OLD GLORY

[keggerz]

HISTORY of the U.S. Flag

 

1776

The Cambridge, or Grand Union flag preceded the Declaration of Independence and still bore the British flag of the time.

 

1777

The first flag ordered by congress on June 14 had no official arrangement of its 13 stars. Several variations were used.

 

1795

"The Star Spangled Banner," inspiration for the national anthem, had 15 stars and 15 stripes for the original 13 states plus Vermont and Kentucky.

 

1818

The number of stripes returned to 13 for the original 13 states. The 20 stars represented the number of states.

1861

During the Civil War, the flag had stars for 34 states, including Confederate states.

1912

Stars for New Mexico and Arizona brought the number of stars to 48. This flag, flown from 1912 to 1959, had the greatest longevity of any design(the current flag gets that distinction next yr).

1959

The addition of Alaska and Hawaii added the 49th and 50th stars to the flag.

 

Flag Facts

Words to know

• Union or canton: The blue field in the upper left corner with the 50 stars.
  
• Field or ground: The 13 stripes. There are seven red sand six white stripes: the top and bottom ones are red.
  
• Half-staff: Flying flags to one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff.
  
• Half-mast: On ships and naval stations, flying the flag at half-staff.
  
• Fly: The width of a flag when viewed flying.
  
• Hoist: The height of a flag when viewed flying.
  

Folding the flag

The U.S. flag should be folded in a military fold and put away when not in use.

The procedure for folding the flag:

• Bring the four corners together lenghtwise.
  
• Fold again lenghtwise, formin on long strip.
  
• Beginning at the striped end, bring the corners to he flat edge.
  
• Keep folding in triangle pattern up to the stars end.
  
• When finished, the folded flag should resemble a triangle.
  

Test your trivia

• 1. Francis Scott Key wrote the words to the "Star Spangled Banner" on the
  back of an envelope. What is the source of the music for the song?
  
• 2. Which president made official provision for the arrangement of the stars?
  
• 3. Who was Elizabeth Griscom and what was her connection to the flag?
  
• 4. Who planted the first U.S. flag on the moon?
  
• 5. Is it ever appropriate to fly the flag upside down?
  
• 6. What is done with worn or outdated flags?
  
• 7. The American flag first flew owner a foreign fort in what country?
  
• 8. A vexillologist is an expert in what?
  
• 9. "Shipwreck" Kelly(1885-1952) was famous for sitting long periods of time.
  What did he have to do with flags?
  
• 10. The United States has one of the oldest national flags. WHich countries have older flags?
  

 

*This information was aquired from the Virginia Gazette.

Edited July 3, 2006 by keggerz

[keggerz]

TRIVIA ANSWERS

[AtomicCEO]

Old Glory was the name of a head shop in Middletown, CT. I bought my first pipe there.

[nuke'em ttg]

Old Glory was the name of a head shop in Middletown, CT. I bought my first pipe there.

 

 

shut your hole hippy.........