The Flag of the United States

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The Flag of the United States
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When the United States of America was born, on
July 4, 1776, it did not have an official
national flag. Many different standards were
carried during the Revolutionary War but the
Grand Union flag can be considered the first true
US Flag because it was the one used by George
Washington. In the upper left corner, called the
canton, the British Kings Colours was used
along with 13 red and white stripes which
represented the 13 colonies. This was the flag
General Washington raised to honor the beginning
of the Continental Army on New Years Day 1776.
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As the war continued, the Grand Unions British
canton was replace by 13 white stars on a blue
background. The story of Betsy Ross creating the
first flag which included the 13 stars in a
circle is now considered fiction. However that
flag design still carries her name.
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The first official flag approved by Congress, on
the first Flag Day, June 14, 1777, had the 13
stars in a double-cross pattern.
At first, each time a state was admitted to the
Union, a new star and a new stripe were added to
the flag. It was soon determined that adding more
stripes wasnt going to make for a good flag
shape!
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In 1818, a Congressional Act decreed that one
star be added for each new state and be arrayed
in a series of rows. Alaska and Hawaii were the
most recent additions to the field of blue as of
1959 and brings the total number of stars, and
states, to 50.
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What is the Pledge of Allegiance?
What is the Pledge of Allegiance?
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I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United
States of America and to the Republic for which
it stands, one nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
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How did it all begin? It began as part of the
National Public School Celebration of Columbus
Day in October 1892. Mr. Francis Bellamy is
credited with creating the original Pledge. The
Pledge was sent to each public school with the
intent of having it repeated by 12,000,000 public
school students in every state in the Union.
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In the material he nationally circulated, he
wrote, Let the flag float over every schoolhouse
in the land and the exercise be such as shall
impress upon our youth the patriotic duty of
citizenship.
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He included these original 23 words of the
Pledge I pledge allegiance to my Flag, and (to)
the Republic for which it stands one Nation
indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for all.
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The wording of the Pledge has been modified three
times. To clarify my flag the words the flag
of the United States were substituted on June
14, 1923. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States, and to the Republic for which it
stands one Nation indivisible, With Liberty and
Justice for all.
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In 1924, of America was added. I pledge
allegiance to the Flag of the United States of
America, and to the Republic for which it
stands one Nation indivisible, With Liberty and
Justice for all.
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On Flag Day June 14, 1954, the words under God
were added with President Dwight D. Eisenhowers
approval. As he authorized the change he said,
In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence
of religious faith in Americas heritage and
future in this way we shall constantly
strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever
will be our countrys most powerful resource in
peace and war.
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I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United
States of America and to the Republic for which
it stands, one nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
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For the Red Skelton audio version of the Pledge
click the Flag.
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Lets review what these Pledge words mean

• I pledge allegiance
• I promise to be true
• to the flag
• to the symbol of our country
• of the United States of America
• each state that has joined to make our country

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• and to the Republic
• a republic is a country where the people choose
  others to make laws for them. The government is
  for the people
• for which is stands
• the flag means the country
• one Nation
• a single country

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• under God
• the people believe in a supreme being
• indivisible
• the country cannot be split into parts

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• with Liberty and Justice
• with freedom and fairness
• for all.
• For each person in the country. . . you and me.

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