Every Memorial Day, we proudly remember the heroes who served this country with parades, poppies, and the lowering of our American Flag to half-staff until noon, when we again raise it high to let those colors fly.
But while we'll never forget the people who sacrificed so much for our freedom, we might gloss over the history of Old Glory herself.
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Not surprisingly, there are a lot of fun facts surrounding the Stars and Stripes but most of the coolest stuff isn't found in any of our history books. A lot of it is interesting, some of it is surprising, and this one fact we found about "Gilligan's Island" is downright haunting.
Bone up on your American Flag trivia below, and use it to impress your friends and neighbors during the weekend's backyard barbecues:
#1. Betsy Ross is widely credited with designing the first American flag, but there is almost no evidence to support that claim. The only records of Ross' involvement came from her own grandson in 1870, when he presented the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia with affidavits from his own family members as evidence. Instead, many historians believe that Francis Hopkinson deserves the credit, because early journals from the Continental Congress are said to explicitly name him as the flag's designer.
#2. Karen Burke of Walmart's Corporate Communications revealed that Walmart stores sold around 115,000 American flags on September 11, 2001, as compared to 6,400 flags on the same date in 2000. In the year following 9/11 (September 11, 2001, through August 19, 2011), they sold 7.8 million American flags as compared to 2.5 million the year before.
#3. A 17-year old student designed the flag as it appears today. In anticipation of Alaska and Hawaii becoming states, Robert G. Heft created the 50-star flag as part of a history project (for which he received a B-) before submitting it to Congress for consideration. In August of 1959, President Dwight D. Eisenhower chose Heft's design over 1,500 other applicants and informed him of the news over the phone. (Heft's teacher also changed his grade to an A).
#4. During the opening sequence (about 22 seconds in) of first-season episodes of "Gilligan's Island," the U.S. Flag can be seen flying at half-staff off in the distance. This is because the show's pilot episode finished filming on November 22, 1963 the same day that President Kennedy was assassinated.
#5. Despite the harsh temperatures and conditions of the moon's atmosphere, five of the six flags that were planted during the Apollo missions are still standing. According to Buzz Aldrin, the one that fell was blown over by the exhaust from Apollo 11 during its liftoff from the moon's surface.
#6. According to the U.S. Department of State, the names of the flag's official colors are old glory red, white, and old glory blue. Their HTML codes and Pantone equivalents can be found on the Department of State's style guide.
#7. Flag Day isn't technically a federal holiday, and it's not a state holiday outside of Pennsylvania and New York. Furthermore, New York's official observance of Flag Day isn't June 14 (when it's commonly celebrated), but rather the second Sunday in June.
#8. Richard Williams, the animation director for "Who Framed Roger Rabbit," said that he modeled the title character's colors after Old Glory (red overalls, white fur, blue tie). "It looked like an American flag subliminally speaking so everybody liked it."
#9. There are federal regulations governing the handling and display of the flag (the U.S. Flag Code), including restrictions on using the flag's likeness for advertising, or printing it on anything intended "for temporary use or discard," like cocktail napkins or paper plates. Under the Flag Protection Act of 1989, there are also federal laws that call for criminal penalties for certain forms of flag desecration, although the Supreme Court found this act to be unconstitutional under the First Amendment in 1990.
#10. Old Glory was actually the nickname of a specific U.S. Flag, namely, the one owned by sea captain William Driver. He was previously given the flag by the women in his hometown of Salem, Massachusetts, but he only named it Old Glory upon seeing it flying on his ship's mast in 1831. The name later went on to become synonymous with any American flag.
http://magazine.foxnews.com/at-home/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-american-flag?intcmp=HPBucket
Every Memorial Day, we proudly remember the heroes who served this country with parades, poppies, and the lowering of our American Flag to half-staff until noon, when we again raise it high to let those colors fly.
But while we'll never forget the people who sacrificed so much for our freedom, we might gloss over the history of Old Glory herself.
Nona
Good article, interesting collection of facts.
Thanks for sharing the info
I'm glad you enjoyed it RIO I thought it appropriate for the Memorial Day holiday.
Here's a few more.....
The first African-American to receive the Medal of Honor in the Civil War was Sgt. William Harvey Carney who, despite being shot in the face, shoulders, arms, and legs, refused to let the American flag touch the ground during the Union assault on Fort Wagner.
By 1777, the U.S. was still waffling on the exact look of its flag. This was a cause for concern for Thomas Green, an American Indian who wanted the protection of an official flag while traveling through treacherous territory to Philadelphia. Thomas asked for help from Congress, throwing in the aforementioned payment to sweeten the deal. Within 10 days, a resolution was passed, finalizing the flag as a creation with 13 stars and 13 stripes. The date: June 14th, 1777.
Upon welcoming Vermont and Kentuckystates 14 and 15into the union, a new version of the flag was created that had 15 stars and 15 stripes. As the U.S. continued to add new states, there was concern about having to continually add additional stripes. The solution: revert to 13 to represent the original 13 colonies, and let the stars do the heavy lifting.
The flag that flew at Ft. McHenry during the War of 1812, immortalized in Francis Scott Keys tune, is one of the few remaining specimens of a 15-star, 15-bar flag. Whats left of it is on permanent display at the Smithsonians National Museum of American History. We say whats left of it because the flag in question was a victim of souveniring, a once-common practice where sections from flags were snipped off and sold as mementoes.
A Baptist minister called Francis Bellamy wrote the original The Pledge of Allegiance for the American Flag in 1892 in an effort to sell flags to schools.
The world's largest American Flag measures 505 feet (153.9m) x 225 feet (68.58m) and weighs in at a whopping 3,000 pounds (1,361 Kg) it was made in Pennsylvania.
The American Flag was officially adopted January 31, 1861. (in it's current form)
The method of folding US Flags requires 13 folds, each of which has been unofficially ascribed a highly significant and patriotic meaning. The specifications and dimensions of flags ensure that the Stars and Stripes are all correctly proportioned and the correct size to accomplish the fold. Here is the meaning of each of those folds and what it signifies:
The first fold of our Flag is a symbol of life.
The second fold is a symbol of our belief in eternal life.
The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing our ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of our country to attain peace throughout the world.
The fourth fold represents our weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in time of war for His divine guidance.
The fifth fold is a tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, "Our Country, in dealing with other countries may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong."
The sixth fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that we 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 seventh fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country and our flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our Republic.
The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and to honor mother, for whom it flies on Mother's Day.
The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood; for it has been through their faith, their love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great has been molded.
The tenth fold is a tribute to the father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since they were first born.
The eleventh fold, in the eyes of a Hebrew citizen represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon, and glorifies in their eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
The twelfth fold, in the eyes of a Christian citizen, represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in their eyes, God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.
The thirteenth fold: When the Flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost reminding us of our Nation's motto, "In God We Trust." After the Flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington, and the Sailors and Marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones, who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for us the rights, privileges, and freedoms we enjoy today.
Wonderful flag facts! Somewhere, I have a book, written by the US Army in 1918, about proper flag etiquette under battle conditions. Wherever the box is, it is with "Dental Hygiene for the Doughboy".
Thanks for this! This, I believe, was also in Uncle Louie's book about the flag from WWI...
NM.......Thanks! a lot of interesting things!!
owser...You're welcome!!
#2.Karen Burke of Walmart's Corporate Communications revealed that Walmart stores sold around 115,000 American flags on September 11, 2001, as compared to 6,400 flags on the same date in 2000. In the year following 9/11 (September 11, 2001, through August 19, 2011), they sold 7.8 million American flags as compared to 2.5 million the year before.
What do you want to bet that they were mass produced in China or Veitnam?
Question: Is it illegal or immoral, or just plain disrespectful, to fly a flag that was made prior to the entry of Hawaii and Alaska? I have a star with 48 stars... Can I fly it?
I can remember as a young girl in the girl Scouts, I learned how to properly fold the American Flag.
Here is a link to answer your question..... It is ok to fly a flag with 48 stars.
MM....You're probably right!!
The one I fly proudly, was bought from the local Wally World, it is made of high quality dacron/cotton blend and very strongly double sewn, and was made in Hanoi, Republic of Vietnam.
Considered one of the best well made flags available. (particularly if you intend to actually fly it)
How about that for irony...
Not legally in actuality, (it not our official flag anymore) but I don't think they will whine too much. In fact, I doubt anyone will notice the difference.
Also it has been allowed to fly older out of date flags in remembrance of those that fought under it, but only on the day of remembrance.
At least that was the way it was explained to me. There is no law disallowing it. (personally flying an old casket flag is a prime way to honor it's representative)
The world has changed. About 45 years ago we would have been bombing them. Hard to believe it's been that long and how we look at them now. I'm getting old.
I'm getting old As are all of us.
Good article Nona,
Interesting facts about the flag.
Kav.....I'm glad you enjoyed the article!
Interesting article Nona!
Thanks...I'm glad you found it interesting, as there were a lot of things that I didn't know about our Flag, but I'm glad I found it,and was able to learn more about it besides Betsy Ross sewing it!! lol