This is a special week for Americans. We celebrate our independence, and we celebrate all things that make us proud of this great country in which we live.

We use flags to show our pride and support in what we hold dear. We use Christian flags in our churches; we fly flags on our cars or on poles on our houses showing our pride in our favorite sports team; our 4-H'ers have their flag; and each state in the United States has its own flag. But the most dear flag to all of us is our American flag.

We become upset when someone destroys something dear to us. In most cases, if someone destroys any of our possessions or even tries to destroy our character, we have the right to take legal action against that person. But in this country, individuals can destroy our flag, something very dear to us, and no legal action is taken.

There has been much in the news during the past few weeks about our Congress debating whether or not it should be illegal for anyone to burn or otherwise destroy an American flag. This action failed to gain approval of Congress, which is upsetting to many of us. But this is a free country. We have fought and worked to develop and protect that freedom, so it seems that those people who wish to show their disagreement about the United States of American or any actions taken by this country, have the freedom to show their disagreement by burning or otherwise destroying our flag.

No one knows for sure who actually designed our first flag or who made it. Many historians agree that Congressman Francis Hopkinson designed it. Although many history books tell us that Betsy Ross, a seamstress from Philadelphia, made the first flag, few historians agree.

It was not until June 24, 1912, that an Executive Order established the proportions or design of our flag. Until then, flag makers used their own discretion as to how the flag should look, but in most cases, straight rows of stars and proportions similar to what we see today were generally used.

The first Flag Act that was passed on June 14, 1777, attempted to establish an official flag for our new nation. In fact, June 14 is the date we still celebrate as Flag Day. The Continental Congress passed this act which stated, "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."

As new states were added to this nation, provisions were made to add additional stars to represent each of those states. On April 4, 1818, an act of Congress, signed by President Monroe, stated that an additional star be added to the flag on the 4th of July following the admission of each new state.

An Executive Order by President Taft on June 24, 1912, established the proportions of the flag. At this time, there were 48 states in our nation. This act provided for arrangement of the stars in six horizontal rows of eight each, a single point of each star to be upward.

When Alaska was added as a state in 1959, an Executive Order by President Eisenhower provided for the arrangement of the stars in seven rows of seven stars each, staggered horizontally and vertically. Later in 1959, when Hawaii became the 50th state, another Executive Order by President Eisenhower provided for the arrangement of the stars in nine rows of stars staggered horizontally and eleven rows of stars staggered vertically.

One of the most treasured flags of this country is the one that inspired the "Star-Spangled Banner," written by Francis Scott Key. This flag has been in the Smithsonian Institution's collection since 1907. This flag is made primarily of wool. It is 30 feet by 34 feet and weighs 150 pounds.

Although few people observe them when they fly an American flag, there are very specific provisions for displaying our flag. These provisions state that the flag can only be flown from sunrise to sunset, unless it is illuminated when flown at night.

No other flag or pennant should be placed above an American flag. If other flags or pennants are displayed on the same level with an American flag, they should never be placed to the right of the American flag.

On occasions, people will make a mistake when hoisting a flag up a pole. They will mistakenly place the union, the blue square with the stars, pointed down. This is actually a distress signal.

There are specific provisions for flying the American flag on vehicles, in corridors and lobbies, in parades and ceremonies, on caskets, and when it can be flown at half-staff. There are restrictions as to how the flag can be used for advertising and how the flag can be incorporated into clothing.

If you have purchased a flag recently, most likely there was a little brochure in the container that provides detailed information about the proper display of the flag. When you purchase your next flag, I encourage you to keep this brochure and refer to it whenever necessary to make sure you show the proper respect when your display the American flag.

If you don't plan to purchase an American flag in the near future or do not have a copy of this brochure, please give me a call at 671-3276. I will be glad to make a copy of the one I keep in my files for reference and mail it to you. Or you can check out this page for flag rules and regulations.

E-mail address: Everett_Davis@ncsu.edu

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 2280
Lumberton, NC 28359-2280

Phone: 910-671-3276
Fax: 910-671-6278

Date Created 07/12/06