A
During the Revolutionary War, the first American flag features 13 horizontal alternating stripes or red and white with the emblem of the British Union Jack in the upper left corner.
True.
The design represented the Revolution’s original goal to not gain independence from Britain but rather to restore the colonist’s liberties under British law.
The Pledge of Allegiance was written in honor of Flag Day.
False.
The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist clergyman, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas. It was first published in the periodical The Youth’s Companion, for which Bellamy was an editor. The original version was, “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands; one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” In 1924, “my flag” was changed to “the flag of the United States of America,” and in 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower added “Under God.”
The American flag has gone through more than 30 changes since its creation.
False.
There have been 27 official versions of the flag since 1777. The changes are primarily related to additional stars for new states.
The sight of the American flag still flying during the War of 1812 inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner."
True.
Following a night of heavy attack by the British, Francis Scott Key witnessed the flag still valiantly flying over Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland. He wrote a poem titled "The Defense of Fort McHenry" on the back of an envelope in celebration of the American resistance. When the poem was published as a song, it was renamed "The Star-Spangled Banner." The flag that inspired Key can be found today in Washington, D.C. at the Smithsonian Museum.
The American flag is flown upside down to signal distress.
True.
According to the Flag Code, the only time the American flag is to be flown upside down is when there is extreme danger or distress. This symbol of distress was originally used by sailors at sea to signal their ship was in trouble. It has since been adopted in political protests.
Betsy Ross designed the first official US flag.
False.
Though it is a popular story, it is not supported by historical evidence. The exact origins are unknown, but it is widely believed Francis Hopkinson, a New Jersey delegate to the Continental Congress, designed it and Betsy Ross sewed it.
The wording of the Pledge of Allegiance was changed for the last time in 1962.
False.
The wording of the Pledge of Allegiance was changed for the last time in 1954. The pledge, unchanged since then, reads, “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.”
All the following are nicknames for the American flag: Old Glory, the Stars and Stripes, the Star-Spangled Banner, and the Red, White, and Blue.
True.
All are well-known nicknames. Reportedly the name “Old Glory” was given to the flag by William Driver, a sea captain from Salem, Massachusetts. He received the flag from his mother on his 21st birthday, and, as he unfurled it, exclaimed, “My ship, my country, and my flag, Old Glory.” He flew it on his ship on all his voyages, protected it from harm during the Civil War, and raised it over the Nashville state capitol building after Union soldiers captured the city. It now resides in the National Museum of American History.
The U.S. Flag Code, a set of guidelines for displaying the American flag, was published in 1923 but not adopted by Congress to date.
False.
The code published in 1923 was adopted by Congress in 1942. It includes where to fly the flag, how it should be saluted, and how it is to be treated with respect.
In 1943, the Supreme Court ruled that forcing students to salute the flag or recite the pledge violated their First Amendment rights.
True.
Today, the Pledge of Allegiance is still recited daily in many American schools with some exceptions granted for those students wishing to opt out. These exceptions vary from state to state.
The original flag had 13 stars.
True.
The initial flag had 13 stars, one for each of the original 13 colonies. The current flag has 50 stars, one for each state, with the last one added for Hawaii in 1960.
The first formal Flag Day celebration was observed at a school in Wisconsin.
True.
Bernard Cigrand invented Flag Day and held the first Flag Day observance in 1885 at the Stony Hill School where he taught. His celebration was held in honor of the 108th anniversary of the adoption of the Stars and Stripes flag.
Pennsylvania is the only state that recognizes Flag Day as a state holiday.
True.
On May 7, 1937, Pennsylvania was the first state to recognize Flag Day as a legal holiday. It is the only state to do so.
The Flag Code specifies the flag to be flown from sunrise to sunset and never at night.
False.
Though the flag is typically flown from sunrise to sunset, it can be flown at night if it is properly illuminated so it is easily recognizable.
In the U.S., no other flag can be placed above the American flag when displayed together.
False.
The two flags that can be flown higher are the church pennant during U.S. naval services at sea and the United Nations flag at the U.N. headquarters in New York, which flies above all the members' flags, including the U.S. flag.
The American flag has always had 13 stripes.
False.
From 1795 to 1818, the American flag had 15 stripes to recognize Vermont (1791) and Kentucky (1792), newly admitted to the Union. In 1794, Congress authorized a new national flag with 15 stars and stripes. On April 4, 1818, Congress passed the third Flag Act, reducing the number of stripes permanently to 13 to honor the original states. It provided new stars would be added as new states joined the Union.
Flag Day became a national observance in 1949.
True.
In 1949, President Harry Truman signed legislation into law making Flag Day a national observance. The legislation was based on previous proclamations by Presidents Woodrow Wilson in 1916 and Calvin Coolidge in 1927.
When reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, certain protocols are to be followed.
True.
When reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, it is protocol to stand, face the flag, place your right hand over your heart, and, unless you are a service member in uniform, men should remove any non-religious head covering and place it over their left shoulder.
While the Flag Code is a set of voluntary guidelines, it does advise against using the flag for "advertising, as clothing, bedding, drapery or a costume."
True.
As voluntary guidelines, there are no fines or legal penalties for not following the code. The Supreme Court ruled that politically motivated violations of the code are protected by the First Amendment.
The American flag was first planted on the moon by astronauts in 1969.
True.
During the Apollo 11 mission, the American flag was planted on the moon by astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. There are five other American flags on the moon as well, left by later Apollo missions. It is surmised they have all been bleached white from the sun's radiation.
The red, white, and blue colors of the flag have symbolic meaning.
True.
The red is symbolic of valor and hardiness, white for innocence and purity, and blue for vigilance, perseverance, and justice. However, it is important to note that the Continental Congress didn’t assign meaning to the colors. It came later.
Flag Day shares its June 14 date with the U.S. Army’s birthday.
True.
On June 14, 1775, the Second Continental Congress established the Continental Army to fight the British in the American Revolutionary War. After the war, the Continental Army became the U.S. Army.
When stored, the U.S. flag should be neatly folded into a rectangle.
False.
The correct way is to fold it into a triangular shape, resembling a tri-cornered hat.
There is no preferred way to dispose of an American flag; rather it is at the discretion of the owner.
False.
The United States Code, Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 8, says: "The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning." Also acceptable is to bury the folded flag in a dignified wooden box after pausing for a moment of silence. Another option is to drop it off at an organization that accepts them, such as the American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars.
When new states are added to the Union, a new star gets added to the American flag within 90 days of its admittance.
False.
The addition of a new star always occurs on the same date, July 4 by law.