On June 14, we celebrate the official adoption date of our national flag. During the Revolutionary War, each colony had its own flag with various symbols—rattlesnakes, pine trees, and eagles—and slogans like “Don’t Tread on Me,” “Liberty or Death,” and “Conquer or Die.”

The Continental Congress passed the Flag Resolution of 1777, which named the Stars and Stripes as the official American flag. The official announcement of the new flag was made on Sept. 3, 1777.

On May 30, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson made the observance of Flag Day official by a presidential proclamation.

Who designed our flag?

Although many people believe that Betsy Ross designed and sewed that first flag, there is no true proof. Betsy Ross did make ensigns and pennants for the Philadelphia Navy during the war, and she likely inspired the design of the current flag.

Based on colonial folklore, the American flag was first flown in battle during the Revolutionary War at the Battle of Cooch’s Bridge in 1777. But we don’t know that for sure. We do know:

  • The first flag designs arranged the 13 stars in a circle, depicting the equality of all the colonies.
  • In 1818, the United States Congress decided to keep the flag’s original 13 stripes and add new stars to reflect each new state that entered the union.

The current design was created in 1958 by a high school student named Bob G. Heft, who sent a flag design that included five rows of six stars and four rows of five stars to the White House. To his surprise, President Eisenhower called him. His design is what we fly today.

June 14 is not an official federal holiday, but many fly their flags, and towns and cities hold parades and events to celebrate.

Why Red, White, and Blue?

The Continental Congress gave no reason for its choice of colors. But, in 1782, the Congress of the Articles of Confederation chose those same colors for the Great Seal of the United States:

  • white for purity and innocence
  • red for valor and hardiness
  • blue for vigilance, perseverance, and justice

Flying the flag

In 1942, the United States Flag Code (4 U.S.C. §§ 5–10) set up a uniform standard for the respect and display of the American Flag. It is a guide to proper etiquette rather than a set of laws carrying penalties. Read the full code here: https://nationalflagfoundation.org/us-flag-code/

There are eleven places where the flag flies around the clock:

  1. The Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia
  2. The White House
  3. The U.S. Capitol
  4. The Iwo Jima Memorial to U.S. Marines in Arlington, Virginia
  5. The Revolutionary War battleground in Lexington, Massachusetts
  6. The site of George Washington’s winter encampment at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
  7. Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland
  8. The Jenny Wade House in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (she was the only civilian killed in the Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War)
  9. The USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor
  10. All customs points of entry into the United States
  11. Any US Navy ship that is underway

How to fold the flag

Old Glory is folded into a small triangle made of 13 folds. Each fold has a special meaning and symbolism. The first fold is life, while the third honors the veteran who has departed, and the fifth is a tribute to our country.