LE 100 Chap 5 Lesson 1 American Flag and Other Symbols
What should you do for the raising and lowering of flag? When do we salute the flag and National Anthem?
History of American Flag
- Second Continental Congress adopted the Amer Flag in Philadelphia Jun 14, 1777
o Also call Stars and Stripes and Old Glory
o Resolution call for 13 stripes (alternating red/white and 13 stars on a blue union)
o Many different designs for stars (rows/circles) (six/eight point stars)
- Francis Hopkinson (New Jersey) responsible for stars
- Revolutionary War
o Many patriots made flags
 Cornelia Bridges
 Betsy Ross – Design based on family tradition
 Rebecca Young
 John Shaw
- Grand Union Flag (Flag of American Revolution)
o First Flag to look like present Stars and Stripes
o Known as Congress Colors, First Navy Ensign, Cambridge Flag
o 13 Stripes/Blue field w/ two crosses
 Red Cross of St. George of England
 White Cross of St Andrew of Scotland
o Unofficial Flag until 14 Jun, 1777 when Continental Congress authorized the Stars & Stripes
- 1794 Congressed passed law for 1st change to flag
o 15 Stars/15 stripes for Vermont/Kentucky
o Official flag from 1795-1818
o Inspired Francis Scott Key “Star Spangled Banner” During attack at Ft McHenry
- Capt Samuel C. Reid (USN)
o Realized flag would be to heavy to carry so…
o Suggested to Congress that stripes remain 13 for the 13 colonies and add a star for each new state
o 1818 Pres. Monroe accepted Bill for Reid’s idea
- Growth of Country changed Flag
o Added 50 stars for states
o Final design of stars passed by Pres. Eisenhower’s Exec Order 10834
o Became official American Flag
- Colors in American Flag
o White – Purity and innocence
o Red – Hardiness and valor
o Blue – vigilance, perseverance, and justice
o Raised for 1st time July 4, 1960 at Ft McHenry National Monument
o Flag is symbol of liberty and freedom
- Elements in design of flag
o 13 Horizontal stripes – 7 Red/6 White
o Union of white, 5-pointed stars on blue field
o 50 stars for states
Displaying the Flag
- Sunrise to Sunset
- 24-hours if properly lit w/ all-weather flag
- Hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously
Ways to Position and Display the Flag
- Goes on Marching right (Flag’s own right)
- On adjacent staffs: Hoist American Flag first and lower last
- Against a Wall: Union on top and to left (Vertical/Horizontal)
- Over middle of a street: Vertically with union to East of North/South and North of East/West
- Speakers right/Audience left
- When at Half Staff: Raise first to peak and then to half staff / Lowering – raise to peak and then lower
- Casket: Union goes at the head and over deceased left shoulder
- Never dip the flag
- Union down for distress signal
- Never touch anything below it
Reveille/Retreat
- Start of duty day
- End of duty day/respect for flag
- National Anthem played at flag ceremonies
o May use “To The Colors”
Courtesies to the Flag
- Uniform in Formation – CC gives present arms
- Uniform not in Formation – Salute Flag or Music
- Indoors – Come to attention
- Outdoors
o In Uniform: Salute
o No Uniform: Attention, place hand over heart (remove cap)
- Escorted Flag outdoors – Salute six paces before and drop six paces after
- While in vehicle – Stop and sit quietly
National Anthem
- Francis Scott Key (lawyer/poet) 1814
o British fleet bombarded Ft McHenry in Baltimore, MD
o Watched attack from ship after rejected from going ashore
o Next morning looked thru telescope and saw flag and wrote the “Star Spangled Banner”
Pledge of Allegiance
- Original drawn up in Aug 1892 to celebrate 400th Anniversary of discovery of America
- Public Schools first used it on Columbus Day October 1892
- Two claimed authors
o Upham (Partner for the magazine)
o Bellamy (former minister)
 79th Congress recognized Bellamy as Author in 1945
- Originally read “my flag” instead of “the flag of the United States”
o Changed so foreigners would think of American Flag instead of native flags
- Pledge is an expression of loyalty and patriotism to the flag
o Expression of free nation and recognizes GOD as its superior and source of strength
- Go to Page 271 and go over this page
Flag Day
- Celebrated each year on June 14th (Birthday 1777)
- First flew in a Flag day celebration in Hartford, CT in 1861 during first summer of Civil War
Great Seal of the United States
- July 4th, 1776 – Continental Congress passed resolution for seal
- Reflects Founding Fathers beliefs, values, and sovereignty of the new nation
- Obverse Side:
o Shield (Red, White, Blue) 13 original colonies and Congress
o E Pluribus Unum (out of many, one) refers to the union
o Olive Branch and arrows (peace and war) Head of eagle faces peace
o Constellation of stars symbolizes new nation
o Obverse is the U.S Coat of Arms
- Reverse Side:
o Pyramid – Strength and duration
o Eye and motto “Annuit Coeptis (meaning He (GOD) has favored our undertakings)
o Roman Numerals – Date of Decl of Indep.
o Novus Ordo Seclorum (New order of ages) Beginning of new American Era in 1776
Air Force Seal
- Historic tradition and symbolism
- AF Colors of Ultramarine Blue and AF Yellow
- Coat of Arms has two parts
o Crest (Eagle, Wreath and cloud formation)
 Eagle – US and its airpower
 Wreath – Six alternate folds of metal (White for silver and light blue)
 White clouds – start of a new sky (Dept of AF)
o Shield (two parts)
 Nebulous line represents clouds
 Thunderbolt w/ flames – Striking power thru use of aerospace
 13 white encircling stars – 13 original colonies
 Yellow numbers are date AF established
American’s Creed
- William Tyler Page wrote in 1918 for nationwide contest
I am an American airman.
I am a warrior.
I have answered my nation’s call.
I am an American airman.
My mission is to fly, fight and win.
I am faithful to a proud heritage,
a tradition of honor,
and a legacy of valor.
I am an American airman,
guardian of freedom and justice,
my nation’s sword and shield,
its sentry and avenger.
I defend my country with my life.
I am an American airman,
wingman, leader, warrior.
I will never leave an airman behind,
I will never falter,
and I will not fail.”