HISTORICAL FLAGS OF U.S.

-Flag carried to New World by early English Explorers

-Use can be traced back to 1277 in Britain

-Oldest flag still being flown in the world

St. Georges Cross

HISTORICAL FLAGS OF U.S.

King’s Colors

-Also known as British Union Flag

-Used by British Colonial Troops

-Raised by the Jamestown settlers in 1607

-Design orginated when King James I of England combined St. George’s Crosss with Scottish Cross of St. Andrew (The unification of England and Scotland)

HISTORICAL FLAGS OF U.S.

British Red Ensign

-Adopted by Queen Anne as new flag for the United Kingdom in 1707

-Gen Cornwallis surrendered under this flag at Yorktown in 1781 (ending the Revolutionary War)

- The model of the United States flag

-Also known as Queen Anne Flag

HISTORICAL FLAGS OF U.S.

Continental Flag

-Col John Trumbull’s Painting “The Death of Warren” on display at Yale Univ shows this flag as one used by American Forces at the Battle of Bunker Hill (17 Jun 75)

-Flag used when Gen Prescott uttered the famous phrase “Don’t one of you shoot until you see the whites of their eyes”

HISTORICAL FLAGS OF U.S.

Gadsden Flag

-Named after Col Gadsden of South Carolina

-Flown early in 1776 by Commodore Hopkins – the 1st CINC of the Continental Fleet

-Carried ashore by Col Gadsden’s men in Bahamas, capturing weapons and ammo needed for colonists to fight Revolutionary War

-Gadsden’s men later became the United States Marine Corps

- Was the first flag of the US Marine Corps

-Rattlesnake represented a warning and the 13 rattles represented the 13 original colonies

-First flag used on Naval voyage

HISTORICAL FLAGS OF U.S.

Grand Union Flag

-First “Unofficial” National Flag of the United States-Raised in 1 Jan 1776 celebrate official status of newly formed Continental Army by Gen George Washington

-Also known as the Cambridge Flag or Continental Colors

-Carried on Flagship “Alfred” on 3 Dec 1775, as Naval Ensign of the Thirteen colonies

HISTORICAL FLAGS OF U.S.

Betsy Ross Flag

-First “Official” Flag of the United States – adopted by Act of Congress on 14 Jun 1777 (this day later was used as the official flag day) (Flag of 13 States must be 13 Stripes, alternating red and white and union be 13 white stars in a blue field

-According to legend, a group headed by George Washington commissioned seamstress Betsy Ross to execute design for presentation to Congress

-Absence of the Union Jack represented our separation from the “Mother Country”

HISTORICAL FLAGS OF U.S.

Bennington Flag

-Believed to be the first Stars and Stripes used by American Land Troops

- Flown over military Stores at Bennington on 16 Aug 1777 when Gen John Stark’s militia led Americans to victory over British Forces

HISTORICAL FLAGS OF U.S.

Star Spangled Banner

-Shortly before War of 1812 – two new states were added to the union and this flag was born – 15 Stripes and 15 Stars

-Flew over Fort McHenry during British naval bombardment

-Inspired Francis Scott Key to write song that would later become our National Anthem

HISTORICAL FLAGS OF U.S.

OLD GLORY

-Born out of need for a more practical design to accommodate new states

-4 Apr 1818 Congress established the number of stripes at 7 red and 6 white, and the addition of one star for each new state

-50 Star flag in use since 4 Jul 1960 – addition of Alaska and Hawaii as States in 1959

HISTORICAL FLAGS OF U.S.

-60 plus different flags have been flown in our history

-Inspired by these three decades of state and local celebrations, Flag Day - the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777 - was officially established by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30th, 1916. While Flag Day was celebrated in various communities for years after Wilson's proclamation, it was not until August 3rd, 1949, that President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day.

-Pine Tree most widely used symbol in making of flags

-Flag had many variations and stripes were used often

WHEN TO DISPLAY

• NORMALLY, SUNRISE TO SUNSET ON BUILDINGS AND FLAGPOLES

• CAN BE DISPLAYED 24 HOURS FOR PATRIOTIC EFFECT– REQUIRES AN ALL-WEATHER FLAG– MUST BE ILLUMINATED IN HOURS OF DARKNESS (BY A

LAW ENACTED ON JULY 7, 1976

• CAN BE DISPLAYED DURING BAD WEATHER– REQUIRES AN ALL-WEATHER FLAG

WHEN TO DISPLAY• New Years Day• Inauguration Day• Martin Luther King Day• Lincoln’s Birthday• President’s Day• Easter Sunday• Mother’s Day• Armed Forces Day• Memorial Day

WHEN TO DISPLAY

• Flag Day• Independence Day• Labor day• Constitution Day• Columbus Day• Navy Day• Veteran’s Day• Thanksgiving Day• Christmas Day

WHEN TO DISPLAY

• DISPLAYED AS DIRECTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

• DISPLAYED DAILY NEAR PUBLIC BUILDINGS• DISPLAYED AT VOTING BOOTHS ON

ELECTION DAYS• DISPLAYED DAILY IN OR NEAR

SCHOOLHOUSES

HOW TO DISPLAY THE FLAG

• IN A PROCESSION OR A PARADE– CARRIED ON THE MARCHING RIGHT– CENTER FRONT OF A LINE OF FLAGS

• NEVER DRAPED OVER A CAR, TRAIN, BOAT ON A CAR, FRONT RIGHT ON FENDER/CHASSIS

• NO FLAG CARRIED HIGHER OR TO THE RIGHT

• EXCEPTION: CHURCH SERVICES AT SEA. CHURCH PENNANT MAY BE FLOWNABOVE FLAG DURING SERVICES

HOW TO DISPLAY THE FLAG

• STATIONARY (OFFICES, CEREMONIES, BUILDINGS) NO FLAG FLOWN HIGHEREXCEPTION: UNITED NATIONS FLAG AT UN HQ

• DISPLAY FLAT OR HANGING FROM A STAFF• CROSSED STAFFS: U.S.FLAG IN FRONT,

FACING RIGHT• DISPLAY AT HIGHEST POINT IN A GROUP OF

FLAGS OF DIFFERENT STATES OR SOCIETIES

HOW TO DISPLAY THE FLAG

• DISPLAY AT TOP WHEN SEVERAL FLAGS OF STATES/SOCIETIES ON THE SAME POLE

• DISPLAY AT THE RIGHT SIDE OF FLAGS IN A LINE– RAISE THE U.S. FLAG FIRST, LOWER IT LAST

• DISPLAY AT AN ANGLE OR HORIZONTAL FROM THE SIDE OF A BUILDING/HOUSE

• WITH 2 OR MORE NATION FLAGS, USE DIFFERENT POLES, FLY AT SAME HEIGHT

HOW TO DISPLAY THE FLAG

• SUSPENDED OVER SIDEWALK– FLAG HANGS DOWN, STARS UPPER LEFT (FLAG

RIGHT, OBSERVOR LEFT)

• DISPLAYED HORIZONTAL/VERTICAL A WALL OR IN A WINDOW– STARS ALWAYS IN UPPER LEFT (FLAG RIGHT ,

OBSERVOR LEFT)

• SUSPENDED OVER A STREET– HANGING VERTICAL, E-W STREET - STARS FACE

NORTH; N-S STREET STARS FACE EAST

HOW TO DISPLAY THE FLAG

• SPEAKER PLATFORM– HANG BEHIND AND ABOVE SPEAKER

WITH STARS TO FLAG RIGHT– IF FLAG IN HOLDERS, U.S. FLAG TO

SPEAKER’S RIGHT. OTHER FLAGS ON SPEAKER’S LEFT

– (EX. CHURCH, GRADUATION, ASSEMBLIES)

HOW TO DISPLAY THE FLAG

• HALF-STAFF (HALF- MAST)– MEMORIAL DAY UNTIL 12:00 NOON– BY ORDER OF THE PRESIDENT

• DEATH OF A MAJOR U.S.GOVERNMENT OFFICAL, FOREIGN DIGNITARY

• SPECIAL EVENT

– BY ORDER OF A STATE GOVERNOR• DEATH OF A MAJOR STATE OFFICIAL• SPECIAL EVENT

PROPER CARE AND HANDLING OF THE FLAG

• NEVER DIP THE FLAG TO ANY PERSON OR THING

• NEVER DISPLAY THE FLAG WITH THE STARS DOWN– EXCEPTION: DISTRESS SIGNAL

• NEVER LET THE FLAG TOUCH THE FLOOR, GROUND, WATER, MERCHANDISE

• NEVER CARRY THE FLAG HORIZONTAL OR FLAT. CARRY IT ALOFT AND FREE.

PROPER CARE AND HANDLING OF THE FLAG

• NEVER USED AS CLOTHES, BEDDING, DRAPERY

• NEVER USED TO COVER A CEILING• NEVER WRITE OR MARK ON THE FLAG• NEVER USE THE FLAG AS A BASKET TO

CATCH, HOLD, CARRY/DELIVER THINGS

PROPER CARE AND HANDLING OF THE FLAG

• NEVER USED FOR ADVERTISING – NO EMBROIDERY ONCUSHIONS/HANDERCHIEF– NO PRINTING ON BOXES, PAPER NAPKINS FOR

QUICK USE THEN THROW AWAY– NO ADVERTISING SIGNS ON A POLE FROM

WHICH THE FLAG IS FLOWN

• NEVER USED AS PART OF A COSTUME OR ATHLETIC UNIFORM– EXCEPTION: FLAG PATCH CAN BE PLACED ON A

UNIFORM (MILITARY, POLICE, FIREMAN)

PROPER CARE AND HANDLING OF THE FLAG

• NEVER FASTEN, DISPLAY, USE OR STORE IN A WAY THAT WOULD DAMAGE OR DIRTY THE FLAG

• DISPOSE OF A FLAG THAT CAN NO LONGER BE USED (DIRTY, TORN) BY BURNING– CUT THE BLUE FIELD FROM THE FLAG– PUT THE TWO PIECES TOGETHER– BURN THE TWO PIECES IN PRIVATE

ETIQUETTE OF THE STARS AND STRIPES

-Colors in the flag – White is Liberty; Red signifies courage; Blue signifies Loyalty

-Flag has 13 horizontal stripe (alternating 7 red and 6 white, with red at top and bottom, navy blue canton with 50 white stars that extends from top to lower edge of fourth red stripe)

-Public Law 344, passed by 94th Congress, is known as the Federal Flag Code – guide for handling and display of US Flag