On the eleventh day of September in 2001, we watched television screens in disbelief as two planes crashed into New York’s World Trade Center.  We stared in horror at images of the towers collapsing and killing thousands.  Trying to make sense of the senseless, we watched while three New York City fire fighters raised the Stars and Stripes over the ruble.  That simple act comforted.  The flag reminded us that those killed in the attacks had each became a part of America’s history of sacrifice.  It reminded us that we all are part of something greater than self.  We reached out to one another and found unity in our resolve.

In the days and weeks following the attacks, we found unity and a nation.  We remembered the values that unite us as a people.

On the first anniversary of the attacks, the United States flag served again as a focal point to comfort us and remind us.  Sandy, Utah became the setting for a new memorial.  Paul Swenson envisioned a brilliant display of the Star and Stripes.  Not one flag raised over rubble, but a mass of flags flying over a green field, a Healing Field.  Over three thousand flags, one flag for each casualty of the terrorist attacks.

Healing Field in Sandy, Utah.

Just as the enormity of the attacks overwhelmed us emotionally, the display of three by five foot U. S. flags mounted on eight foot poles impacts the viewer emotionally.

Over the years, the concept of the Healing Field has spread across the Nation to each state and the District of Columbia.

Each year, a Healing Field in Sandy has honored the sacrifices of the September eleventh attack.  This year, the ninth visible expression of the Healing Field will rise in front of Sandy’s City Hall.  Volunteers will set up the ordered lines of flags in the early evening of Thursday, September 9th and the flags will fly until Monday, September 13th.  A Dedication Ceremony will take place on the anniversary of the attack, September Eleventh at Twelve Noon.

Join us at the 2010 Sandy Healing Field.  Share with us this moving experience to bring us together as a Nation and as a people.

In 1824 William Driver took command of a merchant vessel named the Charles Doggett.  Proud of her son’s new assignment, William’s mother and several of her friends made him a beautiful ship’s ensign.  The flag originally had twenty-four stars.  According to several versions of the story, the flag was folded into a triangle for presentation.  A minister consecrated the ensign pointing in turn to the three corners of the triangular package, as he intoned the names of the Christian Trinity.  At each reference to Diety, the people answered, “Glory, Glory and Glory.”  Captain Driver then hoisted his new ships flag and told his crew, “I’ll call her Old Glory, boys, Old Glory.”

A ships ensign did not survive long in the wind and weather of the high seas.  We can simply guess that William Driver only flew the ensign on special occasions.  When not flying over his ship, Driver stowed Old Glory in a camphor wood sea chest.  The flag accompanied Captain Driver to exotic ports around the world.

In 1837 Driver quit the sea and moved to Nashville, Tennessee.  Still preserving Old Glory in his sea chest, the Captain displayed his ship’s ensign proudly on holidays.  His neighbors learned of his fierce patriotism and loyalty to the United States.  As the Civil War approached, Captain Driver’s wife and daughters updated Old Glory adding ten new stars and an anchor to the field of blue.  The anchor honored the Captain’s years at sea.

Just after Tennessee proclaimed its secession from the Union, William Driver again displayed Old Glory from his Nashville home.  Then, fearing rebel soldiers might confiscate his flag, he had it sewn into a quilt cover.  Confederates did search his house and property, but never found Old Glory’s hiding place.

In February of 1862, Federal troops entered Nashville.  Captain Driver met soldiers from the Ohio 6^th Infantry Regiment at the Tennessee Capitol.  Driver carried his ship’s flag, Old Glory in his arms.  He hoisted the flag over the spire of the Statehouse.  The 6^th Ohio Regiment adopted “Old Glory” as their motto.  Newspapers reported the incident and the nickname of Old Glory spread throughout the Union.  So, once only the name William Driver called his ship’s flag, Old Glory became in time the name for all United States flags.

William Driver presented Old Glory to his daughter, Mary Jane Driver Roland.  She transported the artifact by train from Nashville, Tennessee to Ogden, Utah Territory.  Mary Jane carried the folded flag in her lap during the long trip, fearful it might be lost.   From Ogden she traveled by wagon for the remaining three hundred miles to her home in northern Nevada.  In 1922, the Smithsonian Institution acquired Old Glory.  By this time it was too fragile to unfold.  Only black and white photographs existed.  For decades textile curators stored the flag unseen by the public.  Finally in 1982, the Smithsonian conserved the delicate flag and placed it on display for the first time.  Together with the Star Spangled Banner, Old Glory can be seen in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

Mormon pioneer families migrating west.

Interestingly, the Mormon pioneers viewed their arrival as the founding of a “Mormon homeland,” hence Pioneer Day.  The Mormons, as they were commonly known, left various settlements and journeyed west seeking refuge from religious persecution.

Determined to settle in an isolated region, the pioneers made their way across the plains and then over the Rocky Mountains to Utah.  During their trek, they lost many to illnesses during the harsh winter months.  By the time that they reached Utah, the desolate valley was a welcoming sight.

"Entering the Great Salt Lake Valley" by C.C.A. Christensen.

Soon after their arrival and with solemn ceremonies, the settlers consecrated the two-square-mile city, and sent back word that the “promised land” was found.  By the end of the year 1847, nearly 2,000 Mormons settled in the Salt Lake Valley.

Union showing added forty-eighth star in lower left hand corner.

Union showing the original forty-seven stars without added star.

The manufacturer apparently also believed that the pattern for Forty-seven and perhaps an even later Forty-eight star flags would follow a staggered pattern of stars as seen on the forty-five and forty-six star flags.  Perhaps the maker intended a flag that could be updated when the forty-eighth state would eventually enter the Union.  If this was indeed the logic, the manufacturer was wrong on all counts.

Detail showing added crudely sewn forty-eighth star on the left.

A crudely appliquéd Forty-eighth star was added, but the pattern of stars was still incorrect making the flag a double oddity.  There are few Forty-seven star flags in existence.  This is perhaps the only Forty-seven—Forty-eight star flag.

While this flag’s design has never been official, it gives us insight into how the United States flag has evolved as new states joined the Union.  If a fifty-first state joins the Union in the future, we can expect that flags will be made anticipating a new pattern of stars.  Flag makers that guess wrongly will have unofficial variants that may one day be rare considered flag oddities.

The Star Spangled Banner Flag.

The battleship USS Constitution flew this flag defending American vessels and asserting U.S. sovereignty in battles against the Barbary pirates. Ultimately, the Constitution defeated several British warships during the War of 1812. She earned the nickname “Old Ironsides” when British shells seemed to bounce of her hull. Today, the USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned battleship afloat. She may be visited at Charlestown Navy Yard at the end of Boston’s Freedom Trail. United States Flags may be flown for individuals from the ships riggings. Make requests to the ship’s Flag Coordinator found on the USS Constitution’s official Web site.  A certificate signed by the ship’s commander to record the event will be returned with the flag.

During the Battle of Baltimore in the same war, the flag gained its endearing name, “The Star Spangled Banner.” Poet Francis Scott Key coined the name as he penned our national anthem, “and the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!”  Key saw the huge flag flying over Fort McHenry on the morning after the battle.  He knew the fortress had not surrendered, and he found inspiration to write the beloved poem.  Fort McHenry may be visited today in Baltimore’s harbor. A reproduction of the Star Spangled Banner flies over the star shaped fortress.

Sailors aboard USS Constitution raise 15 star & 15 stripe U.S. flag.

The original flag, which flew over Baltimore’s Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore, has become the nation’s most cherished artifact.  Torn and tattered by battle and years of neglect, having suffered the removal of souvenir patches, and having deteriorated through the passage of time—the banner has been the subject of several preservation projects.  At a cost of two million dollars, the latest monumental preservation effort has secured the flag for future generations.  The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History is home to the conserved flag.  When visiting Washington, D.C. don’t miss a visit to view the Star Spangled Banner.

If you are not planning a visit to Washington, visit the Smithsonian’s official Web site (http://americanhistory.si.edu/ssb) for the Star Spangled Banner’s.  It will amaze and inspire you.

As you know, the State of Hawaii became the 50th state on August 21st, 1959 and following the United States Code Title 4, Chapter 1 pertaining to the flag, a fiftieth star was added on July 4th, 1960.

Back in 2007 the 50 star U.S. flag became the longest continually used official version of the U.S. flag and as of July 4th, 2010, celebrates its 50th year!

When Alaska and Hawaii were being considered for statehood back in the 1950s, more than 1,500 flag designs were “spontaneously” sent to President Eisenhower. A few of these designs had 49 stars, however, the majority were 50-star proposals. Interestingly, at least 3 designs, and some claim more, were identical to the current design of our U.S. Flag.

Of all of these proposals, a flag design created by the (at the time) 17-year old Robert G. Heft in 1958 received the most publicity. Mr. Heft turned a history class project into a history making event, when he designed America’s newest national flag which began official usage on July 4th, 1960.

Bob Heft holds his original 50-star flag.

Mr. Heft’s  mother worked as a seamstress, but refused to do any of the work for him. Mr. Heft ended up only receiving a B- grade for this history class project. After discussing the grade with his teacher, it was somewhat jokingly agreed that if the flag were to be accepted by Congress, the grade would be reassessed.

Mr. Heft’s flag design was eventually chosen and adopted by presidential proclamation after Alaska and before Hawaii were admitted into the union

Following his 50-star banner design, Mr. Heft became concerned that a fifty-first star might be required, so he also made a 51 star flag having alternating rows of nine and eight stars, 9-8-9-8-9-8 equaling 51 bright and shining stars.

The original flag that made Heft famous 5 decades ago is faded now after having traveled to many, many places, a good 2.5 million miles, flying over all 50 states, 131 American embassies and hundreds of historical locations around the world.

This historic 50 Years – 50 Stars, collectors edition commemorative flag set has been made available for a limited time by Colonial Flag – America’s Flag Store.  Online as well as our Showroom!

50 Years - 50 Stars Commemorative Flag certificate.

This exclusive set includes the highest quality, beautifully sewn U.S. flag currently made in the U.S.A as well as a commemorative stamp on the flag header, an official certificate with the history of the flag and little known facts regarding the 50 Star U.S. flag.

On first glance, the description seems sufficient.  Knowing, as we do, what the first U.S. flag looked like, we mentally check off the items:  thirteen red and white stripes, check; a union, check; thirteen white stars on blue, check.  Yes, everything is there.  On the other hand, there are many details not clearly defined in that resolution.  Is it seven red stripes or only six?  How big is the union?  How many points does each star have?  What is the pattern for the stars?  A circle of thirteen?  Twelve stars in a circle surrounding a central star?  Or are the stars displayed in rows?  How many rows?  Is the flag square or rectangular?  If we had never seen an American flag, we would have a lot of questions that the Flag Resolution did not answer.  Many variants are possible all following the description in the flag resolution.

Strangely, the flags actually used during the American Revolution were even more diverse than that.  It was not uncommon for early U.S. flags to boast red, white and . . . blue stripes.   As a matter of fact, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, our commissioners to France, described the flag in 1778 as follows:  “It is with pleasure that we acquaint your Excellency that the flag of the United States of America consists of 13 stripes, alternately red, white and blue; a small square in the upper angle, next to the flag staff, is a blue field, with 13 white stars, denoting a new Constellation.”

Some illustrations of the period show U.S. flags with red white and blue stripes.  John Paul Jones sailed into the Dutch harbor at Texel in 1779 with two ships.  One was an American vessel, the Alliance.  The second was a British ship that Jones had captured.  The British protested to Dutch authorities that the ships did not fly recognized national ensigns; therefore, Jones and his crews were pirates.  Quietly, the Dutch sent an artist down to the wharf with instructions to paint illustrations of the flags flying from the two American ships.  They then placed the pictures in their files.  When the British complained again, the Dutch pulled out the paintings of the two flags.  The Dutch did recognize the flags as genuine national flags.  A few years later, in 1793, a sheet of national flags was published in Augsberg, Germany.  It showed the U.S. flag labeled in French “Pavillion du Congrés Americain,” which translates “Flag of American Congress.”  It also shows red, white and blue stripes.This points out that there were actually many variations of the Stars and Stripes in the early years of the republic.  Details were pretty much left up to the flag maker.  If it had stars, stripes and was red white and blue, that was close enough.  Today, all of these questions have been answered.  The description for the United States flag is extremely specific in every detail.  Even the ratios of each dimension are spelled out.  If the hoist (width) is given the ratio value of 1.0, then the fly (length) is 1.9.  Even the ratio of the stars has been computed.  Each of the fifty stars is officially designated as being a ratio of 0.0616 of the hoist.  Click for the chart here.

Also, learn more here…

If you want to make a flag, better get out your scientific calculator.  Better yet, buy a ready made flag.  Colonial Flag will make sure you get a flag that is correct.  Three cheers for the red white and blue!

In the same way, we place small flags on the graves of those who sacrificed their lives defending our freedom.  When we display a flag on a fallen hero’s headstone, it is a way of saying.”  We decorate your monument, that your sacrifice will not be forgotten.”  Display of flags on Memorial Day has been expanded to include the graves of all veterans.   We do this to recognize their service to our country.

On Memorial Day larger flags flown from flagpoles are lowered to half-staff during the morning.  This is done to collectively to honor all our war dead and deceased veterans.  When the U.S. flag is first raised in the morning, it is raised for an instant to the top of the pole.  It is then lowered to the half staff position.  At noon, the flag returns to the top of the pole.  It remains at full staff until the end of Memorial Day when it is lowered for the evening.

This centuries old custom began at sea.  Sailors lowered their ship’s ensign to half-mast as a sign of mourning.  The practice spread to land and is now a sign of mourning around the world.  Visit UtahFlagMan.BlogSpot.com for more information about flags flown at half-staff and at half-mast.

It celebrates the day in 1814 when Norway adopted its Constitution and declared its independence.   Sadly, the Norwegians were forced into an unwanted union with Sweden.  A symbol of the union appeared on their flag.  The Union device was an awkward design that combined the Swedish and Norwegian flags.  The Norwegians disliked the union emblem and said it looked like a bowl of herring salad.  They longed for the return of their “clean flag” with the union symbol removed.  They longed for their independence.  In 1905 the union of Sweden and Norway was finally dissolved.  Norwegians again had their “clean flag” without the herring salad.

The Norwegian flag with the union emblem (upper left).

To celebrate Norway and the Norwegian flag on Constitution Day, the people form huge parades all over the countryside.  The marchers each carry their national flag.  The parade is for the participants, the people who march in the parade.  It is not a parade for observers.  Parades are held in cities and towns over the length and width of Norway.  In Oslo alone, the national capital, one hundred thousand people take part in the celebration.  Many wear the national costume or the national colors of red, white and blue.  However, central to it all is Norway’s flag.

Having dominion over other birds of the air, the eagle became the symbol of power and authority in ancient times.  Both Greeks and Romans associated the eagle with their gods.  For the Roman Legions, the eagle developed into their Aquila, their Eagle Standard.  This tied the eagle, as a symbol, to the Roman Empire and empires that came after it.

The Roman Eagle.

Charlemagne selected the eagle to symbolize the Holy Roman Empire.  By the time of the American Revolution, the empires of continental Europe used the eagle as the symbol of empire.  The British did not use the eagle as a symbol of empire, but it was well established in the heraldry of continental Europe.  The Americans saw themselves as a new empire taking a place among the empires of the world.

In 1782, when congress adopted a national seal, it was logical that they should choose a symbol that recognized their new status as the American Empire.  Charles Thompson, the secretary of the Congress, suggested the eagle for the new Great Seal.  He had likely seen coins of European empires that depicted eagles with a shield on their breasts.  The Maria Theresa Thaller, a coin of the Austrian Empire first issued in 1780, is a good example of this.

The The Maria Theresa Thaller.

Although Congress considered several different designs for the new seal, they adopted a seal showing the American shield “on the breast of the American bald Eagle.”    This new American Empire, composed of thirteen free and independent states, had a Great Seal mirroring the seals of other empires.

Today, we don’t think in terms of empire as the Founding Fathers did.  That was an idea important in the eighteenth century.  Today, the idea of the American Republic is more important, a form of government where the power and authority of the nation is derived, not from a king or emperor, but from the people.  The word republic comes from a Latin phrase, res publica, which means “in the matter of the people.”    Royal proclamations began: “We, George III….”  However, our Constitution begins, “We the People….”

The 1782 Great Seal Design.

When we look at a flag staff displaying the Stars and Stripes, we see a top ornament, the Eagle, which looks very much like the Aquila or Eagle Standard of the Roman Legions.  It reminds us of our birth as a nation.  We may not now consider our nation as an empire, but the American Republic has taken its place among the powers of the earth.