Flag Day
What two states passed a law in 1890 that required their schools to fly the flag every day?
North Dakota and New Jersey
Who placed an American flag on the moon?
Astronaut Neil Armstrong, in 1969
What do the colors of the flag represent?
Red stands for hardiness and valor; white symbolizes purity and innocence; blue is for vigilance, perseverance, and justice.
What was the first American flag called, and what did it look like?
The Grand Union had 13 stripes and the Union Jack in the corner. It is sometimes called the Cambridge Flag, because it was first flown at the headquarters of the Continental Army in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on January 1, 1776.
Is it ever appropriate to fly the flag upside down?
Yes, but only in an emergency. An upside-down flag indicates someone is in dire trouble and in need of immediate help.
True or false? In 1972, the Supreme Court held that Massachusetts could not prosecute a person for wearing a small cloth replica of the flag on the seat of his pants.
True. What do you think of this decision?
Why do we celebrate Flag Day on June 14?
On June 14, 1777, in order to establish an official flag for the new nation, the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act: “Resolved; that the 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.”
True or false? When the flag is raised or lowered as part of a ceremony, and as it passes by in parade or review, everyone except those in uniform should face the flag with their right hand over their heart.
True
How many changes has the American flag undergone since its first iteration: 10, 15, or 27?
27. The American flag has changed designs more than any other flag in the world
In 1814, amateur poet Francis Scott Key was so inspired by the sight of the American flag still flying over Baltimore’s Fort McHenry after a British bombardment that he wrote what poem?
“The Star-Spangled Banner.” It officially became our national anthem in 1931.
What is done with worn or outdated flags?
Flags are used until they are worn out, and then they are destroyed, preferably by burning. The American Legion and other organizations regularly conduct ceremonies in which they respectfully burn worn-out flags. These ceremonies are often held on Flag Day, June 14.
Who cut the American flag into pieces and was honored for doing so?
Robert Peary, an arctic explorer who left pieces of the flag scattered at the North Pole. Peary’s wife, Josephine, made him the flag in 1898, and he carried it with him as he journeyed north. Peary cut pieces from the flag and buried them every time he broke a “farthest north” record. Many of the pieces have since been recovered.
Who is considered the Father fo Flag Day?
Schoolteacher Bernard Cigrand. In 1885, the then 19 year old, placed a flag in a bottle on his desk. He assigned his students essays about the flag and its significance. He later moved to Chicago and traveled the country promoting patriotism, respect for the flag, and the need for a national Flag Day
The American flag first flew over a fort in what foreign country?
Libya. It few over Fort Derne on the shores of Tripoli during the first Barbary War in 1805.
How many pieces of fabric does it take to make the American flag?
It takes 64 pieces, more than any other country’s flag. The current flag has 13 red and white alternating stripes and 50 stars (with each star representing one of the states) on a blue background.
What does legend say Betsy Ross showed George Washington how to make?
A star with five points. According to the story, George Washington was impressed when Betsy showed him how to fold a piece of cloth and, with just one snip of the scissors, make a perfect five-pointed star.
A vexillologist is an expert on what?
The history of flags
How many of the original 13 colonies can you name?
The original 13 colonies were Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, and Rhode Island.
Who proclaimed June 14 as the official U.S. Flag Day in 1949?
President Harry S. Truman
True or false? When the flag is affixed to the side of a vehicle, it should be oriented so that the union (blue rectangle) is toward the back.
False. The union should always be toward the front. This is done to give the impression that the flag is blowing backward from its hoist as the vehicle moves forward.
What do the 13 red and white alternating stripes represent?
The 13 original colonies
Who created our current 50-star pattern?
Robert Heft. Heft, a 17-year-old high school student at the time, created the design for a class project and submitted it to President Eisenhower in 1959. Eisenhower received thousands of submissions for the flag design, but it was Heft’s that was accepted and remains in use today. Heft received a B- on his project.
If a flag becomes dirty or soiled or touches the ground, should it be destroyed?
No. An American flag can be washed or dry-cleaned.
Has the flag ever had more than 13 stripes?
Yes. When Vermont (1791) and Kentucky (1792) became states, the flag was expanded to include a star and a stripe for each of these new states. As more states were added, it was decided to stick with 13 stripes for the original 13 colonies and add only a star for each new state.
On Flag Day, American citizens are supposed to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. How many words are in the Pledge?
There are 31 words in the Pledge of Allegiance
How many U.S. flags are on the moon?
How many U.S. flags are on the moon?
How many rows of stars are on the flag today?
There are nine rows—five rows with six stars each and four rows with five stars each.
When was the last time the design of the U.S. flag was changed and why?
The present-day flag became official on July 4, 1960, when a star was added for the 50th state, Hawaii.
Can the flag ever be flown at night?
Yes, but the flag should not be flown at night without a light on it.
What name for the American flag was coined by Captain William Driver, a shipmaster from Salem, Massachusetts?
“Old Glory.” In 1831, as Captain Driver was leaving on one of his many voyages, some friends presented him with a beautiful flag of 24 stars. As the banner opened to the ocean breeze for the first time, he exclaimed, “Old Glory!” Captain Driver retired to Nashville in 1837, taking his treasured flag with him. By the time the Civil War erupted, most everyone in and around Nashville recognized Captain Driver’s “Old Glory.” When Tennessee seceded from the Union, rebels were determined to destroy his flag, but repeated searches revealed no trace of the controversial banner.