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No
one knows with absolute certainty who designed the first stars and stripes or who made it. Congressman Francis Hopkinson seems
most likely to have designed it and few historians believe that Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia seamstress, made the first one.
6/14/1777- in order to extablish an official flag
for the new nation, the Continental Congress passed the first flag act: "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 1/13/1794- provided for 15 stripes and 15 stars after May 1795.
Act of 4/4/1818- 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, signed by President Monroe.
Executive Order of President taft dated 6/24/1912- established propotions
of the flag and provided for the arrangement of the stars in 6 horizontal rows of eight each, a single point of each star
to be upward.
Executive Order of President Eisenhower dated 1/3/1959- provided for
the arrangement of the stars seven rows of seven, staggered horizontally and vertically.
Executive Order of President
Eisenhower dated 8/21/1959- provided for the arrangement of the stars in nine rows of stars staggered horizontally and eleven
rows staggered vertically.
When our flag
is folded, each fold has a special meaning...
*
1st fold of our flag is a symbol of life.
* 2nd fold is a symbol of our belief in the eternal life.
*
3rd fold is made in honor and rememberance of the veteran departing our ranks who gave a portion of life for the defense of
our county to attain a peace throughout the world.
* 4th fold represents our weaker nature, for as American
citizens trusting in God, it is Him we turn to in times of peace as well as in times of war for His divine guidance.
*
5th fold is a tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, "Our country, in dealing with other countries,
may she be always right; but still our country, right or wrong."
* 6th fold is for where our hearts lie. It
is with our heart that we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
* 7th fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces, for
it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country and our flag against her enemies, whether they be found within
or without the boundries of our republic.
* 8th fold is a tribute to the one eho entered in to the valley of
the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and to honor mother, for whom it flies on mother's day.
*
9th fold is a tribute to womanhood; for it has been through their faith, love, loyalty, and devotion that the character of
the men and women who have made this country great have been molded.
* 10th fold is a tribute to father, for
he too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since they were first born.
* 11th
fold, in the eyes of a Hebrew citizen, represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon, and glorifies,
in their eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
* 12th fold, in the eyes of a Christian citizen, representsan
emblem of eternity and glorifies, in theirs eyes, God the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost.
When the flag
is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, "In God We Trust."
After the flag is
completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served
under General george Washington and the sailors and marines who served under Captain John Pail Jones who were followed
by their comrades and shipmates in the Armeed Forces of the Untied States, preserving for us the rights, privileges, and freedoms
we enjoy today
The above Flag Folding cermeony is from the US Air Force Academy
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