History of the American Flag

The United States flag originated on June 14, 1777 by the Continental Congress with the original thirteen stars and thirteen stripes.  On PBS I found that each change to the American flag reflects the addition of new states as new stars are added, for example the current fifty star flag was adopted on July 4, 1960. Of all the alterations, the most prominent eras have been the original thirteen star which lasted eighteen years, the next fifteen star flag which lasted twenty-three years, the previous forty-eight star flag which lasted forty-seven years, and the current fifty star flag which has been used for fifty-seven years.  The only alterations to the flag have been in the number/arrangement of the stars whereas it always remains with 13 red and white stripes, a blue field for the stars, and the color of the stars as white. On usflag.org I found the white signifies purity and innocence, the red, hardiness and valour, and the blue, vigilance, perseverance, and justice. The stars signify the heavens and divine goal of men, and the stripes, symbolic rays of sunlight. The flag itself seems to say the beliefs and values of the Founding Fathers of the new Nation through each symbolic representation within the flag's components. The nickname "Old Glory" comes from one flag that was named that originally, in which William Driver owned and flew over the Tennessee statehouse once the war had ended. The nickname "Star-Spangled Banner" originates from the poem by Francis Scott Key, now our national anthem. The flag generally is known to never touch the ground and it is a well known followed standard for the most part, which I think means that it is generally a widely understood as a positive symbol of unity. People like to wear the American flag and it is flown almost everywhere you go as well as being flaunted even further with the crazy celebrations on July 4th, celebrating our country's independence.

Original "Old Glory" http://www.tnmagazine.org/old-glory/