The flag is the symbol of our nation.
Having your school hit by lightning would seem to be a very bad thing. But at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in Milwaukee, a lightning strike last month was a blessing in disguise. When workers were repairing the damage to the school's attic, they found something very special: a U.S. flag from more than 100 years ago.
The Fourth of July is a great time to fly the flag at home.
How did school staff figure out the flag's age? They counted its stars. Our country's flag features one star for each state. The flag found in the attic has only 45 stars. The 45th state to join the United States was Utah, in 1896. There weren't any more new states—or new stars on the U.S. flag—until Oklahoma joined the Union in 1907.
The flag discovered at the school has been damaged by the passing of time. It is worn and ripped in places. School officials hope to restore the flag and display it. "I want to see it get hung up. Right there when you walk in the door," sixth-grade student William Jackson told a reporter from Milwaukee TV station WISN.
Patriotic HolidaySchools and government buildings display the U.S. flag all year, but now is an especially good time to learn about the flag. Independence Day, July 4, is just around the corner! It's the birthday of the United States. On July 4, 1776, the country's founders issued the Declaration of Independence. That document declared the 13 American colonies to be united as one country, no longer ruled by England. Today, we celebrate the day by having picnics, watching fireworks, and displaying the flag.
Betsy Ross sewed an American flag similar to this one.
The flag stands for the national government that the founders created and described in the U.S. Constitution. The flag stands for our rights, as spelled out in the Bill of Rights. And the flag stands for the personal freedoms set forth in the Declaration of Independence.
Red, White, and BlueIn 1776, the new United States had no official flag. People created various flags for it, often using the same red, white, and blue colors of the British flag (called the Union Jack.) On June 14, 1777, 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."
That flag of 13 stars grew as the country grew, with a new star being added each time a new state joined the Union. The newest stars were added in 1959, with the additions of Alaska and Hawaii. Today, the U.S. flag boasts 50 stars for 50 states.
The red, white, and blue of the U.S. flag were probably taken from the colors of the British Union Jack.
- Legend has it that the first U.S. flag was created by Philadelphia seamstress Betsy Ross. In it, the 13 stars representing the original 13 states were arranged in a circle.
- The U.S. flag is the subject of our national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner." Francis Scott Key wrote a poem about seeing the flag flying at Fort McHenry, in Baltimore, during the War of 1812. That poem was later set to music and became our national anthem.
- The actual flag that Key wrote about is now displayed at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
- Nicknames for the U.S. flag include "The Stars and Stripes," "The Star-Spangled Banner," and "Old Glory."
- The flag must never touch the ground.
- If the flag is flown at night, it must be illuminated.
- The flag must never be worn as clothing.
- The flag must never be written or drawn on, nor decorated in any way.
- If a flag becomes too worn out, soiled, or damaged to clean or repair, it must be disposed of respectfully, preferably by burning.
- The U.S. flag must never fly beneath or lower than the flag of another nation.
Suppose you had the chance to redesign the U.S. flag. What would it look like, and why?
union—the United States
founders—Often called the Founding Fathers, they are the leaders who signed the Declaration of Independence, fought in the Revolution, and/or wrote the U.S. Constitution. Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and George Washington are among the many people considered to be the country's founders.
declaration—announcement, statement
independence—freedom
seamstress—a woman who sews for a living
anthem—a song that expresses loyalty or praise
illuminated—lit; made visible or bright with light
- This Day in History 1777: Congress Adopts the Stars and Stripes
- The National Flag Day Foundation
- Smithsonian/The National Museum of American History "The Star-Spangled Banner: The Flag That Inspired the National Anthem"
- United States Flag Code
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