Historical Progression of the American Flag Design

The American Flag has been the symbol of our Nation's strength and unity for over 200 years. In May of 1776, Betsy Ross reported that she sewed the first American flag.

 
June 14, 1777 - The Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act noting that it ... "be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the Union be thirteen stars, white on a blue field, representing a new constellation."

 
Between 1777 and 1960, Congress passed several acts that changed the arrangement of the flag to allow for additional stars and stripes to be added to reflect the admission of each new state. The flag has changed 26 times since the new 13 state Union adopted it.

 
Today, the flag consists of thirteen horizontal stripes, seven red alternating with six white, representing the thirteen original colonies. The stars represent the 50 states of our Union.

 
Red symbolizes Hardiness and Valor, White symbolizes Purity and Innocence, Blue represents Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice.