Seven-year-old Willow Smith of Jena reports that she and her classmates salute the flag every day in school. At her young age, she knows that the American flag means living in a country “under God in the United States of America”.
Her buddy, Aaron Nugent, twelve years of age, sees the flag as a salute to those who have served in the military, especially those who have passed away fighting in wars for our freedom.
Eleven-year-old Beaux Beard simply said the flag stands for freedom and justice. When Ashlynn Lilly, 13, sees the flag, she remembers veterans and their sacrifices they’ve made for our country.
Her counterpart, Drew Douglas, says the flag stands for home and something that he can be “proud of”.
Michael Berry views the American flag as an icon of freedom, opportunity and the right to live “however you want and free”. His grandfather, seventy-fouryear-old Jimmy Berry, a twenty-year US Air Force veteran, describes what the flag means to him in one word: “Freedom!”
The American flag, affectionately known as “Old Glory”, evokes strong emotion in anyone and everyone, regardless of age, and since the conception of this country, it has flown as an icon of liberty.
The symbolism of country, freedom and patriotism contained in the flag is intentional. Red represents valor, white stands for purity and blue is for perseverance and justice. This star-spangled banner is the greatest and most revered emblem of our nation. It’s hard if not impossible to celebrate the birthday of our America without recognizing the ensign of its freedom: The United States flag.
While there is no documented evidence that Betsy Ross created the first American flag, oral history passed down and recorded government payments to her for her services are enough verification that she was the seamstress whose hands assembled the original stars and stripes in 1777 when this nation first became an independent country.
The original flag had the stars arranged in a circle representing equality among all thirteen colonies. It was made after Congress had passed the first of three major flag acts declaring that “the flag of the US shall consist of 13 alternating stripes of red on white with 13 white stars on a blue field forming a new constellation.”
There have been twenty-seven different US flag versions since that first creation, but all have featured stars and stripes. As states were added, stars were added. The design has changed throughout our country’s history, but this flag and all it represents still waves for freedom to patriots of all ages.
The US flag now has seven red stripes and six white stripes that still reflect the original thirteen colonies. The fifty stars in today’s flag stand for the fifty states in the American union, and the current design was designed for a classroom project by a high school student, Bob Heft, after Alaska and Hawaii gained statehood. Eisenhower was President, and young Heft campaigned for his flag design until the President finally chose it as the new flag’s design.
The red, white and blue inspired Francis Scott Key to pen the words to “The Star-Spangled Banner” after he saw it flying proudly after the British invasion in 1774. The song officially became the national anthem in 1931.
James B. Upham and Francis Bellamy used the flag as the muse for the Pledge of Allegiance, which was first published in a magazine “The Youth’s Companion”, and which became the official US pledge in June of 1942. In 1954, President Eisenhower added the words “under God” to our pledge.
The flag was first called “Old Glory” by Captain William Driver, who lived in Salem, MA in 1824, when his mother presented him with a beautiful US flag as a gift.
He exclaimed, “I’ll name her ‘Old Glory’”, then he proudly flew that banner aboard his ship, always taking a piece of home with him in his many sea travels. That flag is reputed to now hang in the Smithsonian Institution at the National Museum of American History, and our country’s emblem has been called “Old Glory” since Driver named it so.
In 1969, the US flag made its way to the surface of the moon when Astronaut Neil Armstrong planted it there. The flag was viewed worldwide on television during this historic moon visit by Armstrong and fellow astronaut Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin. On September 11, 2001, after the terrorists’ attacks, the flag was raised by three firemen, George Johnson, Dan McWilliams and Billy Eisengrein, at the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. They raised it high enough that the rescue workers still searching for survivors down below in the valley of destruction could see it. The breeze picked up Old Glory and it waved in the wind and was seen by not only the rescue workers but all who cast their gazes upward. Once again, the flag breathed encouragement and hope into the nation.
The United States flag is a sacred symbol of respect, honor and patriotism, and it and its likeness should always be treated respectfully. Flag Codes, which are voluntary and serve as a guideline, set the etiquette for flying and handling the US flag.
The flag cannot be flown in inclement weather, and is to be displayed only from sunrise to sunset. It should be displayed on all days, especially on designated holidays, and it is displayed at every public institution. It can be flown at night if it’s illuminated during darkness. Always fly the U.S. flag with the union down.
Flag Codes say the US flag should not be draped on the hood, top, sides or back of a vehicle. In the USA, no other flag should be placed above our nation’s banner, and it always is at the center and highest point when displayed with a group of state flags.
According to the code, the flag should never be used for any advertising purpose, not embroidered or printed on paper products or costumes, nor should it ever be used as wearing apparel, bedding or drapery. Clothing articles which are not made from an actual United States flag are not a breach of flag etiquette.
If the flag touches the ground, it doesn’t have to be disposed of but should be washed and cleaned. Finally, if the US flag is torn or in poor condition, it should be put away in a dignified and ceremonious fashion, preferably by burning. The ashes from the flag should be buried.
This patriotic banner of American independence, nationhood, and its citizens, government and beliefs has endured conflicts and protests, survived terrorists’ attacks, encouraged during war times, inspired patriotic songs and verses, and has evolved as our nation has evolved and it still waves proudly today. It flies along the streets of Jena, Olla, Tullos and Urania, and is proudly displayed beside governmental agencies, businesses and citizens’ homes.
This nation’s flag encourages. It endures. It represents the United States of America – in good times and bad times. It still waves proudly and with honor as it marks the 247th birthday of this country, and God willing, it will continue to do so for the generations to come.
“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.”
