The Betsy Ross flag is one of the most well-known symbols of early American history, but its origins are somewhat debated. According to popular legend, Philadelphia seamstress Betsy Ross (1752–1836) sewed the first American flag in June 1776 after being asked by George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross (a relative of her late husband). The story claims that Ross suggested using five-pointed stars instead of six-pointed ones because they were easier to cut.

Historical Evidence & Debate

• The Betsy Ross story was first publicly introduced in 1870 by her grandson, William Canby, in a speech to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. However, no contemporary records or documents confirm the event.
• The Continental Congress officially passed the Flag Resolution on June 14, 1777, stating:
  “Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”
  However, it did not specify the arrangement of the stars.
• Surviving early flags show multiple star patterns, including circular, rows, and staggered designs.

Alternative Theories

• Francis Hopkinson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, is also credited with designing the first official U.S. flag. He submitted a bill to Congress in 1780 requesting payment for designing the flag, but his claim was rejected.
• Some historians believe multiple flag makers contributed to early U.S. flag designs.
• Despite the lack of definitive proof, the Betsy Ross flag remains an iconic piece of American history and is widely associated with the Revolutionary War and the birth of the nation.

The Star-Spangled Banner Flag is one of the most iconic flags in American history. It is the actual flag that flew over Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812 and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the U.S. national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner.

1. Description of the Star-Spangled Banner Flag

• Size: Originally 30 feet by 42 feet, but now measures 30 feet by 34 feet (some pieces were cut and given as souvenirs over time).
• Material: Made of wool bunting with cotton stars.
• Stars: 15 stars (each about two feet in diameter), arranged in five rows of three stars each.
• Stripes: 15 red and white stripes, representing the 15 states at the time.
• Maker: Sewn by Mary Pickersgill, a Baltimore flagmaker, along with her daughter, nieces, and an African American apprentice named Grace Wisher.

2. Historical Background

• Commissioned in 1813 by Major George Armistead, the commander of Fort McHenry, who wanted a huge flag that could be seen by British forces from a distance.
• The flag was hoisted over Fort McHenry on September 13–14, 1814, during the British attack on Baltimore.
• Francis Scott Key, a lawyer and amateur poet, was aboard a British ship negotiating a prisoner release. As the battle raged through the night, he saw the flag still flying at dawn, inspiring him to write The Star-Spangled Banner.

3. What Happened to the Flag After the War?

• George Armistead kept the flag after the battle as a family heirloom.
• Over the years, the Armistead family cut pieces from the flag to give as souvenirs and mementos.
• By the late 1800s, about 8 feet of the flag’s length was missing, including one star.

4. Where Is the Star-Spangled Banner Flag Today?

• The flag is preserved and displayed at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C..
• It underwent a major restoration project in the late 1990s to ensure its preservation.

5. Legacy of the Star-Spangled Banner Flag

• Inspired the U.S. national anthem (The Star-Spangled Banner), which was officially recognized in 1931.
• The 15-star, 15-stripe flag design was the only time the U.S. flag had more than 13 stripes (it reverted to 13 stripes in 1818 to represent the original colonies).
• The flag remains a national treasure and a symbol of American resilience and patriotism.

The keeping of the Star-Spangled Banner: A story of emblematic resilience

Flags on Abraham Lincoln’s Funeral Train (1865)

After President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination on April 14, 1865, a grand funeral procession was planned, culminating in a funeral train journey that transported his body from Washington, D.C., to Springfield, Illinois. Flags played a major role in this historic event.

1. Flags Draped Over Lincoln’s Casket

• A large 36-star U.S. flag was draped over Lincoln’s coffin throughout the journey.
• The flag symbolized unity—a powerful message just after the Civil War ended.
• Some reports suggest that pieces of this flag were later cut and given as souvenirs.

2. Flags on the Funeral Train

• The train, called The Lincoln Special, was heavily decorated with black mourning drapery and U.S. flags.
• Large American flags were displayed on the front of the locomotive and along the passenger cars.
• At each stop, the train was adorned with additional flags, often provided by local officials.
• Lincoln’s son, Willie Lincoln, who had died in 1862, was also transported on this train in a smaller casket, and his casket was similarly draped with a flag.

3. Flags at Funeral Stops & Cities

As Lincoln’s funeral train passed through 180 cities and towns across 13 states, citizens lined the tracks waving American flags in mourning.

• New York City: A massive flag was suspended across Broadway during the viewing at City Hall.
• Philadelphia: Flags were lowered to half-staff throughout the city.
• Chicago: A 36-star flag covered the casket while it was displayed at the courthouse.
• Springfield, Illinois: When Lincoln’s body arrived home, huge U.S. flags lined the streets, and one of the largest flags ever seen at the time was hung over the entrance to Oak Ridge Cemetery.

4. Aboard the Funeral Train

• The funeral train had nine cars, with Lincoln’s casket placed in a specially modified car.
• Inside the train, U.S. flags were displayed around the casket and in the mourning car.
• Mourning bunting, along with black crepe and flags, adorned the train inside and out.

5. The Flag that Covered Lincoln’s Casket – Where Is It Now?

• The exact fate of the original casket flag is debated.
• Some historians believe the flag was preserved in a museum collection.
• Others claim pieces of it were cut and distributed as relics during the procession.

Historical Significance of the Funeral Train Flags

• Lincoln’s funeral train flags became symbols of national unity and mourning at the end of the Civil War.
• It was one of the largest public displays of the American flag in history at that time.
• Surviving relics of the flags from the train are rare but are sometimes displayed in museums.

Background of the Battle of Iwo Jima

• The Battle of Iwo Jima was a critical battle fought between the United States Marine Corps and the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.
• It took place between February 19 and March 26, 1945, as part of the Pacific campaign.
• The goal was to capture the strategic island of Iwo Jima, which had airfields used by Japanese forces to launch attacks on U.S. bombers.

The Iconic Flag Raising

On February 23, 1945, after four days of intense fighting, U.S. Marines raised the American flag on Mount Suribachi, the highest point on Iwo Jima.

✅ Two Flag Raisings
There were actually two flag raisings that day:

1. First Flag Raising

   • A small U.S. flag (54” x 28”) was raised by five Marines and a Navy corpsman.
   • It was taken from the transport ship USS Missoula (APA-211).
   • This flag was too small to be seen by all troops below, so a larger flag was ordered.

2. Second Flag Raising (The Famous Photo)

   • A larger flag (96” x 56”) was raised in place of the first one.
   • This second flag raising was captured by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal in a now-iconic image.
   • The photo won the Pulitzer Prize and became one of the most famous war photographs in history.

The Official United States Bicentennial Flag was created to commemorate the 200th anniversary of American independence in 1976. It was widely used in celebrations across the country during the Bicentennial year.

1. Design of the U.S. Bicentennial Flag (1976)

• The flag features the official Bicentennial emblem, which was designed by the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration (ARBA).
• The emblem consists of:
  • A white five-pointed star inside a red, white, and blue interlocking circle.
  • The inscription “1776-1976” appears inside the design.
• The background of the flag is typically white, though variations exist with a blue background.
• The flag was not an official replacement for the U.S. national flag but was used alongside the Stars and Stripes in Bicentennial celebrations.

2. Purpose and Significance

• The Bicentennial Flag was officially adopted as part of the national Bicentennial celebration.
• It was used to mark official events, ceremonies, and parades throughout the U.S.
• Cities, schools, and public buildings flew the flag alongside the U.S. national flag to commemorate 200 years of American independence.

3. The Bicentennial Celebrations

• The United States Bicentennial was a major year-long celebration held throughout 1976.
• Key events included:
  • Tall Ships Parade: A historic fleet of ships sailed into New York Harbor on July 4, 1976.
  • Reenactments of Revolutionary War battles and colonial life.
  • Fireworks displays and patriotic concerts nationwide.
  • President Gerald Ford presided over the official Bicentennial events in Washington, D.C..
• The Bicentennial Flag was flown at these major events.

4. Variations of the Bicentennial Flag

• Some versions of the flag had different backgrounds (white or blue).
• Certain variations included state or local Bicentennial logos in addition to the national emblem.
• Some flags displayed additional text, such as “American Revolution Bicentennial”.

5. Where is the Bicentennial Flag Today?

• Original Bicentennial Flags are now collectible items and are found in museums, historical societies, and private collections.
• The Smithsonian Institution and various state archives house official Bicentennial memorabilia, including flags.
• Reproductions of the Bicentennial Flag are still available for collectors and history enthusiasts.

6. Legacy of the Bicentennial Flag

• The Bicentennial Flag helped unify the country in a major patriotic celebration, similar to the Centennial (1876) and later the Semiquincentennial (250th anniversary in 2026).
• The Bicentennial emblem remains a recognizable symbol of American heritage.
• Many cities and towns still display Bicentennial plaques, flags, and monuments that were installed during the 1976 celebrations.

The 9/11 United States Flag, also known as the Ground Zero Flag or World Trade Center Flag, is one of the most iconic American flags in modern history. It became a powerful symbol of resilience, patriotism, and unity in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

1. The Iconic 9/11 Flag Raising at Ground Zero

• The flag was originally flown on the yacht “Star of America”, owned by Shirley Dreifus and her husband in the Hudson River Marina.
• On September 11, 2001, after the collapse of the Twin Towers, three New York City firefighters—George Johnson, Dan McWilliams, and Billy Eisengrein—removed the flag from the yacht.
• The firefighters raised the flag on a makeshift pole at Ground Zero, creating a scene captured by photographer Thomas E. Franklin of The Record (Bergen County, NJ).
• The photograph became one of the most famous images of 9/11, symbolizing hope, courage, and America’s spirit in the face of tragedy.

2. The Mysterious Disappearance of the Flag

• After the flag-raising, the original flag vanished under unknown circumstances.
• The flag believed to be the Ground Zero Flag was later displayed at events, including aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Middle East.
• However, when officials compared the Roosevelt flag with the one in Franklin’s photograph, they realized it was a different flag.
• For years, the whereabouts of the original flag were unknown, leading to speculation and mystery.

3. The Unexpected Return of the Flag (2016)

• In 2016, a man named Brian, a former Marine, walked into an Everett, Washington, fire station and returned a flag he claimed was the original 9/11 flag.
• Experts at the FBI and Smithsonian Institution analyzed the fabric, stitching, and historical records, confirming it was indeed the missing Ground Zero Flag.
• The flag was subsequently donated to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

4. Where is the 9/11 Flag Today?

• The original Ground Zero Flag is now permanently displayed at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City.
• It serves as a tribute to the victims, first responders, and survivors of the 9/11 attacks.

5. Other 9/11 Flags

• Flag flown over the Pentagon:
  • Another significant flag was raised over the Pentagon after the attack there.
  • This flag was later flown aboard military aircraft in combat zones before being retired to the National Museum of American History.
• Remembrance flags:
  • Various U.S. flags were flown over Ground Zero in the months following the attacks.
  • Special 9/11 remembrance flags were designed featuring the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and Flight 93.

6. Legacy of the 9/11 Flag

• The Ground Zero flag became a symbol of national unity and resilience after one of the darkest days in American history.
• It was compared to other iconic flag moments, such as the Iwo Jima flag raising in World War II.
• The image of the flag-raising was widely used in tributes, stamps, and memorials to honor the heroes and victims of September 11.

​The United States Semiquincentennial, marking the 250th anniversary of the nation’s independence, will be commemorated on July 4, 2026. The official organization overseeing these celebrations is America250, established by the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission. ​america250.org

In preparation for this milestone, America250 unveiled a new logo symbolizing the nation’s journey over the past 250 years. This emblem features flowing red, white, and blue ribbons forming the number “250” in a continuous path, representing unity, cooperation, and harmony. This design was created in collaboration with Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv, the firm behind the Bicentennial logo. ​america250.org

The AMERICA 250 word mark and logo are trademarks owned by the United States Semiquincentennial Commission and any use of such marks by Annin Flagmakers is under license.​

For the most current updates and detailed information, you can visit the official America250 website:

Sources

The tallest flagpoles in the United States include:

1. Acuity Insurance Flagpole (Sheboygan, Wisconsin) – 400 feet

   • The tallest flagpole in the U.S. and one of the tallest in the world.
   • Flies a 7,200-square-foot American flag (120 feet by 60 feet).
   • The flag weighs about 340 pounds.

2. American Flag at the Fannin County Courthouse (Blue Ridge, Georgia) – 300 feet

   • Erected in 2022, this flagpole is one of the tallest in the country.
   • The American flag flown here is massive and serves as a landmark.

3. Dixie Stampede Flagpole (Branson, Missouri) – 200 feet

   • Located at Dolly Parton’s Stampede dinner attraction.
   • Features a prominent U.S. flag.

4. North Carolina’s Tallest Flagpole (Kings Mountain, North Carolina) – 225 feet

   • Located at the intersection of I-85 and Highway 161.
   • Flies a massive American flag as a tribute to veterans.

5. Gaffney, South Carolina Flagpole – 250 feet

   • A landmark in the area, flying a large American flag.

The largest United States flags are flown at various locations across the country, with some of the biggest being massive in both size and weight. Here are some of the largest U.S. flags:

1. Superflag (Los Angeles, California)

• Size: 505 feet by 225 feet (113,625 square feet)
• Weight: ~3,000 pounds
• This is the largest American flag ever made. It has been displayed at events like the Super Bowl and at Hoover Dam.

2. Acuity Insurance Flag (Sheboygan, Wisconsin)

• Size: 120 feet by 60 feet (7,200 square feet)
• Weight: ~340 pounds
• Flagpole Height: 400 feet (tallest flagpole in the U.S.)
• This flag is flown on the tallest free-flying flagpole in the country.

3. George Washington Bridge Flag (New York-New Jersey)

• Size: 90 feet by 60 feet (5,400 square feet)
• Weight: ~450 pounds
• The flag is displayed inside the bridge’s steel arch on special occasions like the Fourth of July and Veterans Day.

4. Gastonia, North Carolina (Carolina Flags & Flagpoles)

• Size: 114 feet by 65 feet (7,410 square feet)
• Flagpole Height: 225 feet
• This flag is among the largest flown regularly in the U.S.

5. Gaffney, South Carolina

• Size: 130 feet by 70 feet (9,100 square feet)
• Flagpole Height: 250 feet
• One of the biggest flags regularly flown in the Southeast.

6. Fayetteville, North Carolina (Flying at U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum)

• Size: 100 feet by 50 feet (5,000 square feet)
• This massive flag honors U.S. military personnel.

This is the most famous poem about the American flag, written during the Battle of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812. It later became the U.S. national anthem.

Oh, say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

“On the shore dimly seen, through the mist of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes
What is it that which the breeze o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half concealed, half discloses,
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam;
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream;
Tis the Star Spangled Banner, O! long may it wave,
O’er the land of the free and Home of the brave.”

– Francis Scott Key (1779-1843)

From the Library of Congress Archives.

Your flag and my flag,
—And how it flies today
In your land and my land
—And half a world away!
Rose-red and blood-red
—The stripes forever gleam;
Snow-white and soul-white
—The good forefathers’ dream;
Sky-blue and true blue, with stars to gleam aright—
The gloried guidon of the day; a shelter through the night.

Your flag and my flag!
—To every star and stripe
The drums beat as hearts beat
—And fifers shrilly pipe!
Your flag and my flag—
—A blessing in the sky;
Your hope and my hope—
—It never hid a lie!
Home land and far land and half the world around,
Old Glory hears our glad salute and ripples to the sound!

Your flag and my flag!
—And, oh, how much it holds—
Your land and my land—
—Secure within its folds!
Your heart and my heart
—Beat quicker at the sight;
Sun-kissed and wind-tossed—
—Red and blue and white.
The one flag—the great flag—the flag for me and you—
Glorified all else beside—the red and white and blue!

The Flag Goes By

The “American Creed” is a patriotic statement of belief in the values and principles of the United States. It was written in 1917 by William Tyler Page, a government official and U.S. patriot.

1. What is the American Creed?

The American Creed is a declaration of loyalty to the United States, emphasizing democracy, freedom, and individual rights. It reads:

“I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect Union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.”

“I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it; to support its Constitution; to obey its laws; to respect its flag; and to defend it against all enemies.”

2. Who Wrote the American Creed?

• Author: William Tyler Page (1868–1942), a clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives.
• Year Written: 1917 during World War I.
• Page submitted this creed for a nationwide contest sponsored by the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
• The creed was selected as the winning entry out of 3,000 submissions and was officially adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives on April 3, 1918.

3. Meaning and Significance

• The American Creed is not an official law, but it is considered one of the most important expressions of American values.
• It reflects key ideals from the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.
• It emphasizes democracy, patriotism, and civic responsibility.
• It is often recited at patriotic events, schools, and citizenship ceremonies.

4. Legacy of the American Creed

• It has been used in schools and civic organizations as a pledge of patriotism.
• In 1942, Page was named the first-ever Clerk Emeritus of the House of Representatives for his public service.
• Though not as widely recognized today as the Pledge of Allegiance, the American Creed remains a powerful statement of U.S. ideals.

5. How Does It Relate to the U.S. Flag?

• The American Creed mentions respect for the flag, reinforcing its symbolic role as a representation of American democracy and unity.
• Many civic organizations use it alongside the Pledge of Allegiance to instill patriotism.

I walked through a county courthouse square,
On a park bench an old man was sitting there.
I said, “Your old courthouse is kinda run down.”
He said, “Naw, it’ll do for our little town.”
I said, “Your flagpole has leaned a little bit,
And that’s a Ragged Old Flag you got hanging on it.

He said, “Have a seat”, and I sat down.
“Is this the first time you’ve been to our little town?”
I said, “I think it is.” He said, “I don’t like to brag,
But we’re kinda proud of that Ragged Old Flag.”

“You see, we got a little hole in that flag there
When Washington took it across the Delaware.
And it got powder-burned the night Francis Scott Key
Sat watching it writing “Oh Say Can You See…”
And it got a bad rip in New Orleans
With Packingham and Jackson tuggin’ at its seams.”

“And it almost fell at the Alamo
Beside the Texas flag, but she waved on through.
She got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville
And she got cut again at Shiloh Hill.
There was Robert E. Lee, Beauregard, and Bragg,
And the south wind blew hard on that Ragged Old Flag.”

“On Flanders Field in World War I
She got a big hole from a Bertha gun.
She turned blood red in World War II
She hung limp and low by the time it was through.
She was in Korea and Vietnam.
She went where she was sent by her Uncle Sam.”

“She waved from our ships upon the briny foam,
And now they’ve about quit waving her back here at home.
In her own good land she’s been abused —
She’s been burned, dishonored, denied and refused.”

“And the government for which she stands
Is scandalized throughout the land.
And she’s getting threadbare and wearing thin,
But she’s in good shape for the shape she’s in.
‘Cause she’s been through the fire before
And I believe she can take a whole lot more.”

“So we raise her up every morning,
Take her down every night.
We don’t let her touch the ground
And we fold her up right.

On second thought I DO like to brag,
‘Cause I’m mighty proud of that Ragged Old Flag.”

“A moth-eaten rag on a worm-eaten pole,
It doesn’t look likely to stir a man’s soul;
‘Tis the deeds that were done ‘neath the moth-eaten rag,
when that pole was a staff and the rag was a flag.”

– British General Sir Edward Bruce Hamley (1824-1893)

Kate Smith (1907–1986) was an American singer best known for her powerful, heartfelt performances of patriotic songs, particularly God Bless America. Her deep, resonant voice and sincere delivery made her an iconic figure in American music, especially during times of national crisis.

Smith rose to fame in the 1930s as a radio and recording artist, but it was her 1938 introduction of Irving Berlin’s God Bless America that cemented her legacy as the “First Lady of Radio” and a symbol of American patriotism. Her rendition quickly became a second national anthem, inspiring citizens during World War II and beyond.

Throughout her career, Smith used her voice to uplift the nation, performing for troops, promoting war bonds, and bringing comfort through song. Her unwavering patriotism earned her numerous honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1982. Her legacy lives on as a reminder of music’s power to unite and inspire a country.