Where Does the American Flag Come From?

The best time to fly the American flag is anytime between sunrise to sunset or even 24 hours when the occasion asks for it such as a patriotic holiday. Memorial Day, 25^th May requires that the flag be flown at half mast from morning till noon.

The proper way to hoist and lower the flag is briskly and ceremoniously respectively. It is not advisable to dip towards an individual nor display with the union facing the floor unless it’s meant to be a signal of distress.

Some acts with the flag are forbidden such as using is at clothing, drapes, for decorative purposes or as a bag to hold items. It is also disrespectful to attach other figures or drawings on the flag itself or its staff or the halyard. Are you making sure not to disrespect the flag?

You might have known these well-known facts about the American flag, but have you ever wondered where the flag comes from? The history of our flag is particularly interesting because its origins are more mysterious.

Curious to find out? Without further ado, here is everything you need to know about where the flag comes from.

Who suggested the idea of a flag?

Did you know that back in 1775 during the American Revolution, there was no one flag that colonists united against?

Flag experts reveal that there were a number of different flags with a range of slogans and symbols. It wasn’t until the Second Continental Congress met later that year, that George Washington suggested even the mere idea of the flag.

It was called the Continental Colors and was made of 13 stripes colored red and white with the British Union Jack on the leftmost corner.

It was meant as a middle ground between the radical party that looked for separation and those who want to reconcile with the crown. Soon Washington realized that a flag bearing the symbol of the enemy was not a good idea.

Two years later, it was announced that the flag would bear 13 red and white stripes in total. According to legend, Betsy Ross is the first person who made the original flag in 1776 after George Washington asked her to.

However, many people were unaware of the existence of the flag at all until the Civil War in 1861, when stars and stripes were a popular symbol.

Controversy about original designer

Following this in a press conference held by Betsy Ross’s grandson, it was revealed that she quite possibly sewed the first flag.

Not long after this, there were laws in place to protect flags and in 1885 Bernard Cigrand declared National Flag Day on 14^th June.

However, the mystery around the original creator came about due to historic evidence suggesting that it could possibly be Francis Hopkinson who designed it. He was one of the prime signers of the Declaration of Independence from New Jersey. While there is evidence of a bill he submitted asking for payment for designing the flag, there is no subsequent information about the description of the flag.

The design however, is known as Betsy Ross Pattern, The Single Wreath pattern, or the Philadelphia Pattern.

The final version of the flag known as The Star Spangled Banner has 50 stars and 13 stripes to accommodate the new states and colonies respectively.

Federal Flags offers all kinds of national flags, U.S. flags and high-quality flagpoles for sale. You can contact us at 1-404-409-9737 for more information.