by Patricia Sicilia

Created on: June 10, 2008

Our nation's flag is a stirring site as it ripples in the wind. The red, white and blue symbolize the ideals of liberty won by our forefathers and the land hallowed by their blood.

The Stars and Stripes was authorized as our official symbol on June 14, 1777, when the Continental Congress resolved "That the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation."

From the very beginning, America was a nation of diversity, and the colonies and militias used many different flags. Some are famous, such as the "Rattlesnake Flag" used by the Continental Navy, daring "Don't Tread on Me." Another naval flag was the "Liberty Tree," a green pine tree on a white background. Other flags were quite similar to Britain's Union Jack or incorporated elements of it. It is not surprising that the early flags would designate a connection to England, as many colonists considered themselves loyal British subjects.

In June, 1775, a section of thirteen stripes first appeared on the yellow silk standard of the Light Horse of the City of Philadelphia when they escorted General George Washington to Boston to take command of the New England volunteers. The flag originally had the Union Jack in the corner but an artist was instructed to paint thirteen stripes to represent the united colonies.

The Grand Union Flag was the first flag to bear resemblance to the present Stars and Stripes. Its thirteen red and white stripes represented the Thirteen Colonies and the blue field in the upper left corner bore the Union Jack, signifying union with the mother country. This banner first fluttered from the mast of Lt. John Paul Jones' Colonial Fleet ship, Alfred, in the Delaware River at Philadelphia on December 3, 1775. The Grand Union Flag was the also standard of the Continental Army in January, 1776.

While some historians dispute that Betsy Ross crafted the first flag, who am I, as a Philadelphian, to deny Betsy's contribution? It is generally accepted that, some time late in May, 1776, three members of a secret committee from the Continental Congress, George Washington, then the head of the Continental Army, Robert Morris, reputedly the wealthiest citizen in the Colonies, and George Ross, a respected Philadelphian and uncle of her late husband, asked Betsy Ross to sew the first official flag. That flag had 13 red and white stripes, and thirteen stars in a circle, representing the

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>