Basic Parts of the American Flag

Glossary

Header (or heading) - The header is a band of material placed on the pole side (hoist) of the flag, it serves to secure the flag to the halyard line. The header is usually made of a thick cotton/poly blend that feels like canvas.

Grommet - A metal ring or eyelet embedded in the header. These are usually made of brass and used to secure an outdoor flag.

Canton - Technically the canton can be any quarter of the flag. In modern flag design it usually refers to the top left corner (upper hoist), which is the position of honor. The canton of the US flag is also called the Union - the blue background where the 50 stars are sewn or appliqued.

Field - the background or predominant color of the flag.

Fly End - The fly end is the edge of the flag furthest away from the pole. The term fly is used to describe the length of the flag, and the fly end is the side that is not secured. By nature, it "flies" freely and endures the most stress or whip.

Position Terms Used to Describe the American Flag

Additional Glossary

Hoist - The term hoist is used to refer to the half (and edge) closest to where the flag is hung. It also refers to the distance from top to bottom of the flag. This is confusing since it is a vertical measurement, but describes the flag's width.

Upper Hoist - Imagine the flag is broken into four quadrants and each quadrant is named for the edges it borders, the upper hoist is the upper left corner.

Lower Hoist - lower left quadrant of the flag, nearest to the flag pole

Fly - The term fly is used to describe the half and edge of the flag that is furthest away from the pole. It can also be used to describe the length (horizontal measurement) of the flag.

Upper Fly - the top quarter of the flag furthest away from the pole

Lower Fly - bottom right quadrant of the flag

Fly End- The fly end is the edge of the flag that is furthest away from the pole - the end that "flies" freely.

Position of Honor - The position of honor is generally the upper hoist. This is also commonly referred to as the canton. Many colony flags use this area to honor their ruling country. Australia is now independent but the flag of Australia 🇦🇺is a good example.

American Flag Colors

Specifically, the colors are "White", "Old Glory Red", and "Old Glory Blue". Based on color a card published by the JOSA, the colors are specified in terms of fabric.

In order to use official flag colors for screen or print the State Department recommends the following translation.

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What's something exciting your Contrary to popular myth, the colors of the flag were not chosen for any specific meaning. They were simply inherited from the flag of Great Britain. (King's Colours)

Later, when the seal of the United States was designed, the colors (red, white, and blue) were reused for consistency and specific meanings were assigned.

Reporting to Congress, Charles Thompson (Secretary), described the new Seal as follows:

"The colors of the pales (the vertical stripes) are those used in the flag of the United States of America; White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness & valour, and Blue, the color of the Chief (the broad band above the stripes) signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice."

For this reason, it is common to attribute the same meanings from the Seal to the colors of the American flag.

In 1986, president Ronald Reagan interpreted the colors this way:

"The colors of our flag signify the qualities of the human spirit we Americans cherish. Red for courage and readiness to sacrifice; white for pure intentionsand high ideals; and blue for vigilance and justice."

US Flag Design - What Do the Stars and Stripes Represent?

We have already dissected the flag into parts, now it's time to explain the meaning behind each symbol.

From the US Flag Code: Section1

The flag of the United States shall have thirteen horizontal stripes, alternate red and white, and a union consisting of white stars on a field of blue

Thirteen Stripes

The 13 Stripes on the American flag represent the 13 original colonies/states of Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Virginia.

There are 7 red stripes alternating with 6 white stripes - red on top and bottom. The stripes are of equal width and run horizontally.

Francis Hopkins is given credit for the first United States flag design.

Legend has it that Hopkins actually designed two flags, one for the Navy and one for the U.S. government. The only difference between the two flags was the order of the stripes. The naval flag started with a red stripe and the government started with a white stripe on top.

Some speculate that red eventually took its place on top and bottom for practical reasons, white would show more wear and tear.

Fifty Stars

The 50 white stars of the flag represent each of the 50 states in the United States.

Originally, the stars were to signify a "new constellation". As the number of stars changed with the addition of new states, so did the arrangement of stars on the flag.

The current arrangement is 9 rows. The rows are slightly offset, alternating 6 stars in a row on top and bottom with 5 star rows between. Each star should be aligned with a single point on top.

In 1958, Robert Heft was a high school student. The stars of Hawaii and Alaska were being added to the flag and new design submissions were being accepted.

Heft submitted his design as a class assignment. His teacher, Stanley Pratt, gave him a B- for the design, saying "it lacked imagination".

The two made a deal that if the design was accepted by Congress, Taft would change the grade to an A. Heft's design was chosen by Congress and President Dwight D. Eisenhowerfrom over 1500 submissions, and the rest is history.

Significance of the Five-Pointed Star

If customeBefore it was introduced in the design of the United States Flag, the five-pointed star was rarely used in Heraldry.

Heraldry is the study, design, and display of armorial bearings. Flags often take their design from military influence and heraldic devices. In the 18th Century, it was much more common to use a six-pointed star.

Francis Hopkins' original designs did include six-pointed stars. And since the Flag Act of 1777was so vague, flag makers were free to interpret the Stars and Stripes design and arrangement.

Which leads us to the myth and legend of Betsy Ross.

In 1776, Colonel George Washington, George Ross (Betsy's great uncle), and Robert Morris, approached an upholsterer named Betsy Ross to commission a flag.

The delegation presented a design with 6-pointed stars. (Supposedly, they preferred 5-pointed stars, but thought it would be difficult to mass produce.)

According to legend, Betsy Ross presented an easy way to make a five-pointed star with just one scissor cut and the new design was born.s can’t find it, it doesn’t exist. Clearly list and describe the services you offer. Also, be sure to showcase a premium service.

Ross is also attributed with placing the13 stars in a circle.

This is where fact and myth get murky. No evidence comes directly from anyone involved and there was no documentation of those events until nearly 100 years later.

Also, the oldest representation of the "Betsy Ross" flag is from 1792, in a painting by John Trumbull.

While the complete design is in question, it is likely that Betsy Ross deserves credit for the the 5-pointed star modification. Five-pointed stars are now more commonly used in flags and in Western culture have become synonymous with fame or "stardom".