the stars and stripes has a rich history
Brenda Kellow
August 25, 2013
Our nation has over 30 days during each year to fly our flag. The next one is Labor Day, Monday, September 2. Old Glory is steeped in tradition and symbology. Our ancestors fought and died to keep it flying high.
Citizens can fly the flag anytime, but government institutions must fly it every day. Each branch of the military has a different tradition for flag flying on flag days. With the exception of the Air Force that flies the traditional size flag, the other branches fly the larger garrison flag since 1834.
The stripes signify purity and innocence. Red stripes symbolize hardiness, valor, and bravery while blue signifies vigilance, perseverance and justice. The fifty stars symbolize the states in the Union.
On September 14, 1814, U.S. soldiers at Baltimore’s Fort McHenry raised a huge American flag to celebrate a crucial victory over British forces during the War of 1812. This inspired Francis Scott Key to write a song that became the national anthem.
The symbology of folding the flag is on the site, www.usflag.org/foldflag.html. The flag should never touch the ground. It then is carefully folded into the shape of a tri-cornered hat, emblematic of the hats worn by colonial soldiers during the war for Independence.
Each fold represents the religious principles on which our country was founded, and symbolizes honor and our military. After the flag is lowered, a military person stands watch over it during the night as a tribute to our nation’s honored dead. At dawn, reveille is sounded and the flag is once again raised.
Every fold in the flag depicts a symbol. I took the folding stages below taken from the website www.usflag.org/foldflag.html:
“The first fold of our flag is a symbol of life.
The second fold is a symbol of our belief in the eternal life.
The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veteran departing our ranks who gave a portion of life for the defense of our country to attain a peace throughout the world.
The fourth fold represents our weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in times of war for His divine guidance.
The fifth fold is a tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, "Our country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong."
The sixth fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that we 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.
The seventh fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country and our flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.
The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered in to the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and to honor mother, for whom it flies on mother's day.
The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood; for it has been through their faith, love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great have been molded.
The tenth fold is a tribute to father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since they were first born.
The eleventh fold, in the eyes of a Hebrew citizen, represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon, and glorifies, in their eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
The twelfth fold, in the eyes of a Christian citizen, represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in their eyes, God the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost.
When the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, "In God we Trust."
Brenda Kellow has a bachelor's degree in history, teaches, and lectures on genealogy. Before retiring to publish her family’s histories in 2007, Brenda held certification as a Certified Genealogist and as a Certified Genealogical Instructor. Send reunion announcements, books to review, and genealogy queries to: [email protected].
Citizens can fly the flag anytime, but government institutions must fly it every day. Each branch of the military has a different tradition for flag flying on flag days. With the exception of the Air Force that flies the traditional size flag, the other branches fly the larger garrison flag since 1834.
The stripes signify purity and innocence. Red stripes symbolize hardiness, valor, and bravery while blue signifies vigilance, perseverance and justice. The fifty stars symbolize the states in the Union.
On September 14, 1814, U.S. soldiers at Baltimore’s Fort McHenry raised a huge American flag to celebrate a crucial victory over British forces during the War of 1812. This inspired Francis Scott Key to write a song that became the national anthem.
The symbology of folding the flag is on the site, www.usflag.org/foldflag.html. The flag should never touch the ground. It then is carefully folded into the shape of a tri-cornered hat, emblematic of the hats worn by colonial soldiers during the war for Independence.
Each fold represents the religious principles on which our country was founded, and symbolizes honor and our military. After the flag is lowered, a military person stands watch over it during the night as a tribute to our nation’s honored dead. At dawn, reveille is sounded and the flag is once again raised.
Every fold in the flag depicts a symbol. I took the folding stages below taken from the website www.usflag.org/foldflag.html:
“The first fold of our flag is a symbol of life.
The second fold is a symbol of our belief in the eternal life.
The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veteran departing our ranks who gave a portion of life for the defense of our country to attain a peace throughout the world.
The fourth fold represents our weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in times of war for His divine guidance.
The fifth fold is a tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, "Our country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong."
The sixth fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that we 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.
The seventh fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country and our flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.
The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered in to the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and to honor mother, for whom it flies on mother's day.
The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood; for it has been through their faith, love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great have been molded.
The tenth fold is a tribute to father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since they were first born.
The eleventh fold, in the eyes of a Hebrew citizen, represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon, and glorifies, in their eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
The twelfth fold, in the eyes of a Christian citizen, represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in their eyes, God the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost.
When the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, "In God we Trust."
Brenda Kellow has a bachelor's degree in history, teaches, and lectures on genealogy. Before retiring to publish her family’s histories in 2007, Brenda held certification as a Certified Genealogist and as a Certified Genealogical Instructor. Send reunion announcements, books to review, and genealogy queries to: [email protected].