by Rachael Vilburn
June and Flag Day are synonymous in
my mind, yet one can’t help but wonder if our youth are learning about
the flag and what it stands for. When they see the flag do they know
that it is rich with history and full of symbolism? Do they recognize it
as an emblem of freedom? Do they understand that the freedom they enjoy
today was fought for and paid with the price of blood? Do they know
that someone’s brother, son, or father laid down their very lives to
protect and defend the freedoms that we enjoy today? And perhaps most
importantly, what are we doing to honor and thank these defenders? Do we
sing the National Anthem with pride?
The
flag currently has fifty stars and thirteen stripes. Red, white, and
blue. It can be found flying above most government institutions
including schools. Most students have learned that there is one star for
each state, and that the 13 stripes represent the original colonies.
But do they know that since the founding of the United States in 1776,
there have been 27 different versions of the flag. The first of these
was designed by a lady named Betsy Ross.
George
Washington had called at the Ross home numerous times for a variety of
reasons. One of those reasons was to ask Betsy, who was married to
George Washington’s nephew and an accomplished seamstress, to embroider
the ruffles on his shirts. So it was that when the colonies sought to
make an emblem symbolizing the new union, naturally Betsy was the one
for the job. It is said she could cut out a five pointed star in a single snip. (https://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagtale.html)
In
1776 Betsy designed what would be forever known as the first “stars and
stripes”, 13 five-pointed stars arranged in a circle on a field of blue
in the upper lefthand corner and alternating red and white stripes
cascading down. The thirteen stars representing the 13 original
colonies, formed in a circle representing unity, on a blue background
representing vigilance, perseverance and justice. Altogether the stripes
and canton represent a new constellation in the sky, or a new nation.
The white stripes signifying purity and innocence, while the red stripes
symbolise hardiness and valor.
Recently,
many have forgotten or never learned about the significance of these
symbols. They may or may not have learned our National Anthem. Written
in 1814 by Fransis Scott Key in the form of a poem entitled, “The
Defense of Fort M’Henry”, the National Anthem was not officially made
the National Anthem until 1931. Prior to that other songs such as “Hail
Columbia” and “My Country Tis of Thee” served as the national anthem
(Encyclopedia of Nationalism). After witnessing the Maryland fort being
bombarded by the British in the War of 1812, Key was so in awe of the
U.S. flag still in flight at daybreak that he captured his sentiment
with the words of what is today the National Anthem.
Understanding
where these songs and symbols come from, is key to understanding where
our nation is headed. As parents and educators of our children, let us
remember and tell the stories upon which our nation was founded. Let us
instill in our children a desire to keep that same vision that the
founders of our country had, and do our part to keep God at the center
of our homes and our country.
