Flags of/in the USAI've been collecting USA Flags pertaining to places we've lived or visited.Or that I just find interesting. Here's a rather complete article about the USA Flag (all versions). Here's another informative website: Flags of the World (sponsored by CRWflags.com). Unique "Constellations" of Old Glory. Email Jamie | "Jamie's Flags" on Facebook (follow for postings on my flag-flying days) 
For the last several generations, we have come to think of our flag as fairly static because it hasn't changed much. The 48-star flag came in 1912 and the 50-star flag in 1960, totaling 112 years (and more, actually) of flags that you couldn't tell one from the other unless you were close enough to actually count the stars. But, for the first 150 years of the USA, we had many, many varieties of the flag, plus changing the number of stars every three years (on average). It was very dynamic; one could feel the country growing just by seeing the flag changing regularly.Office Wall Flag Until June 14 of 1777, there was no official USA flag. The 1777 resolution stated, "That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation." Any flag up to that point and afterward would become an official USA flag if it met those few criteria. There would be later updates of the flag code. Flags not meeting that description would be better referred to as Historic USA flags rather than official flags. June 14 is Flag Day if proclaimed such by the sitting President each year. Most Recently Flown: November 18, 2024 - 13-Star ("Brandywine") The USA flag ideally is flown every day, but especially on these days (2024). Rare Flags (informative website) | National Flag Foundation | Flag Code Flag Acts of 1777, 1794, and 1818 There are quite a few places you can buy these flags. Your local flag store might have some or be able to get them for you. Mine have come from ultimateflags.com, gettysburgflag.com, uspatriotflags.com, and amazon.com. I prefer embroidered, cotton flags as they are heavier and hang better without a tendency to wrap around my angled, wall-mounted pole. Lighter flags work better on vertical poles as even light wind can unfurl them to be fully seen. Here's a brief article of mine about flags in the Bible.  Surprisingly, books for adults on the subject of American flag history are hard to find. Here are some I've found worthy so far: Flag: An American Biography by Marc Leepson, 2006 (zero images, ignore the Robert Heft part); Inventing the American Flag by Henry W. Moeller, 2019 (full color); The Stars and The Stripes by Boleslaw and Marie-Louise D'Otrange Mastai, 1973 (full color); The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord & Conflict by Madaus and Smith, 2006 (full color); and A Grand Old Flag: A History of the United States Through its Flags by Kevin and Peter Keim, 2007 (full color). 
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Index: "George Rogers Clark" Flag "Grand Union" Flag "Sons of Liberty" Flag 13-Star ("Betsy Ross") 13-Star ("Bennington/Fillmore") 13-Star ("Brandywine") 13-Star ("Cowpens") 13-Star ("Easton") 13-Star ("Green Mountain Boys") 13-Star ("Guilford") 13-Star ("Hopkinson") 13-Star ("Hulbert") 13-Star ("Nyberg III Percenter") 13-Star ("Serapis" / "Franklin") 13-Star ("Trumbull") 13-Star ("George Washington Jack") 15-Star (Fort McHenry) 15-Star (rows) 20-Star (Great Star Flag) 20-Star (rows) 24-Star ("Old Glory" I) 28-Star (Great Luminary Texas) 31-Star (+CA) 33-Star (diamond-shaped) 33-Star (Fort Sumter) 34-Star (+KS) 34-Star ("William Driver" / "Old Glory" II) 35-Star ("Great Star") 35-Star (rows) 36-Star ("Wagon Wheel") 37-Star (+NE) 38-Star (Centennial Flag, +CO) 44-Star (+WY) 45-Star (+UT) 48-Star (+AZ and +NM) 50-Star (+AK and +HI) "POW-MIA Flag" U.S. Air Force U.S. Marines U.S. Navy First Responders Colorado State Flag Utah State Flag Colorado Springs City Flag University of Colorado at Colorado Springs US Air Force Academy (official) US Air Force Academy (not official) Western Colorado University Denver Broncos (NFL) Kansas City Chiefs (NFL) When Visible on All Sides 
Half-Staff: Flags are flown at half-staff on specific national days of mourning or when decreed at a VIPs death as days of mourning. The proper way to post a flag at half-staff is to briskly hoist it all the way to the top, pause at the peak, remember, then solemnly lower it back down halfway to fly at that position all day. When retiring the half-staff flag, raise it back to the top, pause again, remember, and then lower it to the base. When half-staff is not possible (like with my stubby, angled, fixed position, wall-mounted pole), a black ribbon may be attached at the top of the flag's hoist (pictured at right).Please consider donating to a charity (501c3) that focuses on wounded troops services, military social services, military family support, and first responders services and support. There's a vetted list of all kinds of charities at CharityNavigator.org. Thank you. Flag Terms |
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"George Rogers Clark" Flag Who knew there was a flag that mixed two of my favorite things: Christmas and flags of American history. Yet here it is! The flag consists simply of 13 stripes alternating red and green. The color scheme is the only connection to Christmas, and it's purely coincidental. The 1779 Battle of Sackville during the Revolutionary War took place near/in what is today Vincennes, Indiana (at the time, it was considered part of Virginia). George Rogers Clark, at 26 years of age, took back Fort Sackville from the British on February 25, 1779. While Clark's name is associated with this flag today, it probably pre-dated him in Vincennes and at Fort Sackville. The flag was probably designed by Captain Leonard Helm who held the Fort before it was taken by the British in 1777. Clark apparently used many flags as he attacked the Fort in 1779 in order to deceive the British into thinking his forces were far greater than they actually were. This flag was one of the first American flags flown in the current State of Indiana. The fort was later renamed Fort Patrick Henry after Virginia's then governor. After it became dilapidated, a new fort was built nearby in 1787 and was named Fort Knox I. A Fort Knox II was ordered in 1803 and was built nearby. In 1813, it, too, was taken down and rebuilt as Fort Knox III just yards from the site of Fort Knox I. All was abandoned in 1814. The stripes were not particularly unusual, but why red and green? It's a mystery. It may have related to communications with the Indians, red/green belts or wampum meaning war or peace. Red and green were also said to represent the Wabash River (along which Fort Sackville was located). The only fact I could link to color is the river's well-known blue-green algae. The name Wabash means "White Shining River" from the white limestone bed of the upper river. More about the Battle of Vincennes. More about George Rogers Clark - the Washington of the West. He's also referred to as the "Cannibal of the West" - his story is checkered.  Here's a video reenactment: The World of George Rogers Clark. See the Indiana Historical Bureau's holdings on George Rogers Clark. Most recently flown September 14, 2024. 
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"Grand Union" Flag The Grand Union Flag is probably the very first truly American flag (as in discussed and agreed upon to some degree at a federal level, the Continental Congress). It's also referred to as the Continental Union Flag, the American Flag, Congress Colors, First Navy Ensign, and the Cambridge Flag. It's a blend of British imagery, the Union Jack (in the canton), and American imagery, 13 white/red stripes (in the field). Some say it reflected a time period when the colonists were split in allegiance and some sort of reconciliation or remaining connection to Britain seemed possible. It first flew in December of 1775 at the commissioning of Admiral Esek Hopkins' flagship, Alfred, commanded by Lieutenant John Paul Jones (this is why the name First Navy Ensign; an ensign is a national flag flown on ships and aircraft). This flag was effectively moved from "official" status to "historical" status as an American flag when the Flag Act was passed in 1777 (requiring 13 white stars in a blue canton and 13 red/white stripes in the field). This flag was our unofficial national flag on July 4, 1776 - Independence Day. Seems amazingly ironic. The name "Cambridge" comes from the fact that George Washington was stationed at Cambridge, Massachusetts when this flag was discussed in Philadelphia and where it flew later in January of 1776. The British Union Jack in the canton is made up of the cross of St. George of England (red) and the cross of St. Andrew of Scotland (white). Notice that this Union Jack does not include the red lines at 45-degree angles of today's flag of Great Britain. This (only two crosses) is how Great Britain's Union Jack looked from 1606 until it became the United Kingdom in 1801 when Northern Ireland joined and those angled red lines, the Cross of St. Patrick (red saltire), were added to their flag for Northern Ireland. This flag bears a striking resemblance to one of the stages in the development of the Flag of the East India Company. Apparently, Benjamin Franklin referred to this flag when discussing what the American flag might look like. I think it's good to remember that we Americans do share a long history with one of our greatest allies of today, Great Britain. (Ireland is not technically a military ally of the U.S. and is not a member of NATO.) Most recently flown September 29, 2024 (Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day).
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"Sons of Liberty" Flag The history of this flag began in 1765 when a band of patriots, "the Loyal Nine," was formed. This was the group behind the Boston Tea Party. The flag was also known as the Rebellious Stripes. That first flag, adopted in 1767, had just 9 vertical red/white stripes and no canton. Some say it was a "cut up" version of a British ensign flag. The number nine is said to come from the number of colonies protesting the Stamp Act of 1765 (because of the short notice, otherwise it probably would have been all 13). Later the flag became 13 (for all the colonies, of course) horizontal red/white stripes as I have here. The 13-stripe version was used by Commodore Esek Hopkins and by American merchant ships during the war. You'll recognize the names of some members of the group: Samuel Adams. John Hancock, Patrick Henry, Paul Revere, and Benedict Arnold. You'll also recognize their motto, "No taxation without representation." For more info, see Libertarian Institute's article, "The Sons of Liberty Flag." See also Wikipedia's "Sons of Liberty."  One of the original Sons of Liberty flags is displayed at the Old State House in Boston. Most recently flown September 22, 2024.
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13-Star ("Betsy Ross") For the last day of National Flag Week, we're flying the 13-star "Betsy Ross" Flag. Flag Week is a 7-day period in June of each year that contains June 14th and is proclaimed by the sitting President. It was on June 14, 1777, that the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution saying, "RESOLVED, that the flag of the 13 United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white: That the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation." There were a number of variations that met this description. It's clear where "Stars and Stripes" comes from. While it can't be confirmed who actually made or designed the first flag, it seems Betsy Ross' name will be forever associated with the first flag. Flag Day was first proclaimed by President Wilson in 1916 and became an official national observance day in 1949 when Congress approved and President Truman signed a bill. There was some debate over the stars being 5-point or 6-point; 5-point won out. Some suggest the circle (or "wreath" or "medallion") of stars was to indicate no one state was dominant. There were many 13-star patterns as the 1777 law was not very specific about the layout. This many-patterns situation lasted until 1912 when some details of a flag's layout were regulated. One of the more unusual 13-star flags is the "Great Luminary Pattern" of 1790 where the overall pattern forms one large "arching" star. This became the country's flag when New Jersey and Pennsylvania were added to the Union (as part of the original 13 colonies).  The American Stars and Stripes Flies for the First Time September 3, 1777 by Steve Balestrieri 2017. Most recently flown June 15, 2024.
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13-Star ("Bennington/Fillmore") You'll immediately notice the unique "76" on this flag. There aren't many US flags with anything on them beyond stars and stripes. It's called the Bennington Flag as it was supposedly flown at the Battle of Bennington and carried off by Nathaniel Fillmore Sr. (though there is considerable doubt about that based on the all-cotton fabric, not silk, linen, or wool as in the late-1700s). Another theory is that the flag was designed and made for the Centennial of 1876; and there are several events/dates in between suggested for the flag's origin/purpose as well. The oldest known copy is also much larger (65 x 115 inches) than would be flown in battle. This was most likely an early 1800s flag commemorating the "Spirit of '76." However, just because extant copies are too young, that doesn't prove a flag that looked like it never flew in the Revolutionary War. The flag is unique in that the top and bottom stripes are white rather than red as on most US flags. The 7-point stars are unusual for more modern flags but were somewhat common back in the day. Lastly, the canton (blue area) is much taller (spans 9 stripes) than on most flags (spans 7 stripes). I could find no explanation as to why two of the stars are separated out from the rest except for ease of sewing and balance of design. It is sometimes referred to as the Fillmore flag as it was passed down through the Fillmore family, as in President Millard Fillmore (Nathaniel's grandson). For more, see this Bennington Flag webpage. The existing Bennington Flag is in the Bennington Museum, Bennington, Vermont.  A Bennington Flag at Kosovo 1968-1970: A Flag's Journey Most recently flown September 1, 2024 (Labor Day Weekend).
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13-Star ("Brandywine") The flag is named after the 1777 Battle of Brandywine (Creek) where the British attacked the Continental Army outside Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. The battle involved more troops and lasted longer than any other battle of the Revolutionary War. This flag was most likely carried in that battle by the Chester County Militia (though some say it was the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment). It's designer is unknown. It was during this battle and in fear of Philadelphia falling to the British that Lancaster, PA became the capital of the United States for a day (September 27, 1777) before it moved on to York, PA. Here is a rather detailed account of the flag's genealogy: The Brandywine Flag. The linked document also includes interesting discussion of what "colors" are, general flag designs at the time, military versus national flags, what goes into authenticating a flag, and more. The flag, although looking rather odd to 2024 eyes, almost met the standards set by the original flag resolution of 1777: 13 stars with 13 red and white stripes. The only part missing is the blue field for the stars. Also, 8-point stars were not unknown in the day, but look odd now. One thing the Flag Act of 1777 did not mention at all was the shape of the flag. You'll note that this flag, unlike most, is square.  This flag is currently housed at the Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia where the Liberty Bell, the Declaration, and the Constitution are housed. Most recently flown November 18, 2024.
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13-Star ("Cowpens") The Cowpens Flag, also called the 3rd Maryland (Regiment) Flag, is said to have flown at the Battle of Cowpens in 1781. Cowpens is a small town in South Carolina that still exists today. The term cowpens is also literal as this was cattle country. There is also today a Cowpens National Battlefield just north of the town nearly at the northern state line. This was a major victory for the Americans and some of the men involved here were later involved in another British defeat at the Battle of Guilford (see the Guilford Flag). The defeated British Colonel was Banastre Tarleton, who happens to be the villain in the Mel Gibson movie, "The Patriot." The Cowpens Flag may have been used in the Revolutionary War, but the oldest known extant copy probably was made around 1840 (based on the fabric). It was also thought to have first appeared during the War of 1812, but even that predates the extant flag. The only thing known for sure is that the extant copy was passed down through the William Batchelor family and that a Batchelor fought in the Battle of Cowpens; the two facts being true but not necessarily connected. You can remember the name of this flag if you think of a lone cow in a circular pen of stars. For more details, read: Cowpens Flag at Revolutionary-War-and-Beyond.com.  The Spirit of '76 (aka Yankee Doodle) by Archibald Willard, c. 1875 The photo at left was taken when this flag was flown on Patriot Day (9/11) of 2024. The black ribbon equates to being flown at half-staff. Patriot Day is held on September 11th of each year in memory of those killed by the hijackers on 9/11/2001. This National Day of Mourning was formalized in the U.S. House on 10/25/2001 and since then the sitting President has declared 9/11 as Patriot Day each year. A moment of silence is observed at 8:46am EDT to coincide with the first strike on the Twin Towers in New York City. Most recently flown September 11, 2024 (Patriot Day).
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13-Star ("Easton") It's all flipped! The stars are where the stripes belong and the stripes are where the stars belong (that is, as we think of our flag today). This definitely qualifies as one of the more unique American history flags. Note the stars are 8-pointed as well. And its namesake - Easton, Pennsylvania - is in my childhood's neck of the woods. This is still today the flag of Easton, PA (about 51 miles, as the bird flies, due north of Philadelphia where my Dad grew up). My early childhood was all about Pennsylvania and New Jersey with Easton about midway between my grandparents' homes. So, why is this flag referred to as the Easton Flag? Because, this was (supposedly) the flag that flew over Easton, PA when the Declaration of Independence was read for the first time to the public by Robert Levers on July 8, 1776. On the day the Declaration became official, Congress decreed it would be printed and read throughout the colonies. Philadelphia, PA (July 4th); Trenton, NJ (July 8th); and Easton, PA (July 8th) were the first to have it read to the public. It was read in New York City on July 9th. If this is true (that this flag flew over Easton in 1776 for this reading), the Easton Flag would predate the "Betsy Ross" flag by about a year.  However, it is not a rock solid fact that this flag flew over Easton on that day in 1776. The earliest confirmable date for this flag is in 1814 when it was given to Captain Abraham Horn's Company during the War of 1812. Pictured above is the 1814 flag at the Easton Public Library today. Here's more: A Short History of Easton's Flag (Retyped).  The Easton Flag was featured on a postage stamp in 2000. Checkout this video: Your PA Dutch Minute: The Easton Flag! Most recently flown November 9, 2024.
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13-Star ("Green Mountain Boys") This flag is referred to as the Green Mountain Boys Flag and/or the Stark Flag. A remnant of an original Revolutionary War copy of this flag was in the General John Stark family. Stark was likely at the Battle of Bennington flying this flag. Note the unusual 13-star pattern as well as the remarkable solid green body where we expect the stripes to be. The canton background also has an unusually dark blue background. This was the flag of a group of militia men known as the Green Mountain Boys. This militia was originally formed to protect their land grants from New York. The Green Mountains are in what is now Vermont. Under the command of Ethan Allen, one of the Green Mountain Boys most known accomplishments was winning a battle at Fort Ticonderoga. They won several other battles as well. This flag serves today as the regimental flag of the Vermont National Guard. A remnant of this flag is held at the Bennington Museum. Here's the Wikipedia entry for the Green Mountain Boys. And here's a 5-minute video: Green Mountain Boys (1770s): Heroes of the American Revolution.  Airmen assigned to the Vermont Air National Guard's 158th Fighter Wing hold a Green Mountain Battle flag in front of their U.S. Air Force F-35A Lighting II after successfully completing an Agile Combat Employment exercise to support the NATO Air Shielding mission at Amari Air Base, Estonia, July 15, 2022. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo) Flown September 25, 2024. On this day in 1775, Ethan Allen, one of the Green Mountain Boys, was captured by the British. On this day in 1780, Benedict Arnold, also a Green Mountain Boy, defected to the British.
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13-Star ("Guilford") This flag is referred to as the Guilford Flag (and sometimes the "North Carolina Militia Flag"). It was a North Carolina militia banner supposedly flown at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in 1781 (not long after the Battle of Cowpens). The Battle of Guilford took place near Greensboro, NC. The British won the battle, but as they say, started losing the war with significant British lives lost to the point where Cornwallis retreated from the south and headed back to Virginia where he eventually surrendered to George Washington after the Battle of Yorktown. Nearly everything about this flag is different: its dimensions, blue stars on an elongated white canton (reversed colors), 8-pointed stars, and blue (not white) and red stripes. About the only similarity was the star count: 13. Like many flags purportedly of the period, its use and even existence at the time are questioned. It's said that the flag was carried off the battle field by Macajah Bullock and kept by his family until it was donated in 1909 to the Grand Masonic Lodge of North Carolina and eventually given to the North Carolina Museum of History. A 2010 study of the textile suggested it could, in fact, be from the 1700s, but other reviewers note the cotton fabric was not widely available during that period. Here's a series of videos about the battle: 100 Days: The Guilford Courthouse Campaign.  The oldest extant Guilford Flag is at the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh, North Carolina. Most recently flown September 17, 2024 (Constitution/Citizenship Day). The Founding Fathers signed the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787, 237 years ago today. Also, as Citizenship Day, Americans are to reflect on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
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13-Star ("Hopkinson") This is the "Hopkinson Flag," another variant of our 13-star flags. Unlike the Betsy Ross Flag, there is actual proof that Congressman Francis Hopkinson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, created this flag: a bill/invoice submitted to the Treasury for this design as well as several other official designs. However, his claim is still disputed. The notable feature of the design is the 6-point star. Until the end of the 1700s, there were several designs of 6-, 7-, and even 8-point stars. The flag codes have never specified a number of points on each star. Sometime during the 1800s, U.S. flag producers settled in on 5-point stars which existed from the very beginning (e.g. "Betsy Ross" flag) and continue to this day. Flags of many countries use 5-point stars. 5-point stars are also common in heraldry, i.e. shields, coats of arm, seals, etc. For a rundown of 13-star flags, see this 13 Star Flag webpage (which includes details about the disputed Hopkinson claim). Most recently flown August 15, 2024.
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13-Star ("Hulbert") The controversy over this flag is not about genuine, or old, or even who likely made it. Rather, can it claim to be the first truly American flag meeting the requirements of the Flag Resolution of 1777? Here's the story... Continental Army Captain John Hulbert is credited by some as creating this flag and flying it with the 3rd New York Regiment up to or at Fort Ticonderoga (New York). The fort had been captured earlier in May 1775 by Ethan Allen's Green Mountain Boys and Hulbert's group then took the British prisoners to Trenton, and then went on to Philadelphia where his flag design might have influenced flag makers and/or decisionmakers (maybe even Hopkinson). The flag was found in 1926 in the attic of a house where Hulbert once lived which is why it's named after him. What seems mostly agreed upon is that this extant flag is from the 1700s as the fabric is appropriate. It's clearly Revolutionary period, but exactly when is not known. And it does meet the standards as set forth later in the first Flag Resolution of 1777. Remember, this story takes place a year before we even declare independence. Here's some more on the "first flag" issue: Some Say John Hulbert of Bridgehampton Made the First American Flag. Note the 6-point stars in a diamond pattern. Diamond-shaped patterns became somewhat popular early on and didn't fade out until after the Civil War, giving way to the various row patterns that also existed early on and have been exclusively used since the late 1800s. Likewise, the number of points on the stars settled in to exclusively five about the same time (late 1800s). The 38-star Centennial Flag was about the last of our flags to have star patterns other than rows. This Hulbert Flag is made of worsted wool with the stars made out of cotton muslin (loosely woven cotton fabric). For more, see Capture the Flag in the East Hampton Star.  The extant flag is held by the Suffolk County Historical Society. Most recently flown September 20, 2024 (National POW/MIA Recognition Day).
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13-Star ("Nyberg III Percenter") This is the "Nyberg Three Percent Flag." While it may look like a 1776 vintage flag, this is actually a very new flag design (this century) based on the belief that roughly 3% (Roman numeral III) of the population at the time actually fought in the Revolutionary War. To be clear, this flag has never been considered any kind of official U.S. flag. The intent today seems a bit more ominous as this flag is often associated with extreme anti-government type organizations; revolutionists, you might say. The design is credited to Gayle Nyberg in recognition of the idea that often great change comes about by the efforts of a relatively small group of people. I could not confirm whether she designed it, made it, sold it, promoted it, or what. From UltimateFlags.com, "The III % is an American patriot movement that pledges resistance against the infringement of the United States Constitution. The group's primary purpose is to protect their views of constitutional rights and has been characterized as being ideologically like the Oath Keepers." As you might imagine, it's controversial. Some say it's more about liberty than it is about the U.S. Constitution specifically. I fly it today, National Nonprofit Day (August 17), to commemorate the notion that small groups can do great things. Actually, the nonprofit sector currently employs around 10% of the U.S. workforce. But they tend to do it often in small organizations, relatively speaking, and they also tend to leverage a great deal of volunteer effort which greatly enhances their effectiveness. So, apparently, you can still design a U.S. flag if you want, and you can even get stores to sell it if it generates enough interest. But it won't become any kind of official U.S. flag. Maybe a footnote in American history, time will tell... Most recently flown August 17, 2024.
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13-Star ("Serapis" / "Franklin") This flag's story is unique. It was created in an "emergency situation" of sorts when John Paul Jones sailed into Texel (neutral Dutch territory) with the HMS Serapis, a British ship he had just captured. He lost his own ship in that battle (Battle of Flamborough Head, September 23, 1779), including its flag, and the flag of the Serapis had also been lost in the battle. The ship was flagless. A flagless ship is a pirate ship, and the British wanted him hung for piracy. Ben Franklin intervened with this quickly made flag, that was somewhat in keeping with the "stars and stripes" idea, to fly over the Serapis. Captain Jones was saved. Serapis (Σέραπις, Biblical Greek) is a Graeco-Egyptian god. Some scholars think that belief in Serapis was inspired by or confused with Joseph, Chief Administrator of Egypt (and of "many-colored coat" fame in the Book of Genesis). Apparently this is mentioned in the Talmud (a Jewish sacred text). It is said that this flag was first described in a letter from Benjamin Franklin to the ambassador of Naples in 1778: "It is with pleasure that we acquaint your excellency that the flag of the United States of America consists of thirteen stripes, alternately red, white, and blue; a small square in the upper angle, next the flagstaff, is a blue field, with thirteen white stars, denoting a new constellation." No one seems able to explain why this description did not match the Flag Act of 1777. John Paul Jones was Scottish-born. He served in the British Merchant Navy. Following a nasty incident, he fled to the Virginia Colony and joined the Continental Navy in 1775. Wikipedia: John Paul Jones. Note the 8-point stars and the blue stripes, the latter somewhat erratically (maybe hurriedly?) placed.  While the flag had only a brief and very specific life in Revolutionary War times, it is carried today by the 111th Infantry Regiment of the United States Army which was founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1747. It also flies today on the USS John Paul Jones (pictured above). The Naval Academy has a room dedicated to John Paul Jones (showing a Serapis flag at left), see a photo under: U.S. Navy Flag.  The Serapis/Franklin Flag was featured on a 33-cent postage stamp in 2000. Here it's called "The John Paul Jones Flag." Most recently flown November 16, 2024.
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13-Star ("Trumbull") As far as I can tell, this is the only basic design with a rectangular constellation and a lone star in the middle (though there were several variations of it). Note that he used 6-point stars. This flag is named after John Trumbull who is known for his paintings of events in the founding of the USA, some of which include an image of this flag. Some of his more well-known paintings are in the Capitol Rotunda in DC. He was also a military man and probably was with the Continental Army. Two of his more famous paintings are "The Surrender of Lord Cornwallis" which shows this flag on the right side (see below) and a painting of the "Declaration of Independence" which happens to be on the reverse of the $2 bill. The oldest extant copy of this flag for which I could find reference is possibly dated circa 1850s or later (see the noted video below). Though somewhat controversial, it is said that this flag flew at the Battles of Yorktown (1781) and Princeton (1777). A painting of the Battle of Princeton includes what could be construed as a Trumbull flag (hard to tell exactly). There is a Fort Trumbull in Connecticut, but that's named after a different Jonathan Trumbull, Governor of Connecticut, our John Trumbull's father. Trumbull's name is also associated with the Continental Flag (coming soon). For more about this flag (including showing a silk version of one) and Trumbull, see Jeff Bridgman's video (19 minutes). "A similar design appears on a brass artillery cap, dated to 1778, unearthed at an archeological dig in New Jersey. Some historians believe this to be the oldest image of the Stars and Stripes." (AmericanFlagStories.net)  Trumbull, "The Surrender of Lord Cornwallis," 1820, Wikipedia. Based on smaller versions from 1780s and 1790s. Some think this was an "artistic version" of the original flags in battle.  "Declaration of Independence" by Trumbull, on the $2 bill Most recently flown August 24, 2024 (for a Family Dinner topic).
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13-Star ("George Washington's Headquarters Flag") 1777-1783 One will immediately notice that the flag appears to be entirely "canton" (which is normally the upper left quadrant of a flag, which in the case of typical U.S. flags has white stars on a blue background) with no field (the rest of the flag). Technically, this flag is all field with stars and "sky" instead of stripes, and no canton at all. This flag is also referred to as the Commander-in-Chief Standard. These were flags used to identify the location of the commander of a military unit. Note the 6-pointed stars which in the original are uniquely shaped (see below). It's also fairly small, about 2' x 3', and thus sometimes referred to as a banner.  The extant copy of this flag (above), like others, claims to be the earliest surviving 13-star American flag. And it may well be! Descendents of George Washington's family donated this flag to the Valley Forge Historical Society in the early 1990s which became the Museum of the American Revolution. It's made of silk.  "Battle of Princeton" by James Peale, ca. 1782. Note the lighter shade of blue, which it actually was. Most recently flown October 19, 2024. On this day in 1781 (243 years ago), the Siege of Yorktown ended in a victory by the Continental Army under George Washington with help from several French forces. This is generally viewed as the end for the British in the American Revolutionary War, leading to surrender by Cornwallis. War in England between the British, France, and Spain continued another two years. The Treaty of Paris, September 3, 1783, marked Britain's final recognition of the United States as an independent country. Wikipedia: American Revolutionary War.
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15-Star (Fort McHenry) 1795-1818 This is the "Star-Spangled Banner," the 15-star flag that flew over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. It's the only USA flag to have 15 stripes as well. It's the flag Francis Scott Key saw the morning after the attack on Fort McHenry during the War of 1812 that inspired him to write our national anthem. There were actually 18 states at the time, but the making of a new flag to account for new states had not yet happened. In addition to 15 stars, there were 15 stripes. At one point they planned for one stripe for each state as well as one star but gave that up soon after this flag and went back to 13 stripes forever as it is today. It can also be recognized by a red stripe bordering the blue field at the bottom; on today's flag, a white stripe borders the bottom of the blue. It's "spangled" because the stars are all mixed in their orientations (they're all oriented the same today). We visited Fort McHenry on a 2022 trip to Baltimore (photo below of actual size flag). We've also seen the actual Star-Spangled Banner from Fort McHenry at the Smithsonian's American History Museum on the Mall in DC. Vermont and Kentucky were the 14th and 15th State to join the Union. It was a 15-star flag that first flew over a captured facility "overseas." It was the Marines that captured Derna in Tripoli (now called Libya, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the south) in 1805. This was part of the Barbary War (mostly against pirates). And this is where "from the shores of Tripoli" comes from in the Marines' anthem. The "Star-Spangled Banner" (of Fort McHenry) is one of the best documented of the earliest flags. The actual flag is at the Smithsonian. We know who made it: Mary Young Pickersgill of Baltimore; all 30x42 feet of it. And we have the receipt ($405.90 for the 30x42 flag and $168.54 for a smaller version of the same flag which also flew at Fort McHenry). Visit the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House.  Here's a great video interview by Mike Rowe at Fort McHenry: Bringing the Anthem to Life. Most recently flown September 8, 2024. Flown May 25, 2024.
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15-Star (rows) 1795-1818 
This is the fraternal twin of the Star-Spangled Banner, the "Fort McHenry" flag. They both have 15 stars and the rows are offset, but unlike the Star-Spangled Banner, these stars all point up. As with many early flags, there were many variations. In addition to the spangled Fort McHenry and this 5 rows of 3 stars each offset, there was also an aligned set of 3 rows with 5 stars each. A variation of the latter had one larger star in the center. Some, like the Star-Spangled Banner at Fort McHenry and this one, had 15 stripes, others had 13 stripes. Some had stars pointing in various directions ("spangled") while others, like here, had all the stars pointing one way (in this case, up, which is today's standard). Pictured up and right is yet another variation of the 15-star flag (concentric, large center star, corner stars).On CRWFlags.com, the writer about this flag noted that in this time period the flag was more of a "National Art Project" than anything else. Almost anything was OK as long as there were white stars on a blue canton with red and white stripes in the field. Interesting events under this flag include: the 11th and 12th Amendments to the Constitution, Alien and Sedition Acts, George Washington dies, the Louisiana Purchase, Lewis and Clark began their journey, U.S. slave trade with Africa ends, War of 1812, and Harvard Law School was founded.  Pictured above is likely the look of the flag Lewis and Clark carried (National Park Service: Lewis' and Clark's American Flag). Kentucky and Vermont were the two states added to the original 13 colonies/states. Five men were President under this flag: George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe. Most recently flown October 14, 2024 (Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples Day).
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20-Star (Great Star Flag) 1818-1819 This is the first great-star variant of the USA flag where the individual stars are organized to look like one large star. In this case, the shape is called a pentagram (a five-pointed star polygon). This 3rd flag of the USA jumped from 15 to 20 stars with the addition of Tennessee (1796), Ohio (1803), Louisiana (1812), Indiana (1816), and Mississippi (1817). There were at least a dozen "Great Star" flags throughout American history (you may look forward to seeing more here). This flag flew over the Capitol Building for at least 6 months in 1818 (per Blas Delgado Ortiz, 27 July 2001). It was replaced in 1819 when Illinois joined the Union. As usual, there were other variants of the 20-star flag, the most common being a 4x5 rectangle of stars. James Monroe was the only President to serve under this short-lived flag. The third Flag Act, passed in 1818, specified "That from and after the fourth day of July next, the flag of the United States be thirteen horizontal stripes, alternate red and white: that the union be twenty stars, white in a blue field. And be it further enacted, That on the admission of every new state into the Union, one star be added to the union of the flag; and that such addition shall take effect on the fourth day of July then next succeeding such admission." The Act did not specify a particular pattern for the stars. Most recently flown July 27, 2024 (National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day).
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20-Star 1818-1819 This is the "rows" version of the 20-star flag, specifically four rows of five stars each. For another version, see the 20-star Great Star. 
Interestingly, this is the flag that flew over the 1869 Golden Spike Ceremony at Promontory, Utah celebrating the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. But wait, you say! Should that not have been a 37-star flag? The answer is yes. But, as the story goes, nobody thought to bring a large 37-star flag along with them to the ceremony. A man from the 21st Infantry had brought his family's 20-star flag (4x5 rows) from 1819 with him. And that's the flag they flew in 1869. The 150th Anniversary organizers opted to fly a 20-star flag on the 150th Anniversary in that man's honor. I took the photo at right on May 10, 2019 at Promontory. They indeed, flew the 20-star flag! See my photos: 2019 at Promontory.
At right is a portion of William Jackson's 1869 photo taken at Promontory which clearly shows a 20-star flag still on the telegraph pole a month or two after the event.There were plenty of other flags at the 1869 event in addition to the 20-star flag at the top of the telegraph pole, including flags on the locomotives. There were some 1500 people there, and who knows what other flags they may have been waving, anywhere from 20-star to 37-star, I would imagine. More on the Golden Spike. Other happenings in the time period... General Andrew Jackson captured Pensacola, Florida (risking war with Spain). The 49th parallel became our official border with Canada. Russia's Tsar Alexander I petitioned for a Jewish state in Palestine. Franz Gruber's "Silent Night" was first sung at St. Nicholas church in Oberndorf, Austria. The first bicycle ("swift walkers") was introduced to New York City. The first savings bank opened in the United States, the Bank of Savings in New York City. Most recently flown October 11, 2024.
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24-Star ("Old Glory" I) 1822-1836 The first recorded use of the term "Old Glory" in reference to our flag was in 1824 when William Driver's mother and others made him a 24-star flag upon receiving an appointment to a ship. Captain Driver is said to have declared when leaving port under this flag, "Behold Old Glory." That flag sailed with him on two round-the-world voyages and he referred to it in his journals as "Old Glory." He retired from seafaring in 1837. In 1860, his second wife, Sarah Jane Parks, and his daughters added 10 more stars to the original flag to make it a 34-star flag AND she added a little anchor in the lower righthand corner of the canton in her husband's honor. I'll refer to this 34-star flag with anchor as the "William Driver Flag" or "Old Glory II." More on "Old Glory." In 1833, under this 24-star flag, the New York Sun hired the first-ever newsboy, 10-year-old Barney Flaherty. See Newsboys & Newsgirls. Sixty-six years later, the newsboy strike of 1899 occurred as portrayed in the musical Newsies. Rise Christian Performing Arts produced Newsies here in Colorado Springs. The show ran October 24-26, 2024. Antonio was in this show and Tracy and Matteo helped with sets and mics. In 1822, the US flag officially added a 24th star as Missouri had been added to the Union. This flag flew for 14 years. Other happenings under this flag... John Quincy Adams was elected president by the House of Representatives. The Monroe Doctrine was articulated. The Erie Canal was completed. The Oregon Trail. The first major public discussion of slavery took place at Lane Theological Seminary. Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville was published. Most recently flown October 17, 2024.
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28-Star (Great Luminary Texas) 1846-1847 The 28-star flag became official in 1846 as a result of Texas joining the Union at the end of 1845. In the previous ten years, Texas was its own Republic having broken away from Mexico. Texas joining the Union began the march to the Mexican War of 1846. This was the first war in which U.S. troops carried the Stars and Stripes into war. This was also the first time the flag's public perception elevated to a symbol of valor, patriotism, and victory. As a result of this war, the U.S. flag has now flown from coast to coast (though at this time there are no official U.S. states along the Pacific coastline). This is one of the more unique flag patterns, a "luminary" (of prominence or brilliant achievement, a [celestial] body that gives light), great-star pattern. It's known by several names that include various combinations of the words Texas, Great, Star, Luminary, and Flag. Star patterns were popular at the time, and it was contemplated by many that this "pattern of many patterns" would continue with simply adding stars as states were added. The first "great star" pattern, of 20 stars, was designed by Captain Samuel Chester Reid of the United States Navy in 1818. The 28-star flag lasted only one year as Iowa joined the Union in December of 1846. With Texas being known as The Lone Star state, this "one great star" design (albeit, using many little stars) seems quite appropriate. For more: 28-Star United States Flag - Symbol of a growing nation (Bullock Museum). Most recently flown September 27, 2024. Flown August 4, 2024 (Coast Guard's Birthday, 1790).
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31-Star (+CA) 1851-1858 The 31-star flag was adopted in 1851 as a result of California joining the Union in late 1850. With California, the United States now reached from sea to shining sea. It flew until 1858 when Minnesota joined the Union. Original copies of this flag are rare and can exhibit the earliest machine stitching including chainstitching. California's entry into the Union caused quite a stir regarding the balance of slave states to non-slave states; more about that here: California becomes a State of the Union. Florence Nightingale aided battle field casualties during the 1853-1856 Crimean War (Crimea is Ukraine's southern-most area currently occupied by Russia). It was during this time (1854-1855) that she made one of her more important and well-known discoveries, that handwashing reduced mortality rates. This led to other improvements generally making conditions more sanitary. She is often referred to as "the founder of modern nursing." In 1857, the Nightingale Fund was created for training nurses. Other happenings in this time period: The first issue of the New York Times was published. Moby Dick was published. John Philip Sousa was born. Most recently flown October 8, 2024 (Pediatric Nurses Week). Our daughter is a nurse at Children's Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) here in Colorado Springs. Flown July 5, 2024.
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33-Star (diamond-shaped) 1859-1861 This flag has one of the more unusual star patterns - diamond shaped. There were several 33-star configurations, but this one is very similar to the Fort Sumter Flag that was flying there in 1861 when the fort was bombarded by Confederate forces thus starting the Civil War. I thought I was getting an "exact" Fort Sumter flag, but as you can see, there is a slight difference in the star pattern between this flag (left) and the Fort Sumter flag (below). These things can happen when you start a hobby and are unaware of important details (some retailers call this a Fort Sumter Flag even though it's not, exactly). I won't fly this flag very often, but it'll stay in the collection as a lesson learned. Oregon was the 33rd state to join the Union.  My flag at left is not exactly like the Fort Sumter flag pictured above. Most recently flown June 14, 2024 (Flag Day).
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33-Star (Fort Sumter) 1859-1861 This flag flew over Fort Sumter in 1861 when the fort was bombarded by Confederate forces thus starting the Civil War. As you can see in the photo below, the Fort Sumter Garrison Flag that flew April 12, 1861, was very large (19 x 24 feet)! Photos taken after the bombardment show the stripes of the flag were severely damaged but that all 33 stars of the union (the blue area of the flag) were untouched. Prophetic. The photo below was taken in 2023 at Fort Sumter (Charleston, SC) for the raising of the flag in which we participated along with our California grandkids. This star pattern, as opposed to the 33-star pattern of the entry above, shows off the "diamond" more clearly with the offset corner stars. An "End of the Civil War" celebration was held at Fort Sumter on April 14, 1865, but is largely forgotten as that night Abraham Lincoln was shot at the theater. At that Fort Sumter event (on Good Friday of that year), General Robert Anderson came out of retirement to reraise the Star-Spangled Banner, the very same flag that had flown there four years earlier, at exactly 12 o'clock noon to a 100-gun salute. Oregon was the 33rd State to join the Union. More on the Fort Sumter flag.  Most recently flown August 31, 2024.
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34-Star 1861-1863 This was one of the versions of the 34-star flag after Kansas became the 34th state in 1861. Circular patterns became popular during the Civil War. There were a large number of very different 34-star patterns; visit this 1861 Flag webpage for details. The 34-star flag lasted for about 2 years until West Virgnia was added as a state in 1863. The 1861 flag continued to have 34 stars despite the fact that 11 states seceded from the Union that year. Stars have never been removed in the history of the USA flag. Abraham Lincoln was the only president to serve under a 34-star flag.  A "Great Star" version of a 34-star flag was recently found along with the Byfield Flag (which may be the oldest USA flag in existence). I couldn't find anyone selling a replica these days. Photo courtesy Varnum Armory Museum. See Bristol owns America's oldest flag. During the early 1860s: the Confederate States of America form, the Civil War was beginning, the Homestead Act and the Land Grant Act are enacted, and Abraham Lincoln issues the initial Emancipation Proclamation. Most recently flown July 3, 2024.
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34-Star "William Driver Flag" / "Old Glory" II 1861-1863 All the "Old Glory" history seems to revolve around William Driver and involves two U.S. flags: the 24-star flag and this 34-star flag. Driver was a sea captain, and in 1831 when gazing upon the 24-star flag on his ship, he remarked, "Behold Old Glory." Ten years later after he was retired and re-married, his wife and daughters added 10 stars to his flag making it the then-current 34-star flag - with a little something special in the lower righthand corner of the canton: an anchor. Wikipedia: Old Glory.  The image above (the anchor is in the pink circle) is from How the Flag Came to be Called Old Glory (Smithsonian Magazine). It's quite a story! Most recently flown October 26, 2024 (the day before Navy Day). Having been established in 1922 by the Navy League, Navy Day is separate from the Navy's Birthday of October 13th (1775). Tradition holds that the Navy's birth be celebrated from October 13 through October 27.
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35-Star Great Star / Grand Luminary 1863-1865 West Virginia was the 35th State to join the Union. This "great star" pattern was originally developed by Captain Samuel Chester Reid in 1818. The idea was to design a flag that could grow as stars were added but would also maintain a distinctive big-picture image. The Captain was also concerned that the flag could be recognized on a ship at a distance. There were a number of great-star flags designed and flown, but the idea was never officially sanctioned. These great-star patterns became very popular during the Civil War, but interest quickly waned after the Civil War and were basically gone by the end of the 1800s. There was also a 35-star pattern of 5x7 rows. This period of time is the height of the Civil War. In late 1863, Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address and appoints General Grant to the western theater, then later command of all the Union armies. In January of 1865, Congress passes the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery; it would be ratified by the States by December 6, 1865. On April 9, 1865, General Lee surrenders to General Grant. President Lincoln was re-elected in 1864 and subsequently assasinated on April 14, 1865. Andrew Johnson becomes President the next day. The Civil War is over by May 1865. Though the new 36-star flag became official on July 4, 1865, the 35-star flag continued to be flown by the military as they had purchased ample supply.  Zaricor Flag Collection: Mastai. "Hidden Grand Luminary Star." Quite rare.  Another rare 35-star flag called a Halo Flag because of the halo around the center star. Most recently flown November 5, 2024 (Election Day). If the U.S. could have an election in the height of the Civil War, we can certainly do it today in a civilized manner. Here's the story: How the Union Pulled Off a Presidential Election During the Civil War.
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35-Star (7x5 rows) 1863-1865 West Virginia was the 35th State to join the Union on June 20th, 1863. Originally, the Virginia territory was one large state, but it split because some parts supported the Confederacy and some supported the Union. The West Virginia part supported the Union. This was the first time that a state was formed from rebellion within a larger "state." There was also a 35-star "great star" pattern. The Civil War ended on April 9, 1865 under this flag. Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson were Presidents under this flag. The Battle of Gettysburg occured in July of 1865. Here's a helpful timeline of 1863-1865 Civil War activities.  Most recently flown November 11, 2024 (Veterans Days). Pictured above is "Flanders Field" of poppies under the entrance bridge at the World War I Museum in Kansas City. Two minutes of silence is observed at 2:11pm EST (12:11pm MST). That time represents "the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month" of 1918 when a ceasefire agreement was signed ending World War I. The time of 2:11pm EST was established so that everyone across the U.S. could observe the time together (from 9:11am in Hawaii to 3:11pm over the Atlantic). It seems, however, that there is confusion about when, or even if, a moment of silence is to take place. The Act of Congress (2016) suggests 2:11pm EST, but it also requires the President each year to declare the holiday. President Biden did issue such a proclamation on 11/6/2024 which included two minutes of silence but did not say when that should occur. I'm sticking with 2:11pm EST. Originally called Armistice Day, it was introduced on November 11, 1919, by President Woodrow Wilson and established as a legal holiday by Congress on May 13, 1938 and finally as Veterans Day on June 1, 1954.
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36-Star ("Wagon Wheel") 1865-1867 It's often referred to as the Wagon Wheel simply because of the design. Looking more carefully, you see an outer circle of 20 stars, next a circle of 10 stars, then a circle of 5 (which can be seen as marking the tips of a 5-point star), and lastly, 1 star in the very center. There were several other 36-star patterns (a great star, a windblown design, a bomb design, one with an eagle in the center of the canton (blue area), a shield design for the 23rd Army Corps, a 6x6 square, as well as other variations on concentric circles). There was also a 36-star "Jack" (a large canton area with star rows and no stripes at all). This wagon wheel design was also popular with the Navy during the 1800s. Nevada was the 36th state. President Andrew Johnson was the only President to serve under this flag. Here's a story... A 36-star flag present at Ford Theater supposedly was used for President Lincoln's head cushion the night he was assassinated (April 14, 1865), three months before the flag became official (on July 4, 1865). It was not uncommon to have flags produced and used before the official date. The Pike County Historical Society in Milford, PA has this flag and displays it in the Columns Museum. Their flag's star pattern appears to be 6x6. According to the story, one of the actors in the play recovered the flag and it stayed in the family until it was donated to the Pike County Historical Society in 1954. See Jeannie Gourlay and the Lincoln Flag.  Another 6x6-star flag did accompany Lincoln's body back to Springfield for burial (Smithsonian collection).  There are already proposed flag designs for the 51st state (presumably Puerto Rico). Pictured above is a concentric circles proposal (circles of 20, then, 15, 10, 5, and lastly, 1). I imagine there will be companies ready to sell 51-star flags well before it becomes official, once again. Most recently flown September 2, 2024 (Labor Day).
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37-Star (Nebraska) 1867-1877 This became the US flag in 1867 after Nebraska joined the Union. This was the flag that was flying across the U.S. when the Golden Spike was driven on May 10, 1869 at Promontory, Utah when the Transcontinental Railroad was completed. Lynn and I went to Promontory for the 150th anniversary of this event; story/photos from that trip.  One of the flags at Promontory that day in 1869 (pictured above) flying on the Jupiter locomotive during the 150th anniversary was a 37-star flag. While a 37-star flag should have been flying over the entire event in 1869, the story goes that no one had remembered to bring a large one. Luckily, in the crowd was a man from the 21st Infantry who had brought his family's 20-star flag (4x5 rows) from 1819 with him. The 150th Anniversay organizers flew the 20-star flag on the main pole in that man's honor. Here's a Facebook post regarding the 20-star flag at the original Golden Spike Ceremony. DOT, DOT, DOT ... DONE!" GOLDEN SPIKE. This time period is known as the Reconstruction period, the post-Civil War period. For sure, it was the start of the Reconstruction period. The Reconstruction Act itself was passed in 1867. In 1868, President Johnson avoided being removed from office by one vote. The 14th Amendment was passed (guarantees due process and equal protection under the law to African Americans). In some ways, this period was no less rocky than the Civil War period itself. Some things worked, others did not. Both sides helped and both sides hindered. It took give and take from all sides for many decades to come to truly "get over it." Some suggest the Civil Rights era of Dr. King's time was yet another step in "Reconstruction." I can't help but think that folks who want to now reunite this country following last night's re-election of Trump ought to first study the Reconstruction Era. There are probably valuable lessons in there.  A 1944 3-cent postage stamp depicting the 1869 Golden Spike ceremony. Note the flag near the right edge. Most recently flown November 6, 2024 (Post-Election Day). P.S. The snowing lasted nearly four days; we had three Snow Days in a row!
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38-Star (Centennial Flag) 1877-1890 The 38-star flag, again in many versions (of which there were more than usual because it was the Centennial year), flew from 1876 to 1890. Colorado officially became the 38th state/star added to the Union on August 1, 1876. Most 38-star flags included five staggered horizontal rows of stars, each row with seven or eight stars. This flag (in any pattern) is often referred to as the Centennial Flag as it was commissioned one hundred years after 1776. That is why Colorado is nicknamed the Centennial State. Also interesting is Colorado's motto: "Nil sine Numine" which means "Nothing without the Deity." As put by Great-Republic.com, "Other popular designs included staggered rows, box designs, diagonal patterns, or scattered stars placed whimsically on the canton [blue area] as a mirror to the nation's unfettered freedom." This 38-star flag and the 34-star flag above look very much the same. I had to count the stars to make sure.  Pictured above is the "Hourglass" version of the 38-star flag (image by Clay Moss). If turned upright, the arrangement looks like an hourglass. In the pictured horizontal position, it resembles the cross of St. Andrew. Several 39-star flags were designed and even manufactured to follow this one with the expectation that the Dakotas would join as one state. As we all know, they joined as separate states simultaneously on November 2, 1889, North Dakota and South Dakota, thus making a 39-star flag moot. Most recently flown October 20, 2024. On this day, the First United Methodist Church of Arroyo Grande, CA celebrated its 140th anniversary having been founded in 1884 under a 38-star U.S. flag (as there were many variations of this flag's star pattern, this may not have been the variation used by the church at the time). We became part of that church in the 1980s and I'm still their webmaster having built their first website in 1996. Flown July 4, 2024 (Independence Day).
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44-Star (+WY) 1891-1896 Wyoming was the 44th State to join the Union. This (and similar) 44-star flags were flying in 1893 when Katharine Lee Bates visited Pikes Peak and was inspired to pen the words that became a song, "America the Beautiful" (Gaither Vocal Band on YouTube). This period also saw the Chicago World's Fair of 1893 where people were first introduced to the Ferris wheel, the ice cream cone, Aunt Jemima pancakes, and Cracker Jack. On October 21, 1893, this flag flew over the National Columbian Public School Celebration at the "Chicago World's Columbian Exposition of 1893" (usually referred to as the Chicago World's Fair of 1893). Patriotism was on the rise, especially surrounding the flag. The Celebration's official program included the Pledge of Allegiance and from October 12, 1893, through the 21st, an estimated 10 million children first recited the pledge across the country.  Also under this flag, the Southern Pacific Railroad's freight house in San Luis Obispo, CA was completed in 1894 to coincide with the arrival of the SPRR into "SLO." Today, the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum occupies that building. We lived in that area for 30-some years and I'm still involved with the Museum.  Pictured above is Monterey Street in San Luis Obispo, CA circa 1890s. There are a number of flags shown and it's hard to tell exactly the star pattern on each. Zooming in, one can see that the front smaller flag in the pair at roof height on the right matches the 44-star pattern shown at left above (my copy of this flag). Others seem to be different patterns and even different numbers of stars (neither of which would have been unusual), though it's very hard to tell. I wondered why the stars on my copy of this flag were so large. Turns out there are, in fact, extant originals of this flag with large stars, though that does not appear to be the norm for 44-star flags. Flown October 2, 2024, just as the Central Coast Railroad Festival is firing up.
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45-Star (+UT) 1896-1908 Utah was the 45th State to join the Union. The musical Newsies is set in 1899 when this flag would have been flying. The plot of the show centers around the 1899 Newsboys strike against the newspaper companies with Joseph Pulitzer being a key role in the musical. Rise Christian Arts production of Newsies runs October 24-26, 2024, here in Colorado Springs at the Ent Center - get tickets. Flag Day was just beginning to be "a thing" in 1896. The flag and Flag Day were also beginning to play a big role in political campaigns, starting with McKinley versus Bryan in 1896, much to the chagrin of some. Only the year before was the first official Flag Day held. Over the following years, the event got bigger and bigger to the point where city streets were alive with waving flags. By the turn of the century, many states and cities had official Flag Days. The Klondike Gold Rush began in Alaska in 1897. In 1898, the U.S. declared war on Spain and Theodore Roosevelt and his "Rough Riders" charged Spanish positions. President McKinley was assassinated in 1901. The Wright Brothers took flight in 1903. Albert Einstein wrote his Theory of Special Relativity in 1905. The Ford Motor Company invented the Model T in 1908. Flown October 7, 2024 (Newspaper Carrier Day).
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48-Star 1912-1959 Coming up in under three weeks here in Colorado Springs is a production of It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play done by First Company Theatre and running November 21-24, 2024. The play is set in the 1940s when this flag would have been flying. Tickets. The 48-star flag was the U.S. standard from 1912 to 1959. I was born under this flag. This flag is considerably more used and worn than all the other flags in my collection as it's been in the family since before I was born. The flag in the iconic WW2 photo of the U.S. Marines raising the flag at Iwo Jima in 1945 was a 48-star flag: Wikipedia. The 48-star flag came in two different star patterns. Early on, the star field had six staggered rows of eight stars each, half of the rows placed closer to the hoist (pole) and the alternating half closer to the fly (away from the pole). The flag in today's photo is the other version where the rows and columns align to make a perfect rectangle. 
 Papa Bill (left, Jamie's Dad) and Robob (right, Lynn's Dad) both served in the Pacific during WW2 under this flag. The current version of the Pledge of Allegiance was adopted under this flag. One of the earliest publications to mention the 48-star flag was in 1898 by the Butler Citizen, the newspaper of Butler, PA. I lived in Butler, PA from 3rd to 9th grade. By the way, none of the U.S. flag versions have ever been decommissioned, so all are officially AOK to display today. Arizona and New Mexico were the two states added for this flag. More on the 48-star flag.  The American Legion, the largest veteran and service organization in the country today, was founded under this flag in 1919. They also support activities for youth like organized baseball, students learning about government (e.g. Boys Nation), oratorial skills, various scholarships, and Scouting. I remember getting an American Legion award as a grade school kid (1960s, pictured above top row) as did my mother (in 1940, bottom row).  Superman stood before a 48-star flag. "Truth, Justice, and the American Way."  Gen. George Patton's HQ flag (Heritage Auctions) Most recently flown November 2, 2024. Flown May 26, 2024.
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50-Star 1960-present This is the current 50-star flag which became the longest flying version of our flag in 2007. It's been our flag for 64 years. It's officially the 27th version of the U.S. flag since 1777. Two of the more famous photo locations for this current version were taken on the Moon (several Apollo missions) and at the 9/11 site atop the rubble of the collapsed Twin Towers. New versions of our flag are typically flown for the first time at Ft. McHenry. In 1912, President Taft signed an order that all stars should point upward (not be "spangled"). Later, President Eisenhower established the nine rows of stars with alternating 5 and 6 stars each. Hawaii was the 50th state added to the Union. Here's a unique 50-star flag story. The flag in question is called the Legacy Flag and has amassed some 1.3 billion miles in space. Here is One Small Flag's Incredible Journey.  A 49-star flag (pictured above) first flew in 1959 when Alaska joined, but less than a year later the 50-star flag was flying. Most of the 49-star versions were some arrangement of a 7x7 rectangle like the staggered-rows version above. There were some 3,000 people who submitted designs for the 49-star and the 50-star flags. Most recently flown October 6, 2024. Flown May 27, 2024 (Memorial Day).
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POW/MIA Flag The full name for this flag is National League of Families POW/MIA flag. It was adopted in 1972. In 2019, the National POW/MIA Act was signed requiring this flag to be flown at certain government buildings whenever the U.S. flag is flown. More: POW/MIA flag. Public Law 116-67 designates the POW/MIA flag "as the symbol of the Nation's concern and commitment to achieving the fullest possible accounting of Americans who, having been prisoners of war or missing in action, still remain unaccounted for; and Americans who in the future may become prisoners of war, missing in action, or otherwise unaccounted for as a result of hostile action." POW = Prisoner of War. MIA = Missing in Action. The POW/MIA Flag should be flown (usually right under the U.S. flag) on these six days each year to honor those who were prisoners of war and to remember those who are still missing: Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, National POW/MIA Recognition Day, and Veterans Day. The image on the flag shows a guard tower back left, a silhouette of a prisoner, and barbed wire (beneath his chin). It was designed by Newt Heisley, a former World War II pilot. 
Very much in keeping with POW and MIA concerns is a military ceremony known as the Missing Man Ceremony or Missing Man Table. At events held by the military or military-related organizations like the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), particularly formal dinners, there will be a Missing Man Ceremony. It starts with a table set up very specifically with an empty seat that remains empty through the course of the event. It was first explained to me by an Air Force member and friend, Dana, when we both worked for the California Space Authority and interacted often with the folks at Vandenburg Air Force Base. The setting of the table is also very specific and meaningful. At some point during the event, a ceremony will take place explaining all the elements on the table. For a full description: Task and Purpose (with short video).This is the only flag Lynn specifically asked me to make sure I got for the collection. Most recently flown October 12, 2024. The topic of this weekend's Family Dinner is "Remembering" using the POW/MIA and the Missing Man Ceremony as an example. Here's our "Missing Man Table" setting.
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U.S. Air Force Flag The United States Air Force was established on September 18, 1947, as a result of President Harry Truman signing the National Security Act of 1947. It was originally formed in 1907 as part of the U.S. Army Signal Corps. Its history goes back even further to the Union Army Balloon Corps of the Civil War.  While it's hard to say which branch of the Armed Services actually started it and when, the USAF was certainly an early player in the "Challenge Coins" game. Today, these are covetously collected coins related to groups and/or actions that one may have participated in or exchanged with comrades. Having interacted with Air Force folks during my years with the California Space Authority (CSA), I certainly observed how cherished these coins do become. I managed to collect the coins pictured above (Space Foundation, 20-year anniversary in 2003; California Space Authority, 2004; Rocket Engine Test Stand Ribbon Cutting, 1/31/2003; and Delta IV First Launch, 2002). Colorado Springs has the USAF Academy, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Base, and Peterson Air Force Base. (Other Colorado bases will be listed under their respective service flags.) Air Force Vision: The United States Air Force will be a trusted and reliable joint partner with our sister services known for integrity in all of our activities, including supporting the joint mission first and foremost. We will provide compelling air, space, and cyber capabilities for use by the combatant commanders. We will excel as stewards of all Air Force resources in service to the American people, while providing precise and reliable Global Vigilance, Reach and Power for the nation. (AF.mil) Air Force Mission: The mission of the U. S. Air Force is: To fly, fight, and win airpower anytime, anywhere. (AF.mil) Most recently flown September 18, 2024 (USAF Birthday)
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U.S. Marine Corps Flag The United States Marine Corps was established originally as the Continental Marines on November 10, 1775. Some say the first recruiting office was in a Philadelphia tavern. (There's a Philadelphia tavern in my Dad's history, too!) They became the United States Marine Corps on July 11, 1798. The Marine Corps is part of the Department of the Navy. The Marines have some interesting "civilian" duties of which you may not be aware. The Marine Band plays at state functions at the White House. The Marines also provide helicopter transport for the President and the Vice President as "Marine One" and "Marine Two." The Marines also provide security at U.S. embassies and consulates. The colors, scarlet and gold, were designated in 1918. This current version of the flag was adopted January 18, 1939. The earliest version was the "Don't Tread on Me" flag from the Revolutionary War period and there is evidence that the Marines carried the Grand Union Flag in 1776 on New Providence Island. The banner in the Eagle's mouth reads, "Semper Fidelis." Oorah! More on the Flag of the United States Marine Corps (Wikipedia). U.S. Marines. Wikipedia: U.S. Marine Corps. Most recently flown November 10, 2024 (USMC Birthday).
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U.S. Navy Flag The United States Navy was founded on March 27, 1794. Its predecessor was the Continental Navy established October 13, 1775 during the Revolutionary War. The first ships of the official Navy were heavy frigates ordered in 1794 in response to significant losses caused by the Barbary Pirates of Algiers. October 13 was authorized in 1972 by Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, to be the Navy's official birthday in recognition of the Continental Navy of 1775. The birth place is unclear.  The U.S. Naval Academy is in Annapolis, MD. The photo above is of Bancroft Hall from our 2022 visit to the Academy. More photos from the Naval Academy in 2022.  Among the Academy's points of interest is a room where Captain John Paul Jones rests. His famous saying, "I have not yet begun to fight" was uttered as a rebuke to the British when asked to surrender the Bonhomme Richard that he was commanding. He ultimately won that battle and captured the British ship Serapis. Jones was a Scottish native. At left in the photo is the 13-star Serapis Flag. At right is the pre-1801 Flag of Great Britain (Jones was in the British Merchant Navy before moving to the U.S. in 1775).  The first Navy Jack (flag) was a "Don't Tread on Me" flag with those words, a snake, and red and white stripes (pictured above). Navy Mission: The United States is a maritime nation, and the U.S. Navy protects America at sea. Alongside our allies and partners, we defend freedom, preserve economic prosperity, and keep the seas open and free. (Navy.mil) Wikipedia: United States Navy. Most recently flown October 27, 2024 (Navy Day). October 27th was established as "Navy Day" in 1922 by the Navy League.
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First Responders Flag There is no official "First Responders" flag, but there is a movement afoot (a bill before Congress) to establish such (as was done with the POW/MIA flag). There are several First Responder Flags and even more flags of first responders. On this design, there is listed: Security, Armed Forces, Corrections, Law Enforcement, Dispatch, Fire Department, and E.M.S. (Emergency Management Services). The "thin blue line" on some First Responder flags (as well as other colored stripes) is based on "the thin red line" from the Crimean War in 1854 at the Battle of Balaclava when the much smaller British force held back the Russians who were attacking a supply base. Later, the phrase kept coming up and now has expanded to all military and civilian services like those listed here. It's simply a way to honor the few who put their lives on the line for the many every day, often against great odds. For more: Why The First Responder Flag Matters. In 2019, National First Responders Day was designated by the U.S. Senate as October 28th. Here's more info: National First Responders Day by Angie Gensler. Please consider donating to a charity (501c3) that focuses on wounded troops services, military social services, military family support, and first responders services and support. There's a vetted list of all kinds of charities at CharityNavigator.org. We were too late signing up for a recent golf tournament to support Angels of America's Fallen but wanted to acknowledge their work here in Colorado Springs. Thank you.  From CrystalCaves.com Most recently flown October 28, 2024 (National First Responders Day)
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Colorado Flag The current flag of Colorado was officially adopted on June 5, 1911. The state joined the Union on August 1, 1876, 100 years after 1776, which is why it has the nickname of the Centennial State. At that time, it had an unofficial banner. In 1907, Colorado adopted its first flag design which the current one replaced in 1911. Only one 1907 flag was ever produced, and it was never flown. For more about the Colorado flag, including the symbolism, see the Wikipedia entry: Flag of Colorado. On July 7, 1976, an amendment was made to the U.S. Flag Code (Public Law 94-344, 94th Congress) that says your state flag should be flown on your state's birthday which is defined as the day it was admitted to the Union. Ideally, the U.S. flag should be flown in a superior position and be at least as big as the state flag (if possible). See the "USA Centennial Flag" (here).  Unofficial Colorado flag 1876-1907 (Wikipedia)  Official Colorado flag 1907-1911 (Wikipedia) Most recently flown August 1, 2024 (Colorado's admission to the Union).
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Utah State Flag When traveling on the Rocky Mountaineer (see our 2024 Mountaineer trip), a greeting or send-off committee stands trackside waving their hands to the arriving or departing passengers, with two flags: the country flag and the flag of the state the train is in at the moment. Pictured at left is the Utah flag at our last stop near Moab, UT. This new "Beehive" flag of Utah was just adopted on March 9, 2024. Here's its Wikipedia description. The original flag, now called the Historic State Flag, remains an official Utah flag and was originally adopted in 1913 with its latest iteration in 2011 (image below). 
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Colorado Springs City Flag The city was founded on July 31, 1871. The official flag was adopted on July 26, 1912. According to the CSPM Curator of History, "In 1912, Dr. Caroline Spencer presented the design to City Council with this explanation: The white field is intended to represent the cleanliness and health of the city; the blue border our blue skies; the shield carries the sun, of which we are justly proud; the mountains stand for Pikes Peak and on it are pictured the gold ingots of our mining industries; the green band about the shield represents the park system surrounding the city." In 2004, the North American Vexillological Association (vexillology is the study of flags) rated this city flag 19th best out of 150 cities.  Colorado Springs City Hall Most recently flown July 31, 2024 (chartering anniversary).
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University of Colorado at Colorado Springs We've got a granddaughter at UCCS! The property on which UCCS sits was originally Cragmor Sanatorium for the treatment of tuberculosis and was given to the State/School in 1964 (for $1), and the official process of creating what would be known as UCCS began on June 15 of that year. For a while the school site was referred to as the Cragmor Campus. Classes began in Colorado Springs in the 1920s as an extension of the Boulder campus. It became a "Center" in 1965 and in 1974 officially became its own Colorado University campus. UCCS History page. Most recently flown August 26, 2024 (classes started).
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US Air Force Academy (official) This is the official flag of the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) which is just a couple miles from our house in Colorado Springs, CO. The Academy was officially established on April 1, 1954 (close to when I was born). The school has a 4-year program and graduates receive a Bachelor of Science degree and are commissioned as second lieutenants in the Air Force or the Space Force. A new hotel and visitors center is just now being completed at the intersection of the Academy's entrance road and the I-25 highway (Exit 156, Northgate Blvd). The current Visitor Center receives about one million visitors per year. My favorite part of the tour is the USAFA Chapel which is currently undergoing a multi-year renovation and is not open to the public. The Chapel has been closed since 2019 and renovations are currently scheduled to be completed in 2027. These photos of mine, many of which are of the Chapel, are from our visit to the Academy in 2018. Wikipedia: United States Air Force Academy. Most recently flown October 5, 2024 (Home Football Game against Navy).
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US Air Force Academy (not official) The flag at left is NOT the official flag of the US Air Force Academy. This is better described as a "gift shop" version of an Academy flag that we flew on the occasion of Morgan's graduation from the Academy in May 2024.  Official Air Force Academy Flag Most recently flown May 30, 2024.
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Western Colorado University Gunnison, CO We've got a grandson at Western Colorado University. WCU was first opened in September of 1911 as the Colorado State Normal School with 34 students from kindergarten through college. The first building, Taylor Hall, was ready to go in 1910. The school was renamed Western State College in 1923 and in that year a large "W" was mounted on Tenderfoot Mountain. It earned university status in 2012 and officially became WCU in 2019. Interestingly, Western was instrumental in convincing the NCAA to adopt skiing as an official sport in 1953. (Skiing has been an "official sport" of Colorado for a long time.) The campus also boasts the highest collegiate football stadium, the Mountaineer Bowl, at 7,771 feet. Our grandson is on the wrestling team. WCU History page. Most recently flown August 25, 2024 (classes started the 26th).
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Denver Broncos (NFL Football) The Broncos were formed in 1959 as part of the AFL by a minor league baseball franchise owner, Bob Howsam. Ownership changed in 1961 and several times after that. They joined the NFL in 1970 as part of the merger. They play at "Empower Field at Mile High" in Denver, Colorado. Originally they played at "Mile High Stadium," located nearby in Denver, from 1960 through 2000. The stadium is still often referred to as simply "Mile High." Their headquarters and training camp are in Dove Valley, CO. Denver Broncos History. Lynn's Dad was a huge Broncos fan, particularly during John Elway days, and Lynn is a diehard fan today as is most of her Dad's side of the family. Most members of my side of the family, being from Kansas City since 1969, are Kansas City Chiefs fans. We root for them both! Except when they play each other, which gets interesting... As you might imagine, the Broncos have many styles and types of flags. Here's the Broncos Pro Shop flags and banners section. Most recently flown November 17, 2024 (Broncos vs Falcons in Denver). Flown November 3, 2024 (Broncos at Baltimore). Flown October 13, 2024 (Broncos vs Chargers in Denver).
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Kansas City Chiefs (NFL Football) The team started as the Dallas Texans in 1959 by Lamar Hunt. The Hunt family still owns the franchise. They moved to Kansas City in 1963 and became the Chiefs. Recently they've moved into super-power territory with Coach Andy Reid, Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and others. They've been in four Super Bowls since 2019 and have won three of them (LIV, LVII, and LVIII). They play at Arrowhead Stadium on the east side of Kansas City, MO. Wikipedia: Kansas City Chiefs. And here's the Chief's website. Jamie's side of the family, being from Kansas City since 1969, are Kansas City Chiefs fans. We root for both the Chiefs and the Broncos (started by Robob and Lynn's side of the family way back when as well)! Except when they play each other, which gets interesting. The two teams are division rivals. Most recently flown November 4, 2024 (Chiefs versus Buccaneers at Kansas City on Monday Night Football). After the game, the Chiefs became the only undefeated team this season at 8-0.
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When Visible from All Sides So, when a flag is hung on a wall, it is positioned such that the canton (blue starry area) is to the left and uppermost from the observer's point of view. This is true whether the flag is hung horizontally or vertically. But, what if the flag is suspended "in the middle of the air" and is visible from all sides. No matter how the flag is positioned, half of the observers will see the canton on the left and the other half will see it on the right. What do you do? The answer is... When a flag is suspended and visible from all sides (such as in the middle of a room or across a roadway), the flag should be hung vertically and the canton should be toward the northeast but as close to east as possible. Pictured at left and below in June 2024 is a very large 50-star (current) American flag suspended in the main lobby of the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver, Colorado. As you can tell, it's a very large flag, about four stories tall. Seeing this flag is when I asked myself, "how should this flag be positioned?" They did it correctly. 
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