It’s a fact that the flag of America is so much more than just being a symbol of the country. The flag and its design symbolize the country’s spirit rose for its rights and also upholds the value America wishes to express to the world.
The flag is America’s powerful symbol of liberty, freedom, and dignity which have a strong impact to the country itself and to the world.
However, traces around 200 years back, the American flags has been through many changes (some source said about 27 times) since it was adopted for the first time by the union of 13 states till present, more stars are added to its design as many different states and regions are joining the nation.
The American flag consists of 13 alternating red and white stripes in equal length, a blue rectangle in the top left corner with fifty white stars placed in nine horizontal rows with unequal number of stars, which are rows of five stars alternating with the rows of six stars.
The fifty five-pointed stars are represents the fifty states of the nation, while the thirteen stripes represents the thirteen colonies that initially rebelled and fought againts the British which then also became the first states of the United States of America.
It’s said that the first official American flag was sewn by a Philadelphia seamstress, Betsy Ross. It’s believed that George Washington knew her in person along with her skill working with needle and thread. Told in legend that in May 1776 George Washington and the other two of Continental Committee representatives – Robert Morris and Col. George Ross, visited Betsy Ross with the sketch of the American Flag. It is said that the original design of the flag was the one that had six-pointed stars.
But after Betsy Ross show the men how easily a five-pointed star could be made by a single cut of scissors and would also look much better, they were impressed. The result was the stars in the flag were made in five-pointed shape instead of six.
This legendary role of Betsy Ross came to broad daylight after about 94 years when her grandson William Canby incidently mentioned her role in the first American flag crafting moment, in his speech at the Philadelphia Historical Society in March 1870.
However, this role of Betsy Ross is still a controversial topic to date given the situation of many other claims, facts, and evidence.
The American flag design got its official status in the Flag Resolutions of 1777, which was passed by the Marine Committee of the Second Continental Congress on June 14th 1777, and stated:
“Resolved, That the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation.”
Therefore, the first American flag design consists of thirteen alternated red and white stripes, with thirteen stars arranged in a circle placed on a blue canton. So the answer to the question:
“How many stars were on the first American flag?”
- is thirteen.
Till present, the American flag has always been a uniting point whenever the country needed a strong bind together. It flutters and flown atop public buildings years-round, and on private buildings on special holidays such as Memorial Day, President’s Day, and Independence Day. Small flags are placed near the military graves markers of US veterans on the Memorial Day.
The White House, Washington Monument, and U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial are some of the special places that continuously display the American flag. Not to mention, on the surface of the moon, as a memorial of the American astronauts who made the feat of landing on the moon.
On certain time, the American flags are flown at half staff. On the Memorial Day, it’s flown at half staff till midday. It also flutters at half staff on the Patriot Day, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, 30 days after the death of a President, 10 days after the death of a Vice President or a former, Chief Justice and member of Cabinet.
For those national importance days, Americans will and should have the flag flown at their houses proudly, and when it’s not flown it should be stored properly by using flag display cases to keep the flag in great condition.
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