FACTS ABOUT THE AMERICAN FLAG

Robert N. Petucci, Department Commander
Curious about who created the American flag and the rules of its use? How many stars and stripes are on the flag? When and why do we fly the flag? What does it mean when the flag is flown upside down? Here are some AMERICAN FLAG FACTS:

• Flag Day is June 14. It is a day to honor the American flag.
• The flag has three colors: red, white and blue. Red is for courage. White is for purity. Blue is for loyalty.
• There are 50 states in the United States, and 50 stars in the flag.
• There are 13 red and white stripes. The stripes are for the 13 states in 1776, when the United States was a new country.
• No one is sure who made the first "Stars and Stripes." Most people think it was a woman named Betsy Ross.
• Show respect for the flag:
• Never let the flag touch the floor or the ground.
• Fly the flag only in the daytime.
• Keep the flag clean.
• Do not use the flag to cover a table or for clothing.
• Fold the flag carefully when you put it away.
• Fly the flag on these national holidays: Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Armed Forces Day, Veterans Day, Washington's Birthday, Lincoln's Birthday
• When an important American dies, fly the flag "at half mast" (halfway up the pole).
• The flag upside down means distress or danger.

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