The US Flag

Thursday, July 5, 2018

Yesterday as we waited on the grounds of the Williamsburg Museum for the Air Force concert to begin, a very polite young man came over and offered us some small United States flags. He said they were compliments of the “Sons of the American Revolution.” I waved mine proudly during the concert. 

I started thinking about the design and the symbolism of the flag. Do you know what it means? 

There are thirteen red and white stripes on the flag which represent the original thirteen colonies. Here in Williamsburg, we have learned a lot about the colonies. They became our first states. 

The stars each represent a state of the union. At first there were 13 stars as well as 13 stripes. But as each state joined the union, the flag had to be redesigned to accommodate another star. 

It took a long time before the dimensions of the flag were standardized and proportions were up to the flag maker. Now the design is very specific. The only thing that can be added to a US flag is gold fringe, and that is only if the flag will be inside. 

Now one thing that I have wondered is if the colors of the flag mean anything. Our colors are similar to those of our Mother Land, Great Britain. But do they have a specific meaning?

I’m not exactly sure of the answer to this question. Several places in the Internet sound very definitive about the symbolism of our flag’s colors. Other sources indicate that there is no legal definition for them. I did find with some certainty that the red, white, and blue colors of the shield on the US seal have specific meaning. 

• red symbolizes hardiness and valor
• white symbolizes purity and innocence 
• blue symbolizes vigilance, perseverance, and justice

Regardless, it is a beautiful flag. Many brave people lost their lives defending it. Many people show respect for it and the grand country it represents by standing for it and saluting it. May God show His kindness to us who live under it.