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I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America
and to the Republic for which is stands, one Nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
The Pledge of Allegiance is recited on the opening of Congressional sessions and many government meetings at local levels, and meetings held by many private organizations. The form of the pledge used today was largely devised by Francis Bellamy in 1892, and formally adopted by congress as the pledge in 1942. The official name of "The Pledge of Allegiance" was adopted in 1945. The most recent alteration of its wording came on Flag Day in 1954, when the words "under God" were added.
On June 14th we will celebrate Flag Day honoring the United States flag and the commemoration of the flag's adoption. The origin of the first American flag is unknown. There simply is no credible historic evidence that Betsy Ross (Elizabeth Claypoole) either made or had a hand in designing the American Flag before it made its debut in 1777. She did make flags in Philadelphia in the late 1770's, but the story of her creating the American flag is considered by some a myth. On June 14 , 1777, John Adams introduced a resolution before congress mandating a United States flag, stating "that the flag of the thirteen United States shall be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white on a blue field, representing a new constellation." Our current flag has 50 stars representing the 50 states of the United States of America and 13 stripes representing the 13 original colonies that declared independence from the Kingdom of Great Briton. It is thought that the colors, red, white, and blue, were derived from the mother country's flag, the Union Jack of England. The red color signifies hardiness and valor, the white purity and innocence, and the blue color signifying vigilance, perseverance and justice, The flag may be decorated with golden fringe surrounding the perimeter of the flag as long as it does not deface the flag proper. Ceremonial displays of the flag, as in parades or indoor posts, use the fringe to enhance the flag's appearance. Traditionally, the Army and Air Force use a fringed flag for parade, color guard and indoor display. The Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard use a fringeless flag for all occasions.
In 1885, Bernard Cigrand, living in Wisconsin and working as a grade school teacher, held the first recognized formal observance of Flag Day at his school, the Stony Hill School. He continued to press the issue for the need of an annual observance and respect of the flag. He once noted that he had given 2,188 speeches on patriotism and the flag. He is generally credited with being the "Father of Flag Day", with the Chicago Tribune noting that he "almost singlehandedly" established the holiday. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day and on August 3, 1949 National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress. It is not an official federal holiday, but some cities and states hold special celebrations such as parades and other events.
The term "Old Glory" was coined by Captain William Driver, a shipmaster in Salem, Massachusetts. in 1824, his mother and her circle of sewers presented him with a beautiful 24-star flag. When the banner opened in the ocean breeze for the first time, he exclaimed "Old Glory!" The flag went around the world twice and on one of the voyages aboard the brig Charles Doggett, Captain Driver rescued the survivors of the mutiny on the Bounty. In 1837 he retired to Nashville taking his treasured flag with him. In 1860, the Captain's wife and daughter took the flag apart, cut off the raveled and frayed seams, replaced the old stars and added new ones to make 34 total (the correct number for the date) and an anchor embroidered in the lower right corner of the canton(the upper left corner of the flag). The anchor was to commemorate his sea service. Most everyone in and around Nashville recognized Captain Driver's "Old Glory".
During the Civil War, and when Tennessee seceded from the Union, Rebels were determined to destroy his flag, but could never find the hated banner. On February 25, 1862, Union forces captured Nashville. The Captain was on hand to greet an Ohio Regiment when they became the first to enter the city. They followed the Captain home, where he began ripping at the seams of his bed cover. As the stitches holding the quilt-top to the batting unraveled, the onlookers peered inside and saw "Old Glory"! Captain Driver gently gathered up the flag and returned with the soldiers to the capitol. Although he was 60 years old, he climbed up the tower to hoist his beloved flag. In 1873, the Captain gave the flag to his daughter, Mrs. Mary Jane Roland, who in turn gave it to President Warren G. Harding in 1922. The President deposited it with the Smithsonian Institution, where it remains today. Captain Driver died in 1886 and his grave is located at the Old Nashville City Cemetery, and is one of the places authorized by an act of Congress where a Flag of the United States may be flown 24 hours a day.
The proper display of the American flag as outlined by the United States Flag code states:
- Never let the flag touch the ground
- Never wear the flag as a costume
- Never display the flag except from sunrise to sunset, unless it is lighted at night
- Never place the flag anywhere but at the peak of the staff, except when the flag is at half-mast
- Never wad the flag, but rather fold it properly
- Never raise the flag slowly, raise it briskly and lower it slowly and ceremoniously. It should not be flown in inclement weather.
- Never carry the flag flat or horizontally. It should always be carried aloft and free.
- Never display the flag with the union, the blue field with the stars, down. That position indicates extreme danger to life or property. It is a distress signal.
It was illegal until 1989 to burn the flag. It was then that the Supreme Court ruled that burning of the flag is a form of symbolic speech protected by the First Amendment. Proposed amendments to make flag desecration illegal have come up regularly in the house and senate, but have not had sufficient support. Worn out flags may be burned and its ashes buried. You can do this yourself or take it to a VFW or American Legion location for disposal.
In 1909 Robert Peary placed an American flag at the North Pole. In 1963, Barry Bishop place the American flag on top of Mount Everest. In July 1967, the American flag was "flown" in space when Neil Armstrong placed it on the moon. Flags were placed on the lunar surface on each of the six manned landings during the Apollo program. The first time the American flag was flown overseas on a foreign fort was in Libya over Fort Derne, on the shores of Tripoli in 1805.
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