These colors do not run

The American Flag consists of thirteen horizontal stripes, seven red alternating with six white. While the stripes represent the original 13 colonies and the 50 stars in the blue box represent the states of the Union, the colors of the flag are symbolic as well.

Red symbolizes Hardiness and Valor,

White symbolizes Purity and Innocence and

Blue represents Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice.

Some interesting highlights of the history of the flag:

• In May of 1776, Betsy Ross reported that she sewed the first American flag.
• On June 14, 1777, in order to establish an official flag for the new nation, 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."
• Act of January 13, 1794 - provided for 15 stripes and 15 stars after May 1795.
  
• Act of April 4, 1818 - provided for 13 stripes and one star for each state, to be added to the flag on the 4th of July following the admission of each new state, signed by President Monroe.
  
• Executive Order of President Taft dated June 24, 1912 - established proportions of the flag and provided for arrangement of the stars in six horizontal rows of eight each, a single point of each star to be upward.

Source: www.usa-flag-site.org/history.shtml

Posted by Jeff Rae on Nov 29, 2011 at 5:25 AM