Flag Facts & History
These two numbers tell how many stars and stripes appear on today’s U.S. flag.
What are 50 stars and 13 stripes?
This patriotic song is the national anthem of the United States.
What is “The Star-Spangled Banner”?
When the U.S. flag is completely folded, only this colored field and these symbols should be visible.
What is the blue field with stars? Teacher note: The folded flag should form a triangle.
Instead of using a military member’s first name, you generally use this to address the person respectfully.
What is the person’s rank or proper military title?
You are outdoors in uniform when the national anthem begins. Identify the three actions you should take.
What are face the source of the music, stand at attention, and salute until the song ends?
This is the name of the blue rectangle containing the stars on the U.S. flag.
What is the union?
This man wrote the words to the national anthem.
Who is Francis Scott Key?
These two words describe how the flag should be raised and how it should be lowered.
What are briskly when raising it and ceremoniously when lowering it?
This French phrase means the shared spirit and pride that inspire enthusiasm and devotion within a group.
What is esprit de corps?
You are indoors in uniform during a ceremony, and the anthem begins. You are not under arms. State your position, where you face, and whether you salute.
What is stand at attention, face the flag—or the source of the music if the flag is not visible—and do not salute?
The Second Continental Congress adopted the first U.S. flag in this year.
What is 1777?
The sight of the U.S. flag still flying over this fort inspired the anthem’s words.
What is Fort McHenry?
When the flag hangs flat against a wall, the union belongs at the top on this side from the observer’s viewpoint.
What is the observer’s left?
This is the standard number of cadets in a JROTC competition color guard.
What is four cadets?
You are outdoors in uniform, not in formation, and you walk past the U.S. flag. State when you begin and end your salute.
What is salute beginning six steps before the flag and continue until six steps past it?
Now interchangeable with “colors,” this term formerly referred to flags of mounted, motorized, and mechanized organizations.
What is a Standard?
The events that inspired the anthem occurred during this war.
What is the War of 1812?
On Memorial Day, the flag is displayed at half-staff until this time, then raised to the top of the staff.
What is noon?
When walking beside a senior-ranking person, a junior-ranking person takes this side.
What is the senior person’s left side?
These honors given to dignitaries, civil officials, and military officials may include cannon salutes, ruffles and flourishes, and a march or anthem.
What are personal salutes?
This signer of the Declaration of Independence and naval flag designer is identified in the reading as having designed a flag before Betsy Ross.
Who is Francis Hopkinson?
Although its words were written much earlier, Congress officially made this song the national anthem in this year.
What is 1931?
A flag has been flying at half-staff. Before lowering it for the day, the detail must perform this action.
What is raising the flag to the peak of the staff before lowering it ceremoniously?
These two musical honors are performed together: one is a drum roll, and the other is a bugle call. Name both.
What are ruffles and flourishes? Teacher note: Ruffles are the drum roll; flourishes are the bugle call.
You are reporting to a senior officer. Identify who initiates the salute and when that person ends it.
What is the subordinate initiates the salute and ends it upon the senior officer’s acknowledgment?