Cullman Senior Fall 2020 | Page 14

20 Facts About the American Flag: 1 2 3 4 5 Pennsylvania is the only state that observes Flag Day as a state holiday. The flag has been changed 27 times. The final star, for Hawaii, was added in 1960. The flag is normally flown from sunrise to sunset. The flag should not be flown at night without a light on it. The first time the flag was flown after being adopted was on Aug. 3, 1777 in Rome, New York. 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 The designer of the American flag was Francis Hopkinson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence as a delegate from New Jersey. Betsy Ross sewed the first American Flag. There are six American flags on the moon. Five are standing but Neil Armstrong’s fell over. The flag should not be flown in the rain or inclement weather. After a tragedy or death, the flag is flown at half-staff for 30 days. It’s called “half staff” on land and half-mast on a ship. When your flag is old and has seen better days, it is time to retire it. Old flags should be burned or buried. The Flag Code bans the use of the flag as clothing. That’s right, not USA T-Shirts, bandanas or bikinis. If you like to study flags, then you are a vexillogist. The colors of the flag have meaning. Red stands for hardiness and valor. White symbolizes purity and innocence. Blue represent vigilance, perseverance and justice. When displayed on a wall or window the blue shield should be in the upper left corner. The military folds the flag with 13 folds, each with symbolic meaning. 50 flags fly 24 hours a day around the Washington monument. 95 percent of U.S. flags are made in the U.S.A. The U.S. flag always flies at the top of a staff above any other flag. 14 | FALL 2020 CULLMAN COUNTY SENIOR MAGAZINE