The Stars and Stripes

Unit 1, Chapter 1, Lesson 6Pages 52-59

Key Terms• Color(s) – the U.S. national flags• Ensign – a flag that is displayed or flown from an aircraft, ships, or boats as the symbol

of nationality• Garrison Flag – type of flag; 20 feet by 38 feet, flown on holidays and important

occasion• Half-staff – positioning the flag halfway down the staff as a sign of respect to a person

or group of people• Halyard – a rope or tackle that is used for hoisting or lowering the flag• Pennant – a long, narrow flag tapered to a point or a swallowtail at the end• Post flag – type of flag used for everyday occasions; 10 feet by 19 feet• Staff – another word for flag pole used to carry unit guidon or colors.• Standard – a term now interchangeable with colors although formerly it was used for

flags of mounted, motorized, and mechanical organization• Storm flag – type of flag flown in bad weather; 5 feet by 9.5 feet• Union – The emblem on a flag symbolizing unity, such as the blue rectangle and stars

on the United States Flag.

Introduction

• In 1776, when George Washington took command of the Continental Army at Cambridge, Massachusetts, he took under the grand Union flag.

• To establish our independence from England the Continental Congress in Philadelphia had the stars and strips created on June 14, 1776

• Most historians give Betsy rose credit for sewing the flag but there is not evidence to prove this

What does the flag represent

• The stripes – represent the 13 original colonies alternating between red and white

• The stars – represent the 50 states collectively and as a whole which is why no state is assigned a star

• White – purity, hope, and innocence• Red – hardness and valor• Blue – reverence to God, loyalty, violence,

preservation, and justice

Dates to Remember

• 1776 – Gorge Washington takes control of the Continental army under the Grand Union Flag

• June 14, 1776 – the Continental Congress approves the Stars and Stripes.

• 1794 – first changes to the flag when Kentucky and Vermont• 1818 – the law was passed to keep the number of stripes at 13• 1916 – issued the flag to have six rows of eight stars• 1959 – the most recent change in the flag adding the 49th and

50th states to the union• June 14 – Flag Day

Flag Day

• On June 14, 1889, George Balch, a kindergarten teacher held a day for his students to learn more about the flag

• His idea was the adopted by the state Bored or Education of New York

• On June 14, 1891, Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia held a Flag Day Celebration, the same day the next year the Sons of the Revolution did the same thing.

• On August 3, 1949 President Truman sighed that Act of Congress designated June 14th of each year as Flag Day

Types of Flags

• Garrison Flag – 20 feet by 38 feet– Government Buildings and Military installations fly

this flag on all national holidays and for special occasions

• Post Flag – 8 feet, 11 3/8 inches by 17 feet– This flag is for general display on days when it is not

appropriate for the garrison flag• Storm Flag – 5 feet by 9.5 feet– State and federal governments fly this flag only

during stormy or windy weather

Respect for the U.S. Flag

• You should always honor the flag with respect and dignity

• Even when the flag is old and tattered you do not use it for banners or in a disrespectful way

• If you do not preserve it, you should destroy it as a whole, privately, respectfully, and traditionally, by burning.

• Always show respect for the flag in civilian or military attire

In Uniform

• When in your JROTC uniform it is very important that you show respect for the US flag, other will look at you as a leader and will fallow your lead on how to respect the flag

• When the colors come within 6 steps of you, you will stand at attention and render a hand salute until it has passed 6 steps behind you. Only do this when outside in uniform.

• When indoors and in uniform you will stand at attention until the flag is 6 steps past you

In civilian cloths

• When outdoors stand at attention with your had over you heart when the flag is 6 steps in front of you and until it is 6 steps past you.

• When indoors stand at attention until the colors are 6 steps past you

Rules for displaying the U.S. Flagoutdoors

• Presidential proclamation contain rules for displaying a flag at Half-Staff– For example on memorial day the flag is displayed at half-staff

until noon then raised to the top of the staff• The flag is also flown at half staff for the death of a president,

former president, dignitary, or other important deaths• When lowering a flag to half-staff first you raise it to full staff then

lower it to half-staff, when lowering a flag from half-staff you raise it to full staff then lower it

• It is customary to display the flag from sunrise to sunset, but you can display it during the night if– You have adequate lighting on the flag– It is a all weather flag for incase of bad weather

Rules for displaying the U.S. Flag

Full Staff Half-StaffOn a wall

Display of the US Flag Alone• When displaying the national flag from a window shield, balcony, or front of a

building, the union should always be at the staffs peak• When displaying the flag on a wall the union should be uppermost and to the flags

own right, or the observers left• When displaying the flag in a window, place it with the union to the left of the

observer on the street• When displayed suspended across a street, the flag should be vertical, with the

union to the north on an east-west street, or to the east on a north-south street• When suspended the flag on the edge of the sidewalk on the side of a building,

raise the flag out from the building towards the pole, union first.• When the flag is lowered over a casket, place it so that the union is at the head

and over the left shoulder. – Never lower the flag into the grave, nor allow it to touch the ground

Group Display• When 2 or more national flags are flown from different nations raise them on different poles

at the same height• When displaying multiple flags and displaying them from staffs radiating from a center point,

center the nation flag or raise it higher then the other flag.• When carried in a procession with other flags ensure the American flag is on the far right of

the row of marching persons or, if in a line of flags, carry in the front and center position of that line

• When flying a pennant or another flag on the same halyard with the national flag you must always fly the national flag at the peak of the pole above the other flags– The only exception to this rule is at the United Nations Headquarters or church pennant

at sea.• When displaying the national flag with another flag from a crossed staff, place the national

flag on its own staff in front of the staff of the other flag• When displaying the U.S. flag from a staff in an auditorium, meeting hall, or chapel, weather

on the same floor level or on a platform, it should be in the position of honor to the speakers or chaplains right facing the audience or congregation. Place other flags on the left of the speaker or chaplain; that is, to the right of the audience.

Folding the Flag Correctly

1. Bring the lower striped section of the flag up over the blue field2. Fold the “folded edge” over to meet the “open edge.”3. Start a triangular fold by bringing the lower striped corner to the

“open edge.”4. Fold the outer point inward and parallel with the “open edge” to

form a second triangle.5. Continue to fold the flag in triangles until the entire length of the

flag is folded with only the blue field and the margin showing.6. Tuck the margin into the pocket formed by the folds at the blue

field edge of the flag.When you have completely folded the flag, only the blue field

should be visible, and it should have the triangle shape of a cocked hat.

Pledge of Allegiance

• “I 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.”– This version is slightly different from the original version

drawn up in 1892 by “the Youths Companion” in Boston.– Schools first used this in schools that same year to

celebrate Columbus day.– Almost 50 years later, the Pledge of Allegiance received

official recognition by congress on June 22,1942– On June 14, 1954 the phrase was added to the Pledge

Conclusion

• The flag of the united states has a rich heritage from the original Stars and Strips to the 50-star version that we have now.

• It represents an independent nation and its own rights.

• Different people respect the flag in different ways

Lesson Review

• Which flag did George Washington and the Continental Army use?

• When was the Stars and Stripes created?• When is Flag day?• When in civil dress, what should you do when

a flag passes in front of you?