United States

United States - Facts All Flag pictures show flags flying, from the viewer's point of view, from left to right The upper left quarter of the flag is called the Canton and pictures the stars The Study of the Flags is known as Vexillology The upper left quarter of the flag is known as the Canton A Flag share is the flag officer's share of prize money People with an interest in flags are called Vexillologists The Romans were the first to use a cloth flag - they were square and fastened to cross bars at the end of spears - the idea of fastening a flag to the side of a pole soon followed

• The shape and flag ratio of the United States Flag is 1:2 (the length is twice the height)

• To dip the flag is the process of lowering and quickly restore it to its place is often done as a mark of respect

• The idea of flying a flag came from the requirements of ancient warfare in the battlefield

• When presenting a nations flag, the United Nations uses alphabetical order, this includes the United States Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's flag

• The United States Flag should never be allowed to drag along the ground

• A tattered or faded United States Flag should be removed and replaced with a new United States Flag

• The United States Flag should always be flown the correct way up, it is vital that due care and consideration is taken to ensure this

• The first thirteen states on the United States flag were Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island

• Hawaii became the 50th state on 21 Aug. 1959 and the 50 star on the United States flag!

United States - History
Many changes have been made to the size, shape, design and arrangement of the United States flag. These changes were made between January 1776 and August 1960. The dates of admission of states are detailed as follows:

• The first thirteen of the united states, were Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island

• In 1795, the states of Vermont and Kentucky, were added to the Unites states flag

• 1818 - Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, Indiana, and Mississippi

• 1819 - Illinois was added

• 1820 - Alabama and Maine were included on the USA flag

• 1822 - Missouri became a state

• 1836 - Arkansas was added giving the United states flag a total of 25 stars

• 1837 - Michigan

• 1845 - Florida

• 1846 - Texas

• 1847 - Iowa

• 1848 - Wisconsin was added totalling 30 stars on the United states flag

• 1850 - California

• 1858 - Minnesota

• 1859 - Oregon

• 1861 - Kansas

• 1863 - West Virginia

• 1865 - Nevada

• 1867 - Nebraska was added giving the United states flag a total of 37 stars

• 1877 - Colorado

• 1890 - North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Washington, and Idaho

• 1891 - Wyoming

• 1896 - Utah

• 1908 - Oklahoma

• 1912 - Arizona and New Mexico

• 1959 - Alaska became the 49th state on 3 Jan. 1959 (Alaska became a territory in 1912)

• 1959 - Hawaii became the 50th state on 21 Aug. 1959. Hawaii the last state was added giving the United states flag a total of 50 stars

Displaying the United States Flag - Did you know?

• The act or function of raising the United States Flag, as on a rope is referred to as hoisting

• To denote grief and mourning, the United States Flag is hoisted to half of the potential height of the flag pole , this is called flying the flag at Half Staff or Half Mast and is carried out by firstly raising the United States Flag to the top, then lowering the United States Flag halfway

• To show distress the United States Flag is flown upside-down

• Always hoist the United States Flag briskly and lower the United States Flag ceremoniously

• No disrespect should be shown to the United States flag

• The United States Flag should never be displayed, used, fastened or kept in such a way as to allow the Flag to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way

• The United States Flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing on the flag of any nature

• To strike, or lower the United States Flag is the process of hauling it down. It is a token of respect, submission, or, in an engagement, of surrender

United States Flag - Poem
The following beautiful poem about the United states flag entitled 'Flag of The Free' was written by Edward Smyth Jones, It was published in 1917 by The Lincoln Art Publishing Co.

Flag of the free, our sable sires
Have borne thee oft before
Into hot battles' hell-lit fires,
Against the fiercest foe.
When first he shook his shaggy mein,
And made the welkin ring,
Brave Attucks fell upon the Plain,
Thy stripes first crimsoning!

Thy might and majesty we hurl,
Against the bolts of Mars;
And from thy ample folds unfurl
Thy field of flaming stars!
Fond hope to nations in distress,
Thy starry gleam shall give;
The stricken in the wilderness
Shall look to thee and live.

What matter if where Boreas roars,
Or where sweet zephyr smiles?
What matter if where eagle soars,
Or in the sunlit isles?
Thy flowing crimson stripes shall wave
Above the bluish brine;
Emblazoned ensign of the brave,
And Liberty enshrine!

Flag of the free, still float on high
Through every age to come;
Bright beacon of the azure sky,
True light of Freedom's dome.
'Till nations all shall cease to grope
In vain for liberty—
O shine, last lingering star of hope
Of all humanity!

—EDWARD SMYTH JONES.

Dream Definition - United States
Seeing your national flag in your dream means peace and/or prosperity. Seeing a flag of a foreign nation indicates a breach of trust between friends.