American flag facts etiquette and history

Stars and stripes, old glory, the star-spangled banner, nicknames for our American flag. Here are some facts about our nation's most recognized symbol. The Betsy Ross flag was the first official flag of the United States, designed with 13 stars and 13 stripes to represent the 13 colonies that declared independence from Great Britain in 1776. While legend says Betsy Ross designed and sewed this flag, most historians think the designer was Francis Hopkinson, a delegate from New Jersey who was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The flag became official on June 14, 1777. This date is now celebrated annually as Flag Day. By the way, the only president to serve under this original flag was George Washington. The current flag is the 27th version since the country was born. It was last updated in 1959 when Hawaii became the 50th star. According to the U.S. flag code, the flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. The U.S. flag is often displayed incorrectly, so here are some rules to help you out. The flag is typically flown from sunrise to sundown. The flag should be allowed to flow freely, never bound from the corners. People often make this mistake. When displayed vertically, this way is wrong. The union is always at the top left to the viewer. Oh yeah, and you should never do the following. Fly a torn and tattered flag. Let it touch the ground or water. Use it as clothing, bedding, or drapery. Place anything on the flag like letters, logos, or designs. So there you have it, America. Display that flag proudly, but do it right.