It was an ordinary day. Checking out the flags of a few countries that Carol and I have visited in the past 20 years after my retirement from teaching. We have traveled to a few countries in Europe as well as quite a few islands in the Caribbean. And, each country had one thing different than all he rest...it's own flag! Flags are used by countries for portraying itself to the rest of the world. But, before that, they were used for two main reasons: to rally troops in battle and to connect ancient people with a supernatural power (generally a god or deity). Flags date back about 5,000 years, though I couldn't pin down exactly when the first flag was raised. Could be because the first flags weren't flags at all, but vexilloids which were large, wooden staves engraved with an emblem. In the past, locales such as Iran, Egypt and Rome had their armies gather behind such rallying posts. In battle, vexilloids helped define where each side's territory began and ended, helping curb inadvertent friendly fire. It wasn't until the 6th century that the vexilloids started to evolve into flags. Probably had something to do with the distribution of silk from China. The Ottoman Empire was one of the first ancient civilizations to create what we'd recognize today as a flag. Now, if you are not a resident of the United States of America, you may not know the story of our flag. Story deals with the Philadelphia seamstress known as Betsy Ross.
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| The "Betsy Ross" Flag |
She was supposed to have designed our flag. But, after I read a half-dozen stories, I find that might not be true. It was a few weeks shy of our country celebrating it's one-year anniversary when the 2nd Continental Congress passed a resolution establishing an official flag for our nation. Seems that the flag we use today is the 27th version of our national banner. The first design seems to have been inspired by the British East India Company. The first "official" flag was created in June 1775 and was known as the Continental Colors or the Grand Union Flag. It had 13 red and white alternating stripes to represent the 13 original colonies. But, that flag had a Union Jack in its corner which was a problem for a nation that was fighting to be independent from the British crown. The Continental Colors were believed to have been raised on January 1, 1776 in Massachusetts at the request of George Washington. But the Second Continental Congress wanted a flag different than the British one. So on June 14, 1777 Congress settled on a flag with alternating red and white stripes and 13 white stars in a blue field. No one really knows why those colors were chosen or why that pattern was chosen. Anyway, the Stars and Stripes were finally flown for the first time in September 1777 during the Revolutionary War. The idea that Betsy Ross made the flag came about when her grandson, William Canby, told the story to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in 1870. Mr. Canby claimed his Grandma made the flag one day after Gen. George Washington, Revolutionary War financier Robert Morris and Col. George Ross stopped at her place for a meeting. Col. Ross, the uncle of her dead husband, wasn't the only one she recognized, since she also knew the handsome Commander in Chief who had visited her shop both professionally as well as socially many time. She was given instructions that the flag should bear 13 alternating red and white stripes, and should include 13 six-pointed white stars in a blue background. She used most of the instructions, but changed the stars to five-pointed stars. She designed and sewed the flag and Congress later approved it. So, I guess you could say she made the First American flag! At least according to her grandson. It was also thought that Betsy's dead husband's uncle, George Ross, recommended her for the job. And...she was a seamstress!
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| Could this be proof that Betsy Ross made the first USA Flag! |
Right! But, the strongest piece of evidence that she made the first flag was the receipt of more than 14 pounds paid to her on May 29, 1777 by the Pennsylvania State Navy Board which said...for the materials for making "ships colors" - leaving any overwhelming proof to be desired. Now, I could list a few other theories which I found...but, I don't like any of them as much as the one about Betsy making the flag. Check back tomorrow to read about a new flag that was recently designed and made by a young girl named Roselle Richardson. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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