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For many Americans, the United States flag serves as a powerful emblem of national pride. It can be seen flying from flagpoles outside homes, worn on clothing, and displayed virtually everywhere. This strong connection to the flag is something few other countries experience, and it may seem odd to those outside the U.S.
The deep affection Americans have for their flag is tied to the country’s rich history. However, there are many misconceptions about the flag. Some of the 'facts' that are commonly taught in schools may not be entirely accurate. To set the record straight and explore its past, here are ten fascinating truths about the American flag.
10. The Flag Didn’t Always Feature 13 Stripes
Most people know that the American flag features 13 stripes, which represent the original 13 colonies that united to create the nation. Initially, the flag had seven red and six white stripes, a design that lasted until the number of stripes increased to 15. In 1791 and 1792, when Vermont and Kentucky joined the Union, the flag needed a redesign to accommodate the new states. As a result, the flag was altered to include 15 stripes.
As the United States expanded westward, it became clear that additional states would eventually join the Union. This posed a question: should the flag keep adding stripes to represent each new state, or should another approach be taken? The decision was made to return to the original design of 13 stripes representing the original colonies. This design has remained in place ever since. The 15-stripe version of the flag flew for 23 years, from 1795 (under Washington) to 1818 (under Monroe), before reverting to the original design.
9. The Flag Has Had 27 Different Versions
As the United States grew from its original 13 colonies to include 50 states, it became necessary to update the flag to reflect this expansion. Unlike most countries, which keep their flags unchanged, the U.S. has opted to modify its flag whenever a new state joins the Union. This approach highlights the dynamic nature of the nation’s growth.
The U.S. flag has undergone numerous redesigns as new states were added, but these changes didn’t always occur immediately. Citizens and legislators alike had the opportunity to propose new designs. While the stripes remained consistent in most versions, the star field featured many unique patterns. Some unofficial versions, flown above Army forts, displayed stars arranged in circles, diamonds, or even a single star. When North and South Dakota were admitted, some flag manufacturers mistakenly produced a flag with 39 stars, believing the two states would merge into one.
8. A High School Student Designed the 50-Star Flag
When Alaska and Hawaii joined the United States in 1959, a call was made for a new flag design, which was answered by an unexpected source. While many across the country took on the challenge, the design that was chosen didn’t come from a professional vexillologist (a flag expert). Instead, it came from Robert 'Bob' Heft, a high school student from Ohio, whose flag submission was selected. It was a surprising outcome, as no one anticipated that a student’s project would be the winner.
Despite having no sewing experience, Bob created his 50-star flag design using iron-on materials and fabric. He placed it over his family’s 48-star flag and brought it to school. His teacher, puzzled by the 50 stars before the two states had officially joined the Union, gave him a 'B-' grade. The teacher reportedly told him, 'If you don’t like the grade, get it accepted in Washington.' Bob’s design has since remained as the national flag for over 50 years, marking the longest-standing American flag design. Before his death in 2009, Heft had even designed a 51-star version, anticipating the potential statehood of Puerto Rico.
7. An Actual Flag Inspired the National Anthem
The poem penned by Francis Scott Key, which later became the United States national anthem, was inspired by the nation's flag. Key composed the poem during the siege of Fort McHenry on September 13, 1814. While it may seem straightforward that a poem about a flag was inspired by it, many people are unaware that the flag still exists today! You can view it at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC. The first thing people notice about the flag is its missing pieces. The flag is old and was subjected to a bombardment, so it may seem like it was simply torn apart. However, pieces of it were actually cut off and sold throughout history.
The latest auction took place in 2011 in Dallas, where a small piece of the flag containing white and red with a seam fetched $65,725. This fragment was likely removed during the 19th century, when pieces of the flag were commonly cut off. Another fascinating detail often overlooked is that the flag is a 15-star, 15-stripe version. This design was used throughout the War of 1812, which is why it flew as the Great Garrison Flag over Fort McHenry.
6. Symbolism of the Colors
It’s widely known that the 50 white stars on the American flag represent the 50 states, while the 13 alternating red and white stripes represent the original 13 colonies. These colors, although they may appear arbitrary, have significant meaning behind them. The country could have selected any colors, potentially even ones that weren’t found on the British flag, especially since they fought a war to gain independence from Britain. But they chose red, white, and blue for a reason.
Surprisingly, the colors chosen for the U.S. flag in 1777 had no specific meaning at first! It wasn’t until 1782, with the creation of the Great Seal of the United States, that those colors were assigned symbolic significance. Charles Thompson, the secretary of the Continental Congress, reported the following to Congress:
The colors of the vertical stripes on the flag represent values: White stands for purity and innocence, Red symbolizes hardiness & valour, and Blue, the color of the Chief, signifies vigilance, perseverance, & justice.
5. The First Flag Came at the Request of a Native American
A year into the American Revolution, the newly declared United States of America still lacked an official flag. It was 1777 when a Native American named Thomas Green, concerned for his safety while traveling to Philadelphia, decided that flying the nation’s flag might offer some protection. The problem was that no such flag existed, so Green appealed to Congress. He even offered three strings of wampum in exchange for their help. In response, Congress acted quickly and passed a resolution within just ten days.
On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Flag Resolution, which is now commemorated as Flag Day in the United States. The resolution specified that 'the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternating red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white on a blue field, symbolizing a new constellation.' Green’s payment was processed, and the flag was created, although they likely would have completed it eventually even without his request.
4. Betsy Ross May Not Be As Significant to the Story as We Once Believed
Betsy Ross is widely recognized by American schoolchildren as the person who designed the first American flag at the request of George Washington. However, as mentioned earlier, Ross was not actually involved in the creation of the first flag. Her name wasn’t even associated with the story until 1876, a full 40 years after her death. Although Ross wasn’t the sole designer, she did play a significant role in making flags throughout her life, creating many for the country.
The legend claims that in 1776, a Congressional committee asked Ross to design the flag, which she did based on their specifications. There is no evidence to support that this event ever happened, nor is there any indication that Congress ever issued such a commission. While Ross and her shop became key in producing both naval and American flags, her role in the flag’s origin and the long-held narrative may simply be a charming myth. Nonetheless, Ross has become a celebrated folk hero and a figurehead of the American Revolution.
3. The Flag Has A Name
The flag does indeed have a name, and it’s not the Star-Spangled Banner as commonly thought. The United States flag is called Old Glory, though this name was never officially assigned by Congress. Old Glory refers to a 3-meter by 5-meter (10 x 17 ft) flag that belonged to William Driver, a sea captain from Massachusetts. He gave the flag its name and made sure to fly it as often as possible during the Civil War… in Tennessee, no less! For decades, Old Glory flew proudly on holidays, come rain or shine, at Driver’s home.
When Tennessee seceded from the Union, Driver’s flag became a target for local militias. However, Driver was able to hide the flag from the vandals, safeguarding it through several attempts. After Nashville fell to Union forces in 1862, Driver went to the commanding general and presented his flag. Eventually, the war came to an end, and Old Glory flew over the Tennessee Statehouse. Thanks to Driver’s efforts to protect the flag, all American flags eventually adopted the name Old Glory, a legacy left by an American loyalist who endured the war in a Confederate state.
2. That Being Said, No Laws Truly Protect The Flag
In the United States, many mistakenly assume that laws exist to protect the American flag. However, there are no specific laws that impose civil or criminal penalties for flag desecration or destruction. This absence of legal restrictions makes sense given the flag’s symbolic representation of freedom. It is meant to be honored, but also to be freely disrespected or destroyed as an expression of individual rights. To impose limitations on what a person can do with the flag would contradict its core meaning of liberty.
Though no law exists to protect the flag outright, efforts have been made to create such laws. For example, during the Vietnam War, the 90th Congress passed the Flag Protection Act in 1968, aiming to safeguard the flag’s dignity and penalize those who desecrated it. However, the law was overturned in 1990 in United States v. Eichman by the Supreme Court, who ruled that protecting the flag as a symbol was not more important than an individual's First Amendment right to express disapproval of that symbol.
1. Burning the Flag is the Official Method of Disposal
One of the most common forms of protest in the U.S. has been flag burning. While this has been a method of protest since the flag’s creation, most people aren’t aware that burning is the proper way to dispose of a worn-out flag. Although it may seem paradoxical, the U.S. Flag Code explicitly provides instructions on flag handling, including how to dispose of it: 'When the flag is no longer a fitting emblem for display, it should be destroyed in a respectful manner, preferably by burning.' This can involve fully burning the flag or burning its separated components, such as its colors after the seams are cut.
A long-standing myth within the United States military claims that inside the finial atop a flagpole—where the golden ball sits—there are three objects: a match, a razor blade, and a bullet. According to the story, when a fort is taken by enemy forces, a soldier climbs the pole to retrieve these items: the razor to cut the flag’s seams, the match to burn it, and the bullet to protect the fort—or, in some versions, to take their own life. While this story is purely a myth, the actual practice of flag disposal through burning remains true.
