![](\"https:\/\/dacq68pa0iusn.cloudfront.net\/AlliedFlag\/WebGraphics\/Misc.\/FlagHistory1.jpg\")
<\/div>\nAlthough 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n On September 14, 1814, Francis Scott Key<\/a>, a lawyer,\u00a0 was detained on a British ship in Baltimore Harbor.\u00a0 Onboard to negotiate the release of some American prisoners,\u00a0 he watched as the night before the British flotilla bombarded Fort McHenry<\/a> to force the submission and surrender of the fort.\u00a0 Yet when dawn broke, the 15-starred and 15-striped American flag known as the Star-Spangled Banner was still flying over the fort,<\/p>\n Francis Scott Key<\/a> was so moved by the sight, he penned the four stanzas of what has become America’s national anthem.<\/p>\n Oh, say can you see by the dawn\u2019s early light<\/strong> On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed The Flag Resolution which stated: \u201cIt 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.\u201d 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.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,<\/strong> 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).<\/span><\/p>\n 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\u2019s song that would become the national anthem, \u201cStar-Spangled Banner\u201d, of The United States of America<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n And where is that band who so vauntingly swore This 48-star flag became the official American Flag on July 4th, 1912.\u00a0 Two stars were added for the admission of New Mexico (1912) and Arizona (1912) to the United States of America.<\/span><\/p>\n Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand This 50-star flag became the official American Flag on July 4th, 1960.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 A star was added for the state of Hawaii, which was admitted to the United States of America on August 21st, 1959.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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 … Continue reading <\/h2>\n
The Lyrics to The Star-Spangled Banner<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nWhat so proudly we hailed at the twilight\u2019s last gleaming?<\/strong>
\nWhose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,<\/strong>
\nO\u2019er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?<\/strong>
\nAnd the rocket\u2019s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,<\/strong>
\nGave proof through the night that our flag was still there.<\/strong>
\nOh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave<\/strong>
\nO\u2019er the land of the free and the home of the brave?<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\nTHE ORIGINAL 13 STAR AMERICAN FLAG (1777-1795)<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"ORIGINAL](\"http:\/\/john-michael.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ORIGINAL-13-STAR-AMERICAN-FLAG-1777-1795-1.jpg\")
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\nWhere the foe\u2019s haughty host in dread silence reposes,<\/strong>
\nWhat is that which the breeze, o\u2019er the towering steep,<\/strong>
\nAs it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?<\/strong>
\nNow it catches the gleam of the morning\u2019s first beam,<\/strong>
\nIn full glory reflected now shines in the stream:<\/strong>
\n\u2018Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave<\/strong>
\nO\u2019er the land of the free and the home of the brave!<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n15 STAR FLAG \u2013 STAR SPANGLED BANNER (1795-1818)<\/span><\/h2>\n
![](\"https:\/\/dacq68pa0iusn.cloudfront.net\/AlliedFlag\/WebGraphics\/Misc.\/FlagHistory3.jpg\")
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\nThat the havoc of war and the battle\u2019s confusion,
\nA home and a country should leave us no more!
\nTheir blood has washed out their foul footsteps\u2019 pollution.
\nNo refuge could save the hireling and slave
\nFrom the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
\nAnd the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
\nO\u2019er the land of the free and the home of the brave!<\/p>\n![\"48-STAR-AMERICAN-FLAG-1912-1959\"](\"http:\/\/john-michael.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/48-STAR-AMERICAN-FLAG-1912-1959-300x159.jpg\")
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\nBetween their loved home and the war\u2019s desolation!
\nBlest with victory and peace, may the heav\u2019n rescued land
\nPraise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
\nThen conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
\nAnd this be our motto: \u201cIn God is our trust.\u201d
\nAnd the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
\nO\u2019er the land of the free and the home of the brave!<\/p>\n![\"50](\"http:\/\/john-michael.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/50-STAR-AMERICAN-FLAG-1960-PRESENT-300x159.jpg\")
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