A Symbol of Strength, Valor and Unity
Mark Krajnak
Happy Flag Day.
#164 of 365 Days of Photos 2007
Background information about the American flag
The first flag
The first flag was developed in June of 1776. The 13 stars in a circle represent the 13 colonies. The red stands for valor and hardiness, white means purity and innocence, and blue stands for vigilance, perseverance and jus tice. George Washington said, "Let the 13 stars in a circle stand as a new constellation in the heavens." Our first president interpreted the stars to be taken from the sky, the red from the British colors, and the white stripes signifying the secession from England. He wanted the stars to be in a circle so that no colony would be viewed above another.
History of Flag Day
In many states, school teachers encouraged their students to celebrate the flag's birthday on June 14 in the late 1800s. As a re sult, each state and local government recognized its own celebration independently. After three decades of state and local celebrations, in may 1916, President Woodrow Wilson established that Flag Day be celebrated on June 14, the anniversary of the flag resolution made in 1777. President Truman signed an Act of Congress on August 3, 1949, designating June 14 of each year as National Flag Day.
"The Star-Spangled Banner"
Francis Scott Key wrote the words to "The Star-Spangled Banner" during the war of 1812. After the British invaded Washington, D.C., and set fire to the Capitol and the White House, they attacked Baltimore in 1814. Key witnessed two days of bomb ing, after which he could still see the American flag flying at Fort McHenry. His song was later put to music and became our national anthem March 3, 1931. The 30-foot by 42-foot flag flown dur ing the battle is now in the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of American History. A copy of "The Star-Spangled Ban ner" that Key wrote is owned by the Maryland Historical Society and another that Key made is in the Library of Congress.
A nice article is here.
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