The FLAG

While at our grandsons basketball game recently, we all stood before the start of the game for the playing of the National Anthem. As I listened and looked at the flag…I got to thinking about the features of the flag…and how many times we all have looked at that flag over our lifetimes…and I wondered if we were all asked to describe those features without looking…how many of us would get them right. 

After all, it’s an icon that we see probably every day, but don’t always notice it. It was in our classrooms in every grade level of school…it likely flies in front of your workplace…many homes and businesses fly it out front…we stand for it at the beginning of every sporting event…but can you describe every part of the flag? Besides knowing it is “Red White and Blue”…with white stars…can you be more specific? 

For example, how many red and white stripes are there? Are they equal in number or are there more red stripes or white ones? Is the top stripe red…or white? And the bottom stripe? How many stars are on the flag…and how are they organized? Are there 5 rows of ten stars? Are there 7 rows of 7 stars with an extra star in the middle row? 

Got your answers? 

There are 13 stripes on the flag to represent the thirteen original colonies that became the first states of the United States of America. There are 7 red stripes and 6 white stripes, with the top and bottom stripes red. The blue rectangle is referred to as the union with 50 stars arranged in nine rows, with 5 rows of 6 stars (at the top and bottom) alternating with 4 rows of 5 stars. The 50 stars represent the 50 states of the United States. 

The current flag was adopted in 1960 and is the longest-used version of the U.S. flag, in use for over 60 years. There have been several stories of what the colors represent. Charles Thompson, the Secretary of the Continental Congress, gave symbolic meanings for the colors, with white signifying purity and innocence; red, hardiness and valor; and blue signifying vigilance, perseverance and justice. Other interpretations have included that red is for the blood of patriots, spilled in the fight to protect the country. 

My wife’s dad was as proud of that flag as any man I’ve known in my lifetime. For one of his birthdays shortly after we were married, Cindy’s brother and his wife, and Cindy & I bought him a flag and a 15 foot flagpole. We dug the hole poured in concrete and set it. Every day, he raised that flag in the morning…let it fly all day...and at dusk would lower it and take it into the house for the night. He proudly did this every day he was at the house until he became so ill that he could no longer get outside to do it. A veteran of WWII, he fought for that flag and was proud to wave it. 

Next time you’re looking at that flag, take time to notice the features and honor the men and women who have served it.

REMEMBER:

Be the reason someone believes in good people.

Be talkin' to ya.

Dan