It’s flown proudly in front of homes across America. It soars above federal, state, and local public buildings. It’s displayed in classrooms, at cemeteries, at sporting events, and in parades. It symbolizes American freedom and liberty. And while the history of the Stars and Stripes is a colorful one, it’s generally acknowledged that June 14, 1777, is the birthdate of the American Flag.
13 Stars and Stripes
On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution stating that “the flag of the United States be 13 stripes, alternate red and white” and that “the union be 13 stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”
The current version of the flag dates to July 4, 1960, after Hawaii was admitted into the union as the fiftieth state on August 21, 1959.
The Anthem
The Star Spangled Banner, written by Francis Scott Key in 1814, was adopted as our National Anthem in 1931. Key wrote the verses on the morning of September 14, 1814, as U.S. soldiers raised a large American flag over Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, during the War of 1812.
The Pledge
The Pledge of Allegiance was first introduced in 1892. In 1923, the words “of the United States of America” were added. It was in 1942 that the Pledge was officially adopted as our national oath. In 1954, during the Cold War era, President Eisenhower encouraged Congress to add the words “under God.” Since that time, the 31-word oath has remained unchanged.
The Proclamation
“There is no greater, more beautiful, and instantly recognizable symbol of our Nation and its ideals, traditions, and values than the flag of the United States. The thirteen stripes of red and white remind us of the courage and steadfastness of those who pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to found this great experiment in republican government. The white stars on a field of blue stand for the 13 original colonies that formed the nucleus of the new Nation and the 37 states that have become part of our Nation since then. Those many stars recall the saga of our growth as we spanned a continent. The colors of our flag signify the qualities of the human spirit we Americans cherish: red for courage and readiness to sacrifice; white for pure intentions and high ideals; and blue for vigilance and justice,” President Ronald Reagan, May 12, 1986.
The Symbol
Old Glory has led soldiers into battle since the Revolutionary War. It has inspired men and women to accomplish great deeds and to pay the ultimate sacrifice for the liberty and freedom it represents. It is draped over the caskets of the fallen and displayed in cemeteries throughout the country in remembrance and honor of those who have perished defending our freedom.
Our flag flies proudly above federal, state, and local government buildings because it’s the symbol of our Republic. It’s displayed in churches and houses of worship because it symbolizes our freedom to worship God as our conscious calls us. Business establishments across the country display it because it symbolizes our free-enterprise system. It’s displayed in classrooms because it symbolizes our values and our traditions. We display it on our porches and in our yards because we are proud to be Americans.
In times of turmoil and upheaval, we rally around it, united in preserving and protecting the bond of American citizenship we share. Our flag is a national treasure. It’s the unifying symbol of our nation. As such, it deserves to be safeguarded, and more importantly, respected.
White stars atop a canvas,
of deepest midnight blue,
flanked by stripes of white and red,
our Nation lives in you.
Symbol of great sacrifice,
and the cause for which men bled,
from Revolution to Independence,
for Freedom, it was shed.
With Faith in Liberty,
upon that firm foundation,
trusting God to guide them,
they established a new Nation.
WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS,
BUT DO WE HOLD THEM STILL?
The fickle tides are churning,
with men’s selfish, feeble will.
These words only have meaning,
if we still hold them true,
the ideals so bravely fought for,
beneath THE RED, THE WHITE, THE BLUE.
LIFE AND LIBERTY,
THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS,
rely upon our Unity,
and our willingness,
to stand before the dragon,
behind our Flag of Freedom,
to bravely raise our standards,
to valiantly defend them.
The sacred bonds they forged,
and the heritage we stand for,
are stitched into the fabric,
of this Flag that still Unites us.
MORE THAN JUST A SYMBOL,
IT CONVEYS THAT FREEDOM RINGS,
AND THAT WE WILL
DEFEND THE PLEDGE,
RECITED IN ITS NAME.
JN Fenwick (© 2023) | All rights reserved.
JN Fenwick (© 2023-2025) | mothjournal14 | All rights reserved.
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