On June 14, 1777, almost a year after the United States gained independence from England, the Second Continental Congress, made up of representatives from the Thirteen Colonies, adopted a flag to represent the newly formed country.
The flag that was chosen contained most of the design elements that go into the current U.S. flag, also known as The Stars and Stripes, The Red, White, and Blue, Old Glory and The Star-Spangled Banner.
These elements include thirteen horizontal red and white stripes of the same width, starting and ending with the red strip, a blue rectangle on the upper left corner, also called the union, bearing fifty white stars. The stripes represent the original thirteen colonies and the fifty stars represent the present-day fifty states.
There are government rules that should be followed when displaying or folding the Star-Spangled Banner. So to celebrate Flag Day and also brush up on your English imperatives (command form of the verbs), read the list below with some of the do’s and don’ts for hoisting and displaying the Red, White and Blue.
* Display the flag between sunrise and sunset.
* Illuminate the flag when it is exhibited at night.
* Place the flag on or near the main building of public institutions, schools on school days and polling stations on election days.
* Attach the flag in form of a patch to athletic uniforms.
* Put the union at the peak when suspending the flag from a rope or a pole.
* Don’t display the flag during rainfall or snow so as not to damage it.* Don’t allow the flag to be draped over a float or vehicle during a parade.
* Never display the union facing down. It should always go on the upper-left hand side.
* Don’t use it as clothing, bedding or drapery.
* Don’t include the flag for advertising or promotional purposes.
Now, watch this video with instructions on how to fold the flag.
