Something missing from most conventional resources are the following that I learned from my Scout Master from the early 1970s.
The red stripes refer to the blood that was shed by brave soldiers and patriots in the founding of our nation as they faught against the monarchy of Britain.
The white stripes signified the purity of morals which were a great part in the founding of America, tied to The Gospel of Christ and the Freedom that all men have been offered at the hand of God as recorded in The Bible. Let it also be known here that the prevalent Bible known at the time was the King James Version, the Bible which was used in two great revivals on two separate continents.
EDITOR
From Wikipedia
The national flag of the United States of America, often simply referred to as the American flag, consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton (referred to specifically as the "union") bearing fifty small, white,five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars. The 50 stars on the flag represent the 50 states of the United States of America and the 13 stripes represent the thirteen British colonies that declared independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain and became the first states in the Union.[1] Nicknames for the flag include the "Stars and Stripes", "Old Glory",[2] and "The Star-Spangled Banner."
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A photo I took this morning just after raising the flag at our home in SW Washington State, in these United States. Hopefully, you flew The Flag at your home or office today. If not, the next officially scheduled day to fly your American Flag is July 4th, Independence Day.If you do not own a flag, buy one at one of these reputable suppliers. We bought ours in a local retail home improvement store.
http://www.united-states-flag.com/outdoorflags.html?gclid=CJqz3Jit5LcCFYiDQgodJ3sA-w
https://www.flagstoreusa.com/Default.asp
http://www.walmart.com/ip/U.S.-Flag-3-x-5/1603325
http://www.flagsexpress.com/
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From USFlag.org
Flag Etiquette
The Flag Code, which formalizes and unifies the traditional ways in which we give respect to the flag, also contains specific instructions on how the flag is not to be used. They are:
- The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.
- The flag should not be used as a drapery, or for covering a speakers desk, draping a platform, or for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.
- The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard
- The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations.
- The flag should never have placed on it, or attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind.
- The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.
The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary.
When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner.
Resources About Old Glory:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_Day_(United_States)
http://www.usflag.org/flagetiquette.html
