Dr. Don Kuehle
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Dr. Don Kuehle, United Methodist, Retired, Jackson, Missouri
At various times and places we stand with others and pledge our allegiance to our nation’s flag: “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” No matter how many times we say it, the words still evoke a sense of national pride!
In 1776, the Continental Congress appointed a committee (George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross) to come up with a design for a flag for the new nation. A draft of the proposed new flag was drawn up and taken to Elizabeth Ross, a relative of George Ross. Betsy was an accomplished seamstress; upon looking at the design she made one change, changing the number of points on the stars from six to five. She sewed the stars and stripes together; her design was adopted by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777: “Resolved, That the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.” This Resolution did not allow for the addition of future states; so when Kentucky and Vermont were admitted to statehood, the flag was revised to 15 stripes and 15 stars.
It wasn’t until 1818, that Captain Samuel C. Reid strongly suggested that the number of stripes remain constant at 13, while the number of stars be increased as new states joined the Union. So it has been until this very day.
The U. S. Flag Code, adopted in 1923, prescribes how to correctly display our nation’s flag: 1). Always display the flag with the blue union field up; never display the flag upside down, except as a distress signal; 2). Always hold the flag carefully; never let it touch anything beneath it…; 3). Always carry the flag aloft and free; never carry it flat of horizontally; 4). Always keep the flag clean and safe; never let it become torn, soiled or damaged; 5). Always dispose of a flag properly; it should be destroyed by burning it in a dignified manner; 6). Always treat the flag with respect; never embroider it on household items of pieces of clothing.”
Tradition dictates that the Flag be flown from sunrise to sunset; it is to be taken down at dusk. The Flag remains a symbol of what our nation, and we the people, stands for in a world that has lost all semblance of loyalty and respect.
Our Flag has numerous symbols; we see them, but don’t really see them!
The 13 stripes represent the 13 colonies that stood together in the fight for freedom. The 13 stars, originally placed in a circle of blue, represented a union that would not end and the equality of all the states. Red stands for courage. White stands for liberty. Blue stands for loyalty.
Courage ! Liberty! Loyalty ! Words that describe the men and women who fought, and died, to give birth to our nation. Words that pay tribute to all those woman and men since 1776 who have fought, and died, to ensure that our nation remains strong and free. Words that inspire us to follow in the footsteps of those who have gone before us; “I pledge my allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the nation for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all!”
June 14th is Flag Day! Celebrate it with dignity, respect, and pride!