MANY VOICES, ONE FLAG

Since the establishment of the thirteen colonies flags have been designed and redesigned to represent our independence from foreign powers, our independent ideals and our national identity as a whole. The current official U.S. flag is a 50 star flag, conceived by the need for a more practical design to accommodate new states entering the union. On April 4th, 1818, Congress established the number of stripes at seven red and six white, and provided the addition of one star for each new state. The thirteen stripes represent the original 13 colonies. The 50 star flag has been in use since July 4, 1960 when Hawaii officially joined the union.
During the Revolutionary War, the states fought under many flags. One of these flags, called the Grand Union, was flown on flagpoles over George Washington’s headquarters near Boston. It was the first American flag to be officially recognized by another country.

No one knows for sure who designed the first Stars and Stripes, or who made that first flag. Soon after the flag’s adoption by our new government, Congressman Francis Hopkinson claimed that he had designed it. It is also widely spread and commonly believed that Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia seamstress, made the first U.S. flag.

On June 14, 1777, to establish an official flag of the new nation, the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act: “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. (making it significantly easier to sew on a new star and run it right back up the flagpole.)
Whoever it was that designed it, a flag with thirteen stars and thirteen stripes received its first salute from another country on February 14, 1778, when French vessels in Quiberon Bay, France, saluted John Paul Jones and his ship, “The Ranger.”

When my dad died, the flag that covered his casket was folded and presented by the local VA to my mother. I wasn’t alive when my father retired from the military and military living was never part of my life. So, the military formality, with its perfect angles and precision movements was very inspiring. I was proud to be the son of a man who took his citizenship in the United States so seriously.
More than 40 million American men and women have defended the cause of freedom in the uniform of our Military Services. The flag that covers their casket upon death is a final tribute to the men and women who have secured the blessings of liberty. Though the privilege and tribute is not reserved exclusively for veterans, it is a special tribute the family of every veteran should be aware of and take advantage of.
The custom flag we owned was important in my house. The flagpole was a necessary fixture at every house we ever lived in. The flag was flown consistently and treated respectfully. It is a symbol of a country committed to the cause of extending liberty to all people, and it is a great honor to be numbered among that countries patriots in death.

She does not have a driver’s license or even a passport, but she travels without hindrance.  She does not vote or have the right to express her political views publicly, but the political head of her government visits every Tuesday to personally consult with her, receive her personal encouragement and—when she feels it is necessary—be warned.  The President of the United States as leader of the free world has only one flag to represent his office.  She has more than a dozen flags and has flown many more flags during her lifetime.  She is Queen Elizabeth II, by the grace of God Queen of the United Kingdom and her other realms.  On February 6^th she celebrates 60 years as Queen.

Her first personal flag was as The Princess Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of King George VI.  It is the Royal Standard with the addition of a special emblem called a label.  It shows two Saint George Crosses and a Tudor Rose in the middle.  Had she been born a boy, that boy’s label would have been a plain white one and he would likely have been known as the Prince of Wales, as is Prince Charles today.  Nevertheless, when her father died on the 6^th of February in 1952, she became Queen.  Along with her father’s kingdom she inherited the Royal Standard which has been her main flag now for sixty years.  There is also a Royal Standard made specifically to be displayed in Scotland.  It gives precedence to the Scottish Lion over the three English lions.  Elizabeth is also the Queen of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and more than a dozen other nations.  Many have a Royal Standard for Her Majesty to use when she visits.  In countries where no Royal Standard has been adopted, Queen Elizabeth uses a simple blue flag with a crowned initial “E” encircled by a garland of golden roses.

In addition to being Queen, she bears a couple of masculine titles.  She is the Duke of Lancaster and the Lord of the Isle of Man.  There is a flag for each.

Still, Elizabeth II does not overdo her display of flags.  She flies only one at a time to indicate her presence.  The flag she flies depends on her location.  If she visits in England or Scotland, she flies that Royal Standard.  In her overseas Dominions she flies the appropriate Royal Standard for that nation if one exists.  If there is not an appropriate Royal Standard, she displays her personal flag with her crowned initial letter “E” encircled by golden roses.   Perhaps even then she felt she had one flag too many.  The title and flag of the Lord High Admiral became vested in the Sovereign in 1964.  For his ninetieth birthday in 2011 she gave that title to her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, and with the title came the flag.

Elizabeth II has served her peoples in the United Kingdom and around the world with incredible energy and unswerving dedication.  Colonial Flag Company and the British Pantry salute Queen Elizabeth and her flags.  Long may they wave!