Facts About the United States Flag
Facts About the United States Flag
Until the Executive Order of June 24, 1912, neither
the order of the stars nor the proportions of the flag was
prescribed. Consequently, flags dating before this period
sometimes show unusual arrangements of the stars and odd
proportions, these features being left to the discretion of the
flag maker. In general, however, straight rows of stars and
proportions similar to those later adopted officially were used.
The principal acts affecting the flag of the United States are
the following:
Flag Resolution of June 14, 1777 - stated: "Resolved: that
the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes,
alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white
in a blue field, representing a new Constellation."
Act of January 13, 1794 - provided for 15 stripes and 15 stars
after May 1795.
Act of April 4, 1818 - provided for 13 stripes and one star for
each state, to be added to the flag on the 4th of July following
the admission of each new state.
Executive Order of President Taft dated June 24, 1912 -
established proportions of the flag and provided for arrangement
of the stars in six horizontal rows of eight each, a single point
of each star to be upward.
Executive Order of President Eisenhower dated January 3, 1959 -
provided for the arrangement of the stars in seven rows of seven
stars each, staggered horizontally and vertically.
Executive Order of President Eisenhower dated August 21, 1959 -
provided for the arrangement of the stars in nine rows of stars
staggered horizon tally and eleven rows of stars staggered
vertically.
The National Anthem of the United States of America
The Star-spangled banner is a poem
inspired by the Battle of Baltimore, fought on September 12-14,
1814 during the War of 1812. During the British campaign against
Washington, D.C., an elderly and respected physician, Dr. William
Beanes was arrested for unfriendly acts toward the British
soldiers which resulted in his arrest. Francis Scott Key, a
prominent lawyer and friend of Dr. Beanes was sent by President
James Madison to obtain his release. Following negotiations, the
British agreed to release Beanes.
However, since the British were going to attack Baltimore,
Maryland next, they would allow no one to go ashore. The British
landed soldiers on September 12 and engaged in a brisk land
battle, however, they were not able to capture Baltimore. As part
of a two pronged attack, the British now sent their naval fleet
to attack and destroy the port city. The main defense of
Baltimore harbor was Fort McHenry. For 25 hours the British fleet
fired rockets and bombs at the fort. The fort's defenders bravely
withstood the bombardment and did not surrender. The British
realized they could not take Baltimore without paying for it with
heavy casualties. Since they were not willing to pay this price,
they departed from Baltimore.
During the bombardment, Key was down river and while watching was
inspired to write a poem that tells the story of the battle. When
he reached Baltimore he finished the poem. Key wrote the poem to
match the meter tobe sung to an old English tune To Anacreon in
Heaven. The song slowly grew in popularity and was well known and
used by both sides during the Civil war. In later years it was
very popular with the military and it was used as an
"unofficial" national anthem. During World War I, the
song became so widely accepted that a drive resulted in the
Congress making it the National Anthem in 1931. The National
Museum of American History, which is part of the Smithsonian
Institution, displays in its main lobby the Star-Spangled Banner
which is 30 feet wide and 42 long. Each star is two feet from
point to point and each stripe is two feet wide.
Because of its deteriorated condition, most Americans have long
assumed that this flag flew during the battle. However,
historians using both British and American sources have found
that during the battle there was a late summer storm which would
have prevented the 1260 square foot woolen flag from being flown.
A 17 by 25 storm flag would have been the size of the actual flag
flying during the battle. The large flag, however, was raised the
following morning as the British were departing from Baltimore.
This would have been the flag Key would have seen when entered
Baltimore. The manuscript that Key wrote was not on the back of
an envelope, they had not yet been invented. The original
manuscript is now on display at the Maryland Historical Society
in Baltimore. Fort McHenry still stands and it is part of the
National Park Service. The fort is the only site to have both a
national monument and historic shrine disignation.
The Defense of Fort
McHenry
by Francis Scott Key
20 September 1814
Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, now conceals, now discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! O long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wiped out their foul footstep's pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner forever shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
