On January 1, 1776, the
Continental Army came under the control of
George Washington. In May of that year, Betsy
Ross sewed the first American Flag, consisting
of 13 stripes, alternating in colours of red and
white. George Washington had it hoisted at
Prospect Hill. She was a struggling seamstress
who knew George and Martha Washington from
Church. George Washington showed her the layout,
which included stars with 6 points. She cut out
a star with 5 points, and George Washington is
said to have liked it and went with the design.
The first flag act was passed in 1877. Congress
declared that the official flag of the United
States would have 13 stripes, alternating red
and white. It would also have 13 white stars on
a blue background to represent each of the
states in the Union. The stars each had 5
points, and were designed in a circle,
representing the unity of the states. This flag
act was updated several times through 1960.
Congress added to it each time new states joined
the Union.
Since 1960, the American Flag has stayed the
same. It has 13 stripes to represent the
original colonies. 7 of the stripes are red with
the remaining 6 being white. The flag has 50
stars, each representing 1 state. The point of
the stars points towards the sky to represent
the presence of God. The stars remain on a blue
background. The three colours also represent
America. The red for valour and hardiness, white
for purity and innocence. With blue representing
vigilance, perseverance, and justice.
AP - Struggling for an edge, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum campaigned Wednesday into the 20th and possibly final debate of the roller-coaster race for the Republican presidential nomination.
Poll: Obama benefitting from improving economy
(AP)
AP - President Barack Obama is reaping political benefits from the country's brighter economic mood. A new poll shows that Republicans and Democrats alike are increasingly saying the nation is heading in the right direction and most independents now approve the way he's addressing the nation's post-recession period.
Shelling kills 2 Western journalists in Syria
(AP)
AP - Syrian gunners pounded an opposition stronghold where the last dispatches from a veteran American-born war correspondent chronicled the suffering of civilians caught in the relentless shelling. An intense morning barrage killed her and a French photojournalist — two of 74 deaths reported Wednesday in Syria.
AP - The mayor and police director of New Jersey's largest city said Wednesday the New York Police Department misled their city and never told them it was conducting a widespread spying operation on Newark's Muslim neighborhoods. Had they known, they said, they never would have allowed it.
2nd degree murder verdict in lacrosse death trial
(AP)
AP - Jurors found a former University of Virginia lacrosse player guilty of second-degree murder Wednesday in the slaying of his ex-girlfriend that was fueled by jealousy over her relationship with another lacrosse player.
The American Flag has been an
issue of controversy with some claiming it is
their right to burn a flag. The law has decided
that we can't pass and enforce laws against flag
burning unless we modify the US Constitution and
remove an important part of the First Amendment.
However, it is considered very disrespectful in
our society to burn the American Flag. It is
also disrespectful to fly torn and tattered
flags. They should be maintained properly. In
light of terrorist attacks and the war with
Iraq, American Flags are once again flying high
and with honour for us to remember the freedoms
we have in this country.
The United States Army Institute of Heraldry has
designs in place for the American flag with up
to 56 stars on it. This is because of ongoing
statehood possibilities in Puerto Rico, the
District of Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands, the
Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and American
Samoa. While negotiations are far from complete,
the hope is that one day their will be more that
50 states in the United States of America.
