblem of vigilance. She never begins an attack, nor, when once
engaged, ever surrenders. She is, therefore, an emblem of magnanimity
and true courage."

It was probably the deadly bite of the rattler, however, which was
foremost in the minds of its designers, and the threatening slogan
"Don't Tread on Me" added further significance to the design.

The Moultrie flag was the first distinctive American flag displayed
in the South. It flew over the ramparts of the fort on Sullivan's
Island, which lies in the channel leading to Charleston, South
Carolina, when the British fleet attacked on June 28, 1776. The
British ships bombarded the fort for 10 hours. But the garrison,
consisting of some 375 regulars and a few militia, under the command
of Col. William Moultrie, put up such a gallant defense that the
British were forced to withdraw under cover of darkness. This
victory saved the southern Colonies from invasion for another two
years. The flag was blue, as were the uniforms of the men of the
garrison, and it bore a white crescent in the upper corner next to
the staff, like the silver crescents the men wore on their caps,
in-scribed with the words "Liberty or Death."

The Maritime Colony of Rhode Island had its own flag, which was
carried at Brandywine, Trenton, and Yorktown. It bore an anchor,
13 stars, and the word "Hope." Its white stars in a blue field are
believed by many to have influenced the design of our national flag.
The Army preferred its regimental flags on the battlefield instead
of the Stars and Stripes. A popular form of the U.S. flag that was
used in battle had the obverse (front) of the Great Seal in the
canton. The Army also used the Stars and Stripes with 13 stars in a
circle. The Stars and Stripes was officially used in Army artillery
units in 1834, and in infantry units in 1842.

Historical Flags

FORT MOULTRIE

South Carolinians defending Fort
Moultrie in Charleston Harbor in 1776
raised one of the earliest flags of American
liberty. The blue corresponded to their uniform,
the silver crescent appeared as a badge
worn on their caps. The cause for which
they fought-liberty-was emblazoned on
the crescent.

RHODE ISLAND REGIMENT

The State flags of America found their
earliest forms during the Revolutionary War.
The starry canton in the flag of the Rhode�20
Island Regiment symbolized national unity,
but the white field corresponded to the uniform
of the State troops. The anchor symbol
and motto which completed the design had
been used for more than a century. The original
flag may be found in the State House in
Providence.

BENNINGTON FLAG

Originally believed to have been carried
during the Revolution, this flag is now seen as
having probably been made for the 50th
anniversary of the Declaration of Independence
in 1826. Its design is typical of the exuberant
artistic expressions found in flags of
the 19th century.

GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS

General John Stark of New Hampshire
commanded a militia brigade known as the
"Green Mountain Boys." Tradition relates
that its green flag was flown at the Battle of
Bennington on August 16, 1777, As in many
American flags, the stars here were arranged
in an arbitrary fashion. Nevertheless they
signified the unity of the Thirteen Colonies
in their struggle for independence.

COMMODORE PERRY'S FLAG

During the War of 1812 Captain James
Lawrence of the Chesapeake encouraged his
men, as he lay dying, by exhorting "Don't
Give Up the Ship." Three months later at
the Battle of Lake Erie, Commodore Perry
emblazoned these words on a flag which
carried him to victory. Similar flags and
mottoes have inspired Americans throughout
our two centuries of existence.

CAVALRY GUIDON

During the Civil War a special version of
the United States flag-with swallowtail and
stars of gold instead of white-was carried by
the cavalry. General Custer and others used
the flag in succeeding decades in the West.

The Flag Today

The flag of the United States of America has 13 horizontal
stripes-7 red and 6 white-the red and white stripes alternating,
and a union which consists of white stars of 5 points on a blue
field placed in the upper quarter next to the staff and extending
to the lower edge of the fourth red stripe from the top. The number
of stars equals the number of States in the Union. The proportions of
the flag as prescribed by Executive Order of President Eisenhower on
August 21, 1959, are as follows:

Hoist (width) of flag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.0
Fly (length) of flag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.9
Hoist (width) of union . . . . . . . . . .0.5385
Fly (length) of union . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0.76
Width of each stripe . . . . . . . . . . . . .0.769
Diameter of each star . . . . . . . . . . .0.0616

Flag Anatomy

Flag Laws and Regulations

The laws relating to the flag of the United States of America are
found in detail in the United States Code. Title 4, Chapter 1 pertains
to the flag and seal, seat of Government and the States; Title 18,
Chapter 33 pertains to crimes and criminal procedures; Title 36,
Chapter 10 pertains to patriotic customs and observances. These laws
were supplemented by Executive Orders and Presidential Proclamations.

Title 36, Chapter 10-PATRIOTIC CUSTOMS
�171. National anthem; Star-Spangled Banner, conduct during playing
During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed,
all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing
the flag with the right hand over the heart. Men not in uniform
should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at
the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform
should render the military salute at the first note of the anthem and
retain this position until the last note. When the flag is not
displayed, those present should face toward the music and act in the
same manner they would if the flag were displayed there.

�172. Pledge of Allegiance to the flag; manner of delivery
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, "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.", should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag
with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should
remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left
shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should
remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute.

�173. Display and Use of flag by civilians; codification of rules and
customs; definition

The following codification of existing rules and customs pertaining
to the display and use of the flag of the United States of America is
established for the use of such civilians or civilian groups or
organizations as may not be required to conform with regulations
promulgated by one or�20more executive departments of the Government
of the United States. The flag of the United States for the purpose
of this chapter shall be defined according to Title 4, United States
Code, chapter 1, section 1 and section 2 and Executive Order 10834
issued pursuant thereto.

�174. Time and occasions for display
(a) It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise
to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open.
However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed
twenty-four hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of
darkness.

(b) The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.
(c) The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is
inclement, except when an all weather flag is displayed.
(d) The flag should be displayed on all days, especially on New
Year's Day, January 1; Inauguration Day, January 20; Lincoln's
Birthday, February 12; Washingto's Birthday, third Monday in
February; Easter Sunday (variable), Mother's Day, second Sunday in
May; Armed Forces Day, third Saturday in May: Memorial Day (half-
staff until noon), the last Monday in May; Flag Day, June 14;
Independence Day, July 4; Labor Day, first Monday in September;
Constitution Day, September 17; Columbus Day, second Monday in
October; Navy Day, October 27; Veterans Day, November 11;
Thanksgiving Day, fourth Thursday in November; Christmas Day,
December 25; and such other days as may be proclaimed by the
President of the United States; the birthdays of States (date of
admission); and on State holidays.

(e) The flag should be displayed
daily on or near the main administration
building of every public institution.

(f) The flag should be displayed in or near every polling place on
election days.
(g) The flag should be displayed during school days in or near every
schoolhouse.
�175. Position and manner of display
The flag, when carried in a procession with another flag or flags,
should be either on the marching right; that is, the flag's own right,
or, if there is a line of other flags, in front of the center of that
line.
(a) The flag should not be displayed on a float in a parade except
from a staff, or as provided in subsection (i) of this section.
Over the middle of a street With another flag on crossed staffs
<<< north or east <<<
A.M. P.M. On the same halyard with flags of
Memorial Day states, cities and organizations
Suspended over a sidewalk

Flag Illustrations

At an angle from a building On a speaker's platform
When unveiling a statue On a wall or monument Draped over a casket

Flag Illustrations

In a procession
Grouped with flags of other States, With flags of two or more nations
cities and organizations
Saluting the flag Proper display of bunting
(b) The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back
of a vehicle or of a railroad train or a boat. When the flag is
displayed on a motorcar, the staff shall be fixed firmly to the
chassis or clamped to the right fender.
(c) No other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the
same level, to the right of the flag of the United States of America,
except during church services conducted by naval chaplains at sea,
when the church pennant may be flown above the flag during
church services for the personnel of the Navy. No person shall display
the flag of the United Nations or any other national or international
flag equal, above, or in a position of superior prominence or
honor to, or in place of, the flag of the United States at any place
within the United States or any Territory or possession thereof:
Provided, That nothing in this section shall make unlawful the
continuance of the practice heretofore followed of displaying the
flag of the United Nations in a position of superior prominence or
honor, and other national flags in positions of equal prominence or
honor, with that of the flag of the United States at the headquarters
of the United Nations.
(d) The flag of the United States of America, when it is displayed
with another flag against a wall from crossed staffs, should be on
the right, the flag's own right, and its staff should be in front of
the staff of the other flag.
(e) The flag of the United States of America should be at the center
and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of
States or localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed
from staffs.
(f) When flags of States, cities, or localities, or pennants of
societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United
States, the latter should always be at the peak. When the flags are
flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States should be
hoisted first and lowered last. No such flag or pennant may be placed
above the flag of the United States or to the United States flag's
right. (g) When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are
to be flown from separate staffs of the same height. The flags should
be of approximately equal size. International usage forbids the
display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time
of peace.
(h) When the flag of the United States is displayed from a staff
projecting horizontally or at an angle from the window sill, balcony,
or front of a building, the union of the flag should be placed at the
peak of the staff unless the flag is at half staff. When the flag is
suspended over a sidewalk from a rope extending from a house to a pole
at the edge of the sidewalk, the flag should be hoisted out, union
first, from the building.
(i) When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall,
the union should be uppermost and to the flag's own right, that is,
to the observer's left. When displayed in a window, the flag should
be displayed in the same way, with the union or blue field to the left
of the observer in the street.
(j) When the flag is displayed over the middle of the street, it should
be suspended vertically with the union to the north in an east and
west street or to the east in a north and south street.
(k) When used on a speaker's platform, the flag, if displayed flat,
should be displayed above and behind the speaker. When displayed
from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the flag of the United
States of America should hold the position of superior prominence, in
advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at the
clergyman's or speaker's right as he faces the audience. Any other
flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the clergyman or
speaker or to the right of the audience.
(l) The flag should form a distinctive feature of the ceremony of
unveiling a statue or monument, but it should never be used as the
covering for the statue or monument.
(m) The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to
the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position.
The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for
the day. On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half-staff
until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff. By order of
the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death
of principal figures of the United States Government and the
Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect
to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or
foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff
according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance
with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law.
In the event of the death of a present or former official of the
government of any State, territory, or possession of the United
States, the Governor of that State, territory, or possession may
proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff. The
flag shall be flown at halfstaff thirty days from the death of the
President or a former President; ten days from the day of death of
the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of
the United States, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
from the day of death until interment of an Associate Justice of
the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department,
a former Vice President, or the Governor of a State, territory, or
possession; and on the day of death and the following day for a Member
of Congress. As used in this subsection-

(1) the term "half-staff" means the position of the flag when it
is one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff;
(2) the term "executive or military department" means any
agency listed under sections 101 and 102 of title 5, United States
Code; and
(3) the term "Member of Congress" means a Senator, a
Representative, a Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner from
Puerto Rico.
(n) When the flag is used to cover a casket, it should be so placed
that the union is at the head and over the left shoulder. The flag
should not be lowered into the grave or allowed to touch the ground.
(o) When the flag is suspended across a corridor or lobby in a
building with only one main entrance, it should be suspended
vertically with the union of the flag to the observer's left upon
entering. If the building has more than one main entrance, the flag
should be suspended vertically near the center of the corridor or
lobby with the union to the north, when entrances are to the east
and west or to the east when entrances are to the north and south.
If there are entrances in more than two directions, the union should
be to the east.
�176. Respect for the Flag
No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of
America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing.
Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or institutional
flags are to be dipped�20as a mark of honor.
(a) The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except
as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life
or property.
(b) The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the
ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.
(c) The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but
always aloft and free.
(d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or
drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds,
but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white, and red,
always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and
the red below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping
the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.
(e) The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in
such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged
in any way.
(f) The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.
(g) The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it,
nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design,
picture, or drawing of any nature.
(h) The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving,
holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
(i) The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any
manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as
cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed
on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary
use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff
or halyard from which the flag is flown.
(j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic
uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of
military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic
organizations.
The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living
thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn
on the left lapel near the heart.
(k) The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a
fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way,
preferably by burning.
�177. Conduct during hoisting, lowering or passing of flag
During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag or when the flag
is passing in a parade or in review, all persons present except those
in uniform should face the flag and stand at attention with the right
hand over the heart. Those present in uniform should render the
military salute.
When not in uniform, men should remove their headdress with their
right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the
heart. Aliens should stand at attention. The salute to the flag in a
moving column should be rendered at the moment the flag passes.
�178. Modification of rules and customs by President
Any rule or custom pertaining to the display of the flag of the United
States of America, set forth herein, may be altered, modified, or
repealed, or additional rules with respect thereto may be prescribed,
by the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States,
whenever he deems it to be appropriate or desirable; and any such
alteration or additional rule shall be set forth in a proclamation.

Flag Presentation

Presentation of the flag during a ceremony should be preceded
by a brief talk emphasizing the importance of the occasion.
Following the presentation all present should salute the flag,
recite the pledge of allegiance, and sing the national anthem.
Folding the Flag
1. Two persons, facing each other, hold the flag waist high and
horizontally between them.
2. The lower striped section is folded, lengthwise, over the blue
field. Hold bottom to top and edges together securely.
3. Fold the flag again, lengthwise, folded edge to open edge.
4. A triangular fold is started along the length of the flag, from
the end to the heading by bringing the striped corner of the folded
edge to meet the open edge.
5. The outer point is turned inward parallel with the open edge,
forming a second triangle.
6. Repeat the triangular folding until the entire length of the flag
is folded.
7. When the flag is completely folded only the triangular blue field
should be visible.

Care of Your Flag

The life of your flag depends on your care. Dirt can cut fabrics,
dull colors, and cause wear. Most outdoor flags can be
washed in mild detergent and thoroughly rinsed. Indoor
and parade flags should be dry-cleaned. Many dry cleaners offer free
cleaning of U.S. flags during the months of June and July. Damaged
flags can be repaired and utilized as long as the overall dimensions
are not noticeably altered. American Legion Posts and local governments
often have facilities to dispose of unserviceable flags. Store your
flags in a well ventilated area away from any harsh chemicals or
cleaning compounds. If your flag gets wet, never store it until it is
completely dry. Wet folds cause permanent creases. Dampness ruins
fabric and causes mildew. Pole care is also related to flag care.
Rust and scale cause permanent stains and some metallic oxides
actually eat holes in fabric.
Sizes of Flags

The size of the flag is determined by the exposed height of the
flagpole from which it is flying. The only consideration is
for the flag to be in proper proportion to its pole. Flags
which fly from angled poles on homes and those which are displayed on
standing poles in offices and other indoor displays are usually either
3' x 5' or 4' x 6'. Color guards usually carry flags measuring 4' x 6'.
Other recommended sizes are shown in the following table:

FLAGPOLE HEIGHT (FT.) FLAG SIZE (FT.)
20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 x 6
25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 x 8
40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 x 10
50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 x 12
60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 x 15
70 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 x 18
90 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 x 25
125 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 x 30
200 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 x 40
250 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 x 50

Flags at the United States Capitol

No record has been found for the earliest date the flag was�20
flown over the east and west fronts of the Capitol. Early
engravings and lithographs in the office of the Architect of
the Capitol show flags flying on either side of the original
low dome above the corridors connecting the areas now known as
Statuary Hall and the Old Senate Chamber.

After the addition of the new House and Senate wings in the 1850s,
even before the great dome was completed in 1863, photographs of the
period show flags flying over each new wing and the central east and
west fronts.

The custom of flying the flags 24 hours a day over the east and west
fronts was begun during World War I. This was done in response to
requests received from all over the country urging that the flag of the
United States be flown continuously over the public buildings in
Washington, DC.

The east and west front flags, which are 8 x 12 feet, are replaced by
new ones when they become worn and unfit for further use. Prior to
machinemade flags, individuals were hired by the Congress to handsew
these flags. Presidential proclamations and laws authorize the display
of the flag 24 hours a day at the following places:

Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Baltimore,
Maryland (Presidential Proclamation No. 2795, July 2, 1948).
Flag House Square, Albemarle and Pratt Streets, Baltimore Maryland
(Public Law 83-319, approved March 26, 1954).
United States Marine Corp Memorial (Iwo Jima), Arlington, Virginia
(Presidential Proclamation No. 3418, June 12, 1961).
On the Green of the Town of Lexington, Massachusetts (Public Law
89-335, approved November 8, 1965).
The White House, Washington, DC. (Presidential Proclamation No.
4000, September 4, 1970).
Washington Monument, Washington, DC. (Presidential Proclamation
No. 4064, July 6, 1971, effective July 4, 1971). Fifty flags of
the United States are displayed at the Washington Monument
continuously. United States Customs Ports of Entry which are
continually open (Presidential Proclamation No. 4131, May 5, 1972).
Grounds of the National Memorial Arch in Valley Forge State Park,
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania (Public Law 94-53, approved July 4, 1975).
Many other places fly the flag at night as a patriotic gesture by
custom.

How to Obtain a Flag Flown Over the Capitol

Constituents may arrange to purchase flags that have been flown
over the Capitol by getting in touch with their Senators or
Representative. A certificate signed by the Architect of the
Capitol accompanies each flag. Flags are available for purchase in
sizes of 3' x 5' or 5' x 8' in fabrics of cotton and nylon.

American War Mothers Flag

The American War Mothers is a national organization chartered
by Congress with its headquarters in Washington, DC. Its
members are mothers whose sons and daughters have served
or who are serving in the Armed Forces. Its objective is to aid the
serviceman or veteran and his family, including those who are
hospitalized. According to records in the Office of the Architect
of the U.S. Capitol, the American War Mothers flag was purchased by
them and first flown over the U.S. Capitol, always below the American
flag, on Armistice Day, November 11, 1926.

The authority for flying that flag over the U.S. Capitol on this
occasion and in subsequent years has been granted annually by written
permission of the Vice President and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives.

Provision for the ceremony was further recognized when the flagpole
on the east front, after the extension of 1960, was installed with
two halyards.

Traditionally the flag has been raised at 11 minutes after 11 a.m. by
a detail from the Capitol Police. The flag flies until sundown,
although originally it flew only for three hours. A bugler selected
from one of the armed services plays taps. Brief memorial services are
held in connection with the ceremony. These services have been
accommodated on the east and west front steps or in Statuary Hall
and permission to hold them is generally granted in the same letter
that permits the flag to be flown. The act of July 1, 1882, regulating
the use of the Capitol Grounds vests the Vice President and the Speaker
with the authority to grant this privilege.

The American War Mothers flag is kept in a safe at the U.S. Capitol.
The present flag, first used in 1970, replaced the original woolen flag
of 1926. It is of a synthetic fabric, 47 x 72 inches in size,
consisting of a white field with a red border 11 inches wide. At the
top is an 11-inch blue star for the 4,695,039 who served in World
War I. These figures are 2 1�2 inches in blue. Across the center in
4-inch letters are the words "United States Service Flag." Below is
an 11-inch gold star for the 60,672 who gave their lives. These
figures are 2 1�2 inches high in gold.
How to Obtain a Burial Flag for a Veteran

Any honorably discharged veteran is entitled to a burial flag.
The funeral director, as part of the services, will make the
necessary arrangements for the family on behalf of the veteran.
The flag may be used to cover the casket and it is presented to the
family as a keepsake. The local office of the Department of Veterans'
Affairs can also provide information on the procedure for obtaining a
flag for a deceased veteran.

Flags of States and Territories

ALABAMA

Entered the Union in 1819 as the 22nd
State; flag adopted in 1895. The diagonal
cross and the square shape of the flag recall
the Battle Flag of the Confederacy, organized
in February of 1861 in Montgomery,
Alabama's capital.

ARIZONA

Entered the Union in 1912 as the 48th
state; flag adopted in 1917. Red and yellow
are the colors of Spain, while blue is for the
United States and the copper star symbolizes
mineral resources. The rays suggest the
setting sun over the desert.

ALASKA

Entered the Union in 1959 as the 49th
State; flag adopted in 1927. Benny Benson,
a 13-year-old student, chose the North Star
and the Big Dipper when he designed
Alaska's flag in a territorial school contest.
Its colors recall the Alaskan sky and its gold.

ARKANSAS

Entered the Union in 1836 as the 25th
State; flag adopted in 1913, modified in
1923 and 1924. Arkansas' rank in the Union
is indicated by the stars which border the
diamond, recalling that it is the only State
where minerals are mined. The four stars in
the diamond refer to important aspects of
Arkansas history.

CALIFORNIA

Entered the Union in 1850 as the 31st
State; flag adopted in 1911, modified in
1953. Americans, in what was then Mexican
territory, proclaimed the independence of
California on June 14, 1846. The banner of
their "Bear Flag Republic" was later adopted
by the State.

CONNECTICUT

Ratified the Constitution in 1788 as the
fifth State; flag adopted in 1897. The
grapevines in the coat of arms refer to the
three original colonies-Connecticut, New
Haven, and Saybrook. The motto "He Who
Brought Us Over Will Sustain Us," is based
on the 80th Psalm.

COLORADO

Entered the Union in 1876 as the 38th
State; flag adopted in 1911, modified in
1964. Yellow and white refer to the mining
of gold and silver, while these colors plus
blue are found in the Rocky Mountain
columbine, the State flower. Red is also for
the Spanish word for that color-colorado.

DELAWARE

Ratified the Constitution on December 1,
1787, as the first State; flag adopted in 1913.
Revolutionary War uniforms are honored in
the blue and buff colors while commerce
(the ship), and agriculture (wheat, corn, ox,
farmer) are featured in the coat of arms.

FLORIDA

Entered the Union in 1845 as the 27th
State; flag adopted in 1900, modified in
1985. The cross derives from the
Confederate Battle Flag. The State seal
shows a Seminole woman, a steamboat, and
the State tree-a sabal palmetto palm.

HAWAII

Entered the Union in 1959 as the 50th
State; flag adopted in 1816, modified in
1845. The British Union Jack recalls the one
presented to King Kamehameha I in 1793
by Captain George Vancouver. The eight
stripes are for the principal islands of
Hawaii.

GEORGIA

Ratified the Constitution in 1788 as the
fourth State; Redesign adopted in 2001 consisting
of the state seal surrounded by 13
white stars and a gold ribbon containing the
three state flags with "In God We Trust"
beneath the ribbon.

IDAHO

Entered the Union in 1890 as the 43rd
State; flag adopted in 1927. The seal incorporates
symbols of agriculture, mining,
forestry, wildlife, and women's rights. The
Latin motto means "May She Last Forever."

ILLINOIS

Entered the Union in 1818 as the 21st
State; flag adopted in 1915, modified in
1970. The central design is from the State
seal and shows national symbols plus dates
of Statehood (1818) and the seal itself
(1868).

IOWA

Entered the Union in 1846 as the 29th
State; flag adopted in 1921. The eagle and
motto ribbon are found in the State seal.
The stripes recall the French Tricolor since
Iowa was acquired from France as part of the
Louisiana Purchase.

INDIANA

Entered the Union in 1816 as the 19th
state; flag adopted in 1917. The outer ring of
stars is for the original States, the inner ring
for those up to and including Indiana.
Enlightenment and liberty spreading
throughout the land are represented by the
torch and rays.

KANSAS

Entered the Union in 1861 as the 34th
State; flag adopted in 1925, modified in
1927 and 1963. A sunflower, the State floral
emblem, appears above the State seal with
figures representing pioneer life. The motto
means "To the Stars Through Difficulties."

KENTUCKY

Entered the Union in 1792 as the 15th
State; flag adopted in 1918, modified in
1962. The frontiersman and hunter, representing
Kentucky and the original States,
express the meaning of the motto in the
seal. The State flower (goldenrod) frames the
design at the bottom.

MAINE

Entered the Union in 1820 as the 23rd
State; flag adopted in 1909. The motto "I
Direct" refers to the North Star, Maine having
once been the northernmost State.
Agriculture, shipping and forestry are symbolized
by other elements in the coat of arms.

LOUISIANA

Entered the Union in 1812 as the 18th
State; flag adopted in 1912. In heraldry a
pelican tearing at her breast to feed her
young is a symbol of self sacrifice. Louisiana
used this symbol as a territory prior to
Statehood.

MARYLAND

Ratified the Constitution in 1788 as the
seventh State; flag adopted in 1904. The
coat of arms of the Lords Baltimore unites
symbols of the Calvert and Crossland families.
Maryland has used similar flags since at
least 1638.

MASSACHUSETTS

Ratified the Constitution in 1788 as the
sixth State; flag adopted in 1908, modified
in 1971. The State motto translates "This
Hand Opposed to Tyrants Searches, with the
Sword, for Peaceful Conditions Under
Liberty." The star indicates Statehood while
the Native American was a Massachusetts
symbol as early as 1629.

MINNESOTA

Entered the Union in 1858 as the 32nd
State; flag adopted in 1957. A scene from
pioneer life appears in the State seal together
with the motto "The North Star." The
nineteen stars indicate Minnesota's rank in
Statehood, following the original thirteen
States.

MICHIGAN

Entered the Union in 1837 as the 26th
State; flag adopted in 1911. The national
motto is accompanied in the Michigan arms
by the slogans "I Shall Defend" and "If You
Seek a Pleasant Peninsula, Look Around
You." An elk, moose, and scenes from
nature are included in the design.

MISSISSIPPI

Entered the Union in 1817 as the 20th
State; flag adopted in 1894. The State flag is
a combination of two Confederate flags-
the Stars and Bars and the Battle Flag, both
including the national colors.

MISSOURI

Entered the Union in 1821 as the 24th
State; flag adopted in 1913. On a background
of the national colors appear the
Missouri arms framed by stars indicating its
order of Statehood. The Latin motto means
"Let the Welfare of the People Be the
Supreme Law."

NEBRASKA

Entered the Union in 1867 as the 37th
State; flag adopted in 1925. Included in the
State seal are the Rocky Mountains, the
Missouri River, wheat and corn, a steamboat,
a train, and a blacksmith with his
hammer and anvil.

MONTANA

Entered the Union in 1889 as the 41st
State; flag adopted in 1905, modified 1981.
The State seal shows the Great Falls of the
Missouri River and tools indicating mining
and agriculture. The motto "Gold and
Silver" appears on a ribbon below.

NEVADA

Entered the Union in 1864 as the 36th
state; flag adopted in 1991. Sprigs of sagebrush
the state flower, form a wreath on
Nevada's flag. The silver star symbolizes
Nevada's mineral wealth, and the words
"Battle Born" indicate that Nevada became
a state during the Civil War.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Ratified the Constitution in 1788 as the
ninth State; flag adopted in 1909, modified
in 1932. The importance in New Hampshire
of shipbuilding during the Revolutionary
War is suggested by the State seal. The nine
stars correspond to New Hampshire's rank
among the States.

NEW MEXICO

Entered the Union in 1912 as the 47th
State; flag adopted in 1925. The red and
gold colors of Spain, which once ruled the
area, are combined with an ancient sun
symbol of the Zia tribe of Native Americans
in this flag.

NEW JERSEY

Ratified the Constitution in 1787 as the
third State; flag adopted in 1896. The buff
background is for the uniforms worn by
Revolutionary War soldiers from New Jersey.
The coat of arms has the goddesses of liberty
and agriculture, as well as three plows
and a horse's head.

NEW YORK

Ratified the Constitution in 1788 as the
11th State; flag adopted in 1901. The coat of
arms shows a scene along the Hudson River,
framed by goddesses of liberty and justice.
The American eagle surmounts the world at
the top; the motto "Excelsior" appears below.

NORTH CAROLINA

Ratified the Constitution in 1789 as the
12th State; flag adopted in 1885. The
national colors, a star for Statehood, and the
initials of the State are included. The dates
are for the Mecklenburg Declaration of
Independence (May 20, 1775) and the
Halifax Resolves (April 12, 1776).

OHIO

Entered the Union in 1803 as the 17th
State; flag adopted in 1902. The only nonrectangular
State flag has stars indicating
Ohio's order of Statehood. The red disk and
white rim are for the State tree (the buckeye)
and first letter of the State name.

NORTH DAKOTA

Entered the Union in 1889 as the 39th
State; flag adopted in 1911. A military flag
with a modified version of the United States
coat of arms was carried by the Dakota
Territorial Guard and later the North Dakota
National Guard. The State flag is a modified
version of those banners.

OKLAHOMA

Entered the Union in 1907 as the 46th
State; flag adopted in 1925, modified 1941
and 1988. An Osage shield stands for
defense, its small crosses for lofty ideals. The
blue background symbolizes loyalty, while
the olive branch and calumet are for peace.

OREGON

Entered the Union in 1859 as the 33rd
State; flag adopted in 1925. The ox wagon of
pioneers combines with scenes of nature and
symbols of agriculture and shipping. The
reverse of the flag is blue with a gold beaver.

RHODE ISLAND

Ratified the Constitution in 1790 as the
13th State; flag adopted in 1897. An anchor
traditional symbol of hope, was first adopted
by Rhode Island as a symbol in 1647.
Rhode Island troops in the Revolutionary
War carried flags of white with an anchor
and thirteen stars.

PENNSYLVANIA

Ratified the Constitution in 1787 as the
second State; flag adopted in 1907. The
coat of arms incorporates a ship for commerce
and a plow and wheat sheaves for
agriculture. Draft horses, the American
eagle, and the State motto complete the
design.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Ratified the Constitution in 1788 as the
eighth State; flag adopted in 1861. Troops
defending harbor forts during the
Revolutionary War displayed a blue flag with
a white crescent. The State tree, a palmetto,
was added to the flag when South Carolina
proclaimed its independence in 1861.

SOUTH DAKOTA

Entered the Union in 1889 as the 40th
State; flag adopted in 1963. The State seal is
represented against a sunburst. Its design
includes symbols of stock raising, industry,
agriculture, commerce, and nature.

TEXAS

Entered the Union in 1845 as the 28th
State; flag adopted in 1839. The American
origin of the settlers who revolted against
Mexican rule and established the independent
Republic of Texas was reflected in the
flags they carried, including the one which
eventually became the State flag of the
"Lone Star State."

TENNESSEE

Entered the Union in 1796 as the 16th
State; flag adopted in 1905. The three stars
refer to the act that Tennessee was the third
State to join after the Original Thirteen and
is composed of three geographic regions.
The colors are found in the flags of the
United States and of the Confederacy.

UTAH

Entered the Union in 1896 as the 45th
State; flag adopted in 1911, modified in
1913. The beehive symbolizes industry,
while the American eagle and flags stand for
loyalty to the Nation. The early settlers were
saved from starvation by eating the sego lily,
now recognized as the State flower.

VERMONT

Entered the Union in 1791 as the 14th
State; flag adopted in 1923. The coat of
arms, based on the State seal, shows a scene
from nature with pine tree and mountains.
Branches of pine below commemorate the
1814 Battle of Plattsburgh.

WASHINGTON

Entered the Union in 1889 as the 42nd
State; flag adopted in 1923, modified in
1967. The "Evergreen State" shows the color
green for the background of its flag, which
bears the State seal. The president for whom
the State was named was made part of the
seal in 1889.

VIRGINIA

Ratified the Constitution in 1788 as the�20
10th State, flag adopted in 1861. The Latin
motto "Thus Ever to Tyrants" is reflected in
the design of the seal which shows a woman
subduing a king. Around the edges are vines
of ivy known as Virginia creeper.

WEST VIRGINIA

Entered the Union in 1863 as the 35th
State; flag adopted in 1905, modified in
1907 and 1929. The big laurel, the State
flower, frames the shield of the State seal.
The hunter and miner stand over a motto
meaning "Mountaineers Are Always Free."

WISCONSIN

Entered the Union in 1848 as the 30th
State; flag adopted in 1913, modified in
1981. Various symbols of agriculture, mining,
shipping, and industry are found in the
coat of arms of Wisconsin. The badger over
the shield is a reference to the State nickname.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Established in 1791; flag adopted in
1938. The personal arms of George
Washington form the District flag. It has no
historical relationship to the Stars and
Stripes, despite the similarity of design.

WYOMING

Entered the Union in 1890 as the 44th
State; flag adopted in 1917. The State seal
appears on a silhouette of a bison, familiar
to 19th century settlers. The red is for
Native Americans white for purity, and blue
for the sky, justice, and loyalty.

AMERICAN SAMOA

Unincorporated American territory since
1900; flag adopted in 1960. Red, white, and
blue are the colors of Samoa and the United
States. The American bald eagle holds traditional
Samoan symbols, a staff and war club.

GUAM

Established as a territory of the United
States in 1898; flag adopted in 1917, modified
in 1948. The traditional Chamorro canoe, a
palm tree, and the mouth of the Aga�a River
appear in the seal. The shape of the seal recalls
the ancient Guamanian sling stone.

PUERTO RICO

Commonwealth established in 1952; flag
adopted in 1952. Based on the Cuban flag
and, ultimately, the Stars and Stripes, the
flag of Puerto Rico was created in 1895
when the island was seeking independence
from Spain.

NORTHERN MARIANAS

Commonwealth established in 1986; flag
adopted in 1972. Blue is for the Pacific
Ocean, the star for the commonwealth. The
gray latte stone is for Taga, a legendary
Chamorro. The Stone and star are surrounded
by the traditional Carolinian mwaar.

VIRGIN ISLANDS

Established as a territory of the United
States in 1917; flag adopted in 1921. The
coat of arms of the United States has been
simplified and stylized for use in the territorial
flag together with the initials of the
islands. Many believe the arrows stand for
St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix.

Text by Dr. Whitney Smith, Flag Research Center, Winchester,
Massachusetts.

Flag Day

Each year on June 14, we celebrate the birthday of the Stars and
Stripes, which came into being on June 14, 1777. At that time,
the Second Continental Congress authorized a new flag to symbolize
the new Nation, the United States of America.

The Stars and Stripes first flew in a Flag Day celebration in
Hartford, Connecticut in 1861, during the first summer of the Civil
War. The first national observance of Flag Day occurred June 14, 1877,
the centennial of the original flag resolution.

By the mid 1890's the observance of Flag Day on June 14 was a popular
event. Mayors and governors began to issue proclamations in their
jurisdictions to celebrate this event.

In the years to follow, public sentiment for a national Flag Day
observance greatly intensified. Numerous patriotic societies and
veterans groups became identified with the Flag Day movement. Since
their main objective was to stimulate patriotism among the young,
schools were the first to become involved in flag activities.

In 1916 President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation calling for a nationwide observance of Flag Day on June 14. It was not until 1949
that Congress made this day a permanent observance by resolving "That
the 14th day of June of each year is hereby designated as Flag
Day . . ." The measure was signed into law by President Harry Truman.

Although Flag Day is not celebrated as a Federal holiday, Americans
everywhere continue to honor the history and heritage it represents.

The Great Seal of the United States

On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress passed a resolution
authorizing a committee to devise a seal for the United States of
America. This mission, designed to reflect the Founding Fathers'
beliefs, values, and sovereignty of the new Nation, did not become a
reality until June 20, 1782.

In heraldic devices, such as seals, each element has a specific
meaning. Even colors have specific meanings. The colors red, white,
and blue did not have meanings for the Stars and Stripes when it was
adopted in 1777. However, the colors in the Great Seal did have
specific meanings. Charles Thompson, Secretary of the Continental
Congress, reporting to Congress on the Seal, stated:

"The colors of the pales (the vertical stripes) are those used in the
flag of the United States of America; White signifies purity and
innocence, Red, hardiness & valour, and Blue, the color of the Chief
(the broad band above the stripes) signifies vigilance, perseverance
& justice." The obverse front of the Great Seal-which is used 2,000
to 3,000 times a year-authenticates the President's signature on
numerous official documents such as treaty ratifications,
international agreements, appointments of Ambassadors and civil
officers, and communications from the President to heads of foreign
governments. The design of the obverse of the Seal, which is the
U.S. coat of arms, can be shown on coins, postage stamps, passports,
monuments and flags, and in many other ways. The American public
sees both the obverse and less familiar reverse, which is never used
as a seal, every day when exchanging the $1 dollar bill.

The Great Seal die, counter die, press, and cabinet in which they are
housed, are located in the Exhibit Hall of the Department of State
inside a locked glass enclosure. An officer from the Department's
Presidential Appointments Staff does the actual sealing of documents
after the Secretary of State has countersigned the President's
signature.

Obverse

The American bald eagle is prominently featured supporting a shield
composed of 13 red and white stripes (pales) representing the Thirteen
Original States with a blue bar (chief) uniting the shield and
representing Congress. The motto of the United States, E Pluribus
Unum (meaning out of many, one), refers to this union. The olive branch
and 13 arrows grasped by the eagle allude to peace and war, powers
solely vested in the Congress, and the constellation of stars
symbolizes the new Nation taking its place among the sovereign powers.

Reverse

The pyramid signifies strength and duration: The eye over it and the
motto, Annuit Coeptis (meaning He, [God] has favored our undertakings),
allude to the many interventions of Providence in favor of the American
cause. The Roman numerals below are the date of the Declaration of
Independence. The words under it, Novus Ordo Seclorum (meaning a new
order of the ages), signify the beginning of the new American era in
1776.

Fort McHenry

Fort McHenry is located in Baltimore, Maryland. This low
citadel overlooks the entrance to Baltimore harbor and it is
where the Americans defended the city against British land
and naval attack on September 13-14 in 1814. It was during this battle
that Francis Scott Key began the draft to "The Star-Spangled Banner"
after seeing the flag still flying after a day and night of
bombardment.
The fort continued in active military service for nearly a century
after the battle but changing technology eventually made it obsolete
as a coastal defense system. Today the 43-acre fort is preserved as a
national monument and historic shrine. The property is managed by the
National Park Service and the flag is flown over the fort 24 hours a
day. Fort McHenry National Monument and Historical Shrine (c) Paul A.
Souders/CORBIS

The Flag House

The Flag House is located on the northwest corner of Albermarle and
Pratt Streets in Baltimore, Maryland. It was the home of Mary
Pickersgill from 1807 to 1857, and it was where she made the original
"Star-Spangled Banner," which measured 30 by 42 feet. the stripes were
two feet wide and the stars were two feet from point to point. Mrs.
Pickersgill was paid $405.90 for her services. the flag was delivered
to Fort McHenry on August 19, 1813, a full year before the Battle of
Baltimore.

In 1876, Caroline Pickersgill Purdy wrote a letter to Georgiana
Armistead Appleton, daughter of the Fort McHenry Commandant, in
which she recounted the details of the making of the flag. Caroline
wrote: "It was made by my mother, Mrs. Mary Pickersgill, and I
assisted her. My grandmother, Rebecca Young, made the first flag of
the Revolution under General Washington's directions, and for this
reason my mother was selected by Commodore Barney and General
Stricker to make this star-spangled banner, being an exceedingly
patriotic woman. This flag, I think, contained four hundred yards of
bunting, and my mother worked many nights until twelve o'clock to
complete it in a given time."

The flag bears the autograph of Lt. Col. George Armistead as well as
the date of the British bombardment. The flag remained in the
Armistead family for many years until it was loaned to the Smithsonian
for an official display in 1907. On December 19, 1912, it was donated
to the Smithsonian where it is now on permanent exhibit. In 1914,
much needed preservative work was done on the flag by Mrs. Amelia
Fowler and several other restoration experts. Although the flag was
reduced in size in order to repair it, the reinforcement technique
used has preserved its existence.

The Flag House is a National Historic Landmark, and is operated by
an independent non-profit association. The flag is flown over the
house 24 hours a day.

Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

"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 Pledge of Allegiance received official recognition by Congress
in an Act approved on June 22, 1942. However, the pledge was first
published in 1892 in the Youth's Companion magazine in Boston,
Massachusetts to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the discovery of
America, and was first used in public schools to celebrate Columbus
Day on October 12,1892.

In its original version, the pledge read "my flag" instead of the
"flag of the United States." The change in the wording was adopted by
the National Flag Conference in 1923. The rationale for the change was
that it prevented ambiguity among foreign-born children and adults
who might have the flag of their native land in mind when reciting
the pledge. The phrase "under God" was added to the pledge by a
Congressional act approved on June 14, 1954. At that time, President
Eisenhower said:
"in this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious
faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly
strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's
most powerful resource in peace and war."

The American's Creed

I BELIEVE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AS A GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE,
FOR THE PEOPLE; WHOSE JUST POWERS ARE
DERIVED FROM THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED;
A DEMOCRACY IN A REPUBLIC, A SOVEREIGN
NATION OF MANY SOVEREIGN STATES; A PERFECT
UNION, ONE AND INSEPARABLE; ESTABLISHED
UPON THOSE PRINCIPLES OF FREEDOM, EQUALITY,
JUSTICE, AND HUMANITY FOR WHICH AMERICAN
PATRIOTS SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES AND FORTUNES.
I THEREFORE BELIEVE IT IS MY DUTY TO MY
COUNTRY TO LOVE IT; TO SUPPORT ITS CONSTITUTION;
TO OBEY ITS LAWS; TO RESPECT ITS FLAG;
AND TO DEFEND IT AGAINST ALL ENEMIES.
The Creed was written in 1918 by William Tyler Page of Friendship
Heights, Maryland in the course of a nationwide contest on the
subject. Page was a descendent of President Tyler, and Representative
John Page, who served in the Congress from 1789-97.

William Tyler Page began his government career as a Congressional�20
page in December of 1881. In 1919, he was elected Clerk of the
House of Representatives, and held that position until December of
1931. A new post, Emeritus Minority Clerk, was then created for him
which he occupied until his death on October 20, 1942.

School Projects

The study of the history and symbolism of flags is known as
VEXILLOLOGY from the Latin word, VEXILLUM which means a
square flag or banner.

Numerous books have been written about the flag. Local and school
libraries should have a catalog reference for these books. Also,
military and veterans organizations as well as the Daughters of the
American Revolution and the American Legion provide useful information
on the�20flag and flag code.

You also can find the complete flag code, including laws and
proclamations in the depository library in your Congressional district.
Your local librarian can assist you in obtaining information from your
nearest depository library.