Today is Flag Day \u2014 June 14. On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed the Flag Resolution, stating \u201cthe flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00a0Then, more than 130 years later, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed June 14, 1916 as Flag Day. President Calvin Coolidge did the same in 1927. It was declared a national holiday in 1949 when it was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Truman. It is not a federal<\/em> holiday, but it is celebrated across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The flag has changed over the years with more stars being added as new states joined the union, but it should<\/em> be just as sacred and important to American today as it was in 1777\u2026..<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Betsy Ross is often credited with creating the first American flag (in 1776,) there is no real proof to confirm that fact. Here\u2019s how that story became popular \u2014 almost a century later, in 1870, Ross\u2019s grandson, William Canby stated his grandmother was approached by three men, General George Washington, her relative Colonel George Ross and Revolutionary War financier Robert Morris, and was asked to design the flag. Betsy Ross\u2019 daughter, niece and granddaughter submitted affidavits to back up Canby\u2019s story. Taking into account her sewing skills and her relation to Colonel George Ross, who signed the Declaration of Independence, it\u2019s possible that Betsy Ross was<\/em> given that awesome responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another school of thought says that New Jersey delegate and signatory of the Declaration of Independence, Francis Hopkinson designed the original flag. He had experience creating seals for the U.S, government and petitioned for his payment from producing the \u201cflag of the United States of America.\u201d His request was rejected because \u201che was not the only one consulted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n So the designer of the original flag is questioned, but we know exactly who designed the present-day flag. In 1958, Alaska and Hawaii were both likely to become the 49th and 50th states. Bob Heft, a 17-year old Ohio high school student decided to design a 50-star flag for a history project during his junior year. He cut up his parents\u2019 48-star flag and used his mother\u2019s sewing machine to create his design. He only receive a B- for his project, but he sent his flag to his congressman, Walter Moeller. When both Alaska and Hawaii were admitted to the union in 1959, Moeller proposed Heft\u2019s flag to President Eisenhower. Ike chose Heft\u2019s design and invited him to Washington, D.C. for its first display on July 4, 1960. The colors of our flag have important meanings: red symbolizes hardiness and valor, white symbolizes purity and innocence, and blue represents vigilance, perseverance, and justice. Today is Flag Day \u2014 June 14. On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed the Flag Resolution, stating \u201cthe flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen … Continue reading
Bob Heft\u2019s teacher changed his grade to an A.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So today, on Flag Day, let\u2019s remember the importance of our flag, and remember to always give it the respect it deserves.
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