the american flag and other symbols

Foundations of United States Citizenship

Lesson 1, Chapter 61

The American Flag and Other Symbols

The American Flag and Other Symbols


Lesson 1, Chapter 6, The American Flag and Other

Symbols

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MotivationMotivation• What should you do

when the American flag is being hoisted or lowered?

• When should you salute during the playing of the National Anthem?



Symbols

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Lesson overviewLesson overview• What is the history and symbolism of the

American flag? • What laws and regulations govern the flag? • When should the flag be displayed? • How should the flag be positioned and

displayed? • What is the proper way to show respect for

the flag?



Symbols

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What is the history of the American flag?

What is the history of the American flag?

• The Second Continental Congress officially adopted the American flag in Philadelphia on June 14, 1777 .

• The design called for• 13 stripes, alternating red and white• A union—the upper left corner of the flag—with

13 stars, white in a blue field • Francis Hopkinson is probably responsible for

the stars in the American flag.



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What is the history of the American flag? (cont’d)


• During the Revolutionary War, patriots made flags for our new nation.• Betsy Ross• The claim that she designed the first flag of

the United States is based on family traditions.



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• Grand Union Flag• First flag of the colonists that

looked like the present Stars and Stripes

• Also known as the Congress Colors, the “First Navy Ensign, or the Cambridge Flag

• Design: 13 stripes, blue field with two crosses



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• In 1794, Congress passed an act requiring that the flag have 15 stars and 15 stripes.

• This became the official flag from 1795 to 1818.

• It played a role in historic events.• Inspired the “Star

Spangled Banner”



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• Capt Samuel C. Reid, USN, suggested • Constant of 13 stripes, but one star added to

blue field for each new state added to Union

• April 4, 1818: President Monroe accepted bill that reflected Reid’s ideas.



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• The flag changed as new states were admitted to the Union.• Last added stars were for Arizona, New

Mexico, Alaska and Hawaii.

• With the 50-star flag came a new design and arrangement of stars in the union.



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• Colors used in the American flag• White: purity and innocence• Red: hardiness and valor• Blue: vigilance, perseverance, and justice

• An American flag with 50 stars was raised for the first time on July 4, 1960.

• The American flag is traditionally a symbol of liberty and freedom.



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• Elements in the design of today’s flag• 13 horizontal stripes—7 red and 6 white, alternating• Union of white, five-pointed stars on blue field• Blue field in the upper quarter of the flag next to the

staff, extending to the lower edge of the fourth red stripe from the top

• Number of stars equal to the number of states in the Union



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What laws and regulations govern the flag?

What laws and regulations govern the flag?

• United States Code• Title 4, Chapter 1• Title 18, Chapter 33• Title 36, Chapter 10

• Executive orders and presidential proclamations



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When should the flag be displayed?

When should the flag be displayed?

• Display flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open.

• Can display all-weather flag 24 hours a day if properly lit at night.

• Can display flag in good weather on all days, especially certain holidays.



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When should the flag be displayed? (cont’d)

When should the flag be displayed? (cont’d)

• The flag should be displayed• Daily on or near the main administration

building of every public institution• On election days in or near every polling

place• During school days in or near every

schoolhouse



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How should the flag be positioned and displayed?


• In a procession with another flag or flags• Marching right or front and center of line

• On a float in a parade• On staff or suspended, folds falling free

• On a vehicle, railroad train, or boat• Not draped over any surface

• On a motorcar• Staff attached to chassis or right fender



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(cont’d)


(cont’d)• No other flags or pennants above it

• Exceptions: services at sea, U.N. flag

• National colors only on vehicles designed for colors and color guards

• If displayed with crossed staffs, flag on and staff in front



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(cont’d)


(cont’d)• Display flag flat or hanging free.• With other flags of states/localities/societies

• On separate staffs: Flag in center, at highest point

• Hoist American flag first, lower last• On same halyard: American flag at highest point

• No other flags/pennants above or to right of American flag



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(cont’d)


(cont’d)• With flags of other nations

• Separate staffs, equal size, same height

• On horizontal staff or angled staff from windowsill, balcony, or front of building• Union at peak of staff (unless at half-staff)

• Over a sidewalk, on rope from house to pole• Hoist out from building, union first



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(cont’d)


(cont’d)• Against a wall or in a window

• Union uppermost, to flag’s own right• Over the middle of the street

• Vertically, union toward north or east• Flat on speaker’s platform

• Above and behind speaker• In ceremony for unveiling statue/monument

• Not as covering for object



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(cont’d)


(cont’d)• When flying the flag at half-staff

• First, hoist it to the peak for an instant.• Then, lower it to the half-staff position.• Before it is lowered for the day, hoist it

to the peak again.

• On Memorial Day, display the flag at half-staff until noon only.



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(cont’d)


(cont’d)• Presidential order: Fly flag at half-staff upon

death of important government figures.• Flag may be displayed at half-staff for death

of other officials or foreign dignitaries.• Governor of state/territory/possession may decide to

fly national flag at half-staff upon death of present or former official of that government.



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(cont’d)


(cont’d)• Fly flag at half-staff after death of

• President or former president• Vice president, Chief Justice, retired Chief Justice,

or Speaker of the House• Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, secretary of

an executive or military department, former vice president, governor of a state/territory/possession

• Member of Congress



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(cont’d)


(cont’d)• When covering a casket

• Place flag with union at head and over left shoulder. Do not lower flag into grave or let it touch ground.

• When displayed with United Nations flag• American flag should be on right and above

United Nations flag.



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What is the proper way to show respect for the flag?

What is the proper way to show respect for the flag?

• Never dip the flag to any person or thing.

• Never display the flag with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress.

• Never let the flag touch anything beneath it.



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What is the proper way to show respect for the flag? (cont’d)


• Never carry the flag flat or horizontally.

• Never use the flag as apparel, bedding, or drapery.

• When using bunting, always arrange it with blue above, white in the middle, and red below.



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• Never use or store the flag in a way that might tear, soil, or damage it.

• Never use the flag as a ceiling covering.

• Do not put any markings on the flag.

• Never use the flag to receive, hold, carry, or deliver anything.



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• Never use the flag for advertising.

• Never use any part of the flag as a costume or athletic uniform.

• Wear a flag pin on the left lapel near the heart.

• If a flag is worn out, destroy it in a dignified way (burning).



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What courtesies should be rendered to the flag and the

National Anthem?

What courtesies should be rendered to the flag and the

National Anthem?• The National Anthem is played at most

flag ceremonies. • Parades, reveille, retreat, prior to events

• Sometimes, “To the Colors,” a bugle call, is used instead. It is given the same respect as the National Anthem.



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What courtesies should be rendered to the flag and the National Anthem? (cont’d)


• Military and civilian courtesies for flag ceremonies• When in uniform and in formation • When in uniform but not in formation• When indoors• When outdoors in uniform



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• When outdoors in civilian clothes• When a flag is escorted past outdoors• When a flag is on a stationary flagstaff• When a flag is small or cased and folded• When indoors in civilian clothing• During indoor ceremonies



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• When riding in a civilian or military vehicle• When the flag is at half-staff• When the flag is hoisted, is lowered, or

passes by• When the National Anthem is played



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• The National Anthem• Was written by Francis Scott Key• Was inspired by the sight of an American

flag waving over Fort McHenry after a British attack

• Began as a poem and became the National Anthem of the United States



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What is the significance of the Pledge of Allegiance?

What is the significance of the Pledge of Allegiance?

• The original• Written in the office of a Boston magazine• Intended to celebrate the 400th anniversary

of the discovery of America• First published and used in 1892• Authorship claimed by two people



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What is the significance of the Pledge of Allegiance? (cont’d)What is the significance of the Pledge of Allegiance? (cont’d)

• 1945: Congress recognized Francis M. Bellamy as the author.

• 1923: Wording changed from “my flag” to “the flag of the United States.”

• 1954: Words “under God” were added.



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• Purposes of the Pledge• Expresses patriotism and loyalty• Expresses the freedom of our nation• Reminds us of our duty to preserve liberty

and justice for all



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• Reciting the Pledge• Come to attention and face the flag.• When not in uniform, remove headdress and

hold it at left shoulder.• When in uniform, remain silent, stand at

attention, face the flag, and salute if outdoors. If indoors, stand at attention.



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What is the history of Flag Day?What is the history of Flag Day?• Celebrates the birthday of the Stars and

Stripes: June 14, 1777

• First national observance: June 14, 1877

• In 1916, President Wilson called for nationwide observance.

• In 1949, Flag Day became a permanent observance.



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What is the significance of the Great Seal of the United States?What is the significance of the

Great Seal of the United States?• Designed to reflect the Founding

Fathers’ beliefs, their values, and the sovereignty of the new nation

• Completed on June 20, 1782

• Contains vertical stripes with the same colors used in in the American flag



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What is the significance of the Great Seal of the United States?

(cont’d)


(cont’d)• The obverse of the

Great Seal authenticates the president’s signature on many official documents.• Treaty ratifications• International agreements• Appointments of

ambassadors



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(cont’d)?


(cont’d)?• Features of the obverse of the Great Seal

• American bald eagle• Shield with 13 red and white stripes and blue bar• Motto of the United States—E Pluribus Unum• Olive branch and 13 arrows• Constellation of stars

• Design of obverse is shown in many ways.



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(cont’d)


(cont’d)• Features of the reverse of the Great Seal

• Pyramid • Eye over the pyramid• Motto—Annuit Coeptis• Roman numerals• Words under the pyramid—Novus Ordo Seclorum



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What is the significance of the Air Force Seal?

What is the significance of the Air Force Seal?

• Design is based on historic tradition and symbolism.• Coat of arms with two parts

• Crest

• Shield• White stars• Numerals under the shield• Band encircling the design• Inscriptions



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What is the American’s Creed?What is the American’s Creed?

• American’s Creed—Statement about the type of government in the United States and the principles on which it is based, followed by personal commitment

• Written by William Tyler Page in 1918



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Lesson reviewLesson review• The Second Continental Congress

adopted the American flag on June 14, 1777.

• During the Revolutionary War, several patriots made flags for our new nation. Among them was Betsy Ross.

• The colonists’ first flag was the Grand Union flag.



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Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)• The first change in the flag’s design was

in 1794.• Act requiring 15 stars and 15 stripes to

account for two new states• Official flag from 1795 to 1818



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Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)• Changes to the flag resulting from bill

signed in 1818• Union of 20 stars• Process for adding new stars to the flag

• 50-star flag• New design and arrangement of stars in the

union• Official American flag



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Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)• Colors used in the flag

• White: purity and innocence• Red: hardiness and valor• Blue: vigilance, perseverance, justice

• The American flag is traditionally a symbol of liberty and freedom.



Symbols

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Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)• Current American flag features

• 13 horizontal stripes, alternating red and white

• Union of five-pointed white stars on a blue field

• Laws that govern the flag are found in the United States Code.



Symbols

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Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)• The flag is usually displayed only from

sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open.

• A law signed in 1976 permits display of an all-weather American flag all day and night with proper lighting.



Symbols

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Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)• The flag can be displayed in good

weather on all days, especially certain holidays.

• Flag should be displayed on certain days in certain places.• At public institutions daily• At polling places on election days• At schoolhouses on school days



Symbols

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Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)• Carry the flag on the marching right or

front and center in a line of flags.• AF personnel should follow specific

guidelines for positioning and displaying the American flag.

• In general, no other flag or pennant should be placed above or to the right of the American flag.



Symbols

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Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)• In general, the American flag should be

displayed flat or hanging free.• The flag is flown at half-staff on Memorial Day

morning and by order of the president or a governor.

• When the American flag and United Nations flag are on display together, the American flag is on the right and uppermost.



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Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)• AF personnel should always show

respect to the American flag.

• Be aware of guidelines for displaying, carrying, and using the flag.

• Know how to properly destroy a flag that is no longer fit for display.



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Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)• AF personnel should follow specific

procedures to show respect to the flag.• During flag ceremonies• When the National Anthem or “To the

Colors” is played during these ceremonies• Francis Scott Key wrote “The Star-

Spangled Banner” in 1814. This poem later became the National Anthem.



Symbols

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Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)• The Pledge of Allegiance expresses

patriotism and loyalty, a free nation, and the need to preserve liberty and justice.

• Every June 14, we celebrate Flag Day.• Commemorates birthday of Stars and Stripes• 1877: First national Flag Day observed• 1949: Flag Day made permanent observance



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Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)• The Great Seal of the United States was

adopted on June 20, 1782.• Reflects Founding Fathers’ beliefs, their

values, and the sovereignty of a new nation• Obverse used to authenticate president’s

signature• Obverse and reverse appear on the dollar bill



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Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)• The design of the Air Force seal is based on

historic tradition and symbolism.• The American’s Creed is a statement about

the type of government in the United States and the principles on which it is based.

• The American’s Creed was written by William Tyler Page in 1918.



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SummarySummary• What is the history of the American flag? • What laws and regulations govern the flag? • When should the flag be displayed? • How should the flag be positioned and

displayed? • What is the proper way to show respect for

the flag?



Symbols

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Summary (cont’d)Summary (cont’d)• What courtesies should be rendered to the

flag and the National Anthem? • What is the significance of the Pledge of

Allegiance? • What is the history of Flag Day? • What is the significance of the Great Seal of

the United States? • What is the significance of the Air Force Seal? • What is the American’s Creed?



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