The Star-Spangled Banner Turns 206 Years Old
Our American Flag has an interesting evolution over the years since the first design which is known as the “Betsy Ross” flag up until the current 50 stars and thirteen stripes.
THE BETSY ROSS FLAG (MAY 1776)
Although it is not a proven factual event, legend has it that Betsy Ross sewed the first American Flag from a pencil sketch drawn by George Washington. While it is true that Ross was an acquaintance of George Washington and sewed many American flags throughout her life, there is no evidence to support the claims of her descendants that she did in fact create the first American Flag at the request of George Washington.
On September 14, 1814, Francis Scott Key, a lawyer, was detained on a British ship in Baltimore Harbor. Onboard to negotiate the release of some American prisoners, he watched as the night before the British flotilla bombarded Fort McHenry to force the submission and surrender of the fort. Yet when dawn broke, the 15-starred and 15-striped American flag known as the Star-Spangled Banner was still flying over the fort,
Francis Scott Key was so moved by the sight, he penned the four stanzas of what has become America’s national anthem.
The Lyrics to The Star-Spangled Banner
Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
THE ORIGINAL 13 STAR AMERICAN FLAG (1777-1795)
On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed The Flag Resolution which stated: “It is resolved that the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternated red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation.” For this reason, we now celebrate Flag Day every June 14th. This official original American Flag had 13 stripes and 13 stars to represent the original 13 colonies which included: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island.
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
‘Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
15 STAR FLAG – STAR SPANGLED BANNER (1795-1818)
In 1794, the Flag Act authorized a new 15-star and 15-stripe flag. This regulation went into effect on May 1st, 1795, and the Star-Spangled Banner became the new official flag of the United States. The two additional stars and stripes were added to the original design in order to represent the admission of Vermont (1791) and Kentucky (1792).
This particular edition of the American Flag is known as the Star-Spangled Banner because it was the actual flag that flew over Fort McHenry and served as the inspiration for Francis Scott Key’s song that would become the national anthem, “Star-Spangled Banner”, of The United States of America
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
This 48-star flag became the official American Flag on July 4th, 1912. Two stars were added for the admission of New Mexico (1912) and Arizona (1912) to the United States of America.
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
This 50-star flag became the official American Flag on July 4th, 1960. A star was added for the state of Hawaii, which was admitted to the United States of America on August 21st, 1959.
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