The American flag has been around for over two hundred years. The original flag to be used by Washington was on New year’s Day, 1776 when he ordered the Grand Union flag to be hoisted above his place on Prospect Hill during the siege over the British Army in Boston. It had thirteen alternating red and white stripes with the British Union Jack in the upper left hand corner. This was the start of many US flags to behoisted as the American Flag. Soon after thatt in May, Betsy Ross decided to sew the first American flag of many American flags to come.

The new nation wanted a different flag to be flown other than the British oneWashington had flown so they created a different design. The new flag had thirteen alternating red and white stripes with thirteen white stars on a blue background in the corner. The stars represented a new constellation. The amount of stars changed from that period in 1777 all the way up to 1960 when a new star was added for each new state. The way the different stars were formed as it continued to change was a bit different, obviously each time. The colors in the United States Flag have always been red, white and blue. Red symbolizes Hardiness and Valor. The white stripes and stars symbolizes Purity and Innocence and the blue background symbolizes Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice.

Presently our flag has thirteen stripes representing the original thirteen colonies with seven red stripes and six white. It has fifty stars each representing a state on the blue background in the upper left hand corner.

The flag of the United States can be seen in almost every person’s home or belongings in America. Many people hoist a traditional sized flag outside their house or apartments while even more probably own a smaller version of one placed on a stick. Several of these smaller flags are used at parades and various holidays in our nation. Such holidays where US flags are flown or used are on Memorial Day, Veterans Day, 4th of July, Labor Day and Flag Day. The most popular holiday wherepictures of the American flag is seen is on the 4th of July. The flag is onso many different items you can think of. Many people wear it on their clothing like sweaters, shirts, hats and even swim suits. Home accessories even sport the flag on them like chairs, flower pots, frames, towels and blankets. Most Americans wear something with a flag or just the red, white and blue colors on these holidays, particularly on Independence Day.

Many people that have celebrations onthe 4th of July or participate in a parade shop for their red, white and blue and flag motif supplies. You can find all of it and more that represents the American flag at specialty stores or internet websites. Many Americans their country and like showing that pride by having an American flag and other items that remind them of the great country they live in.