Symbolismįor more than 225 years, the American flag has been a source of pride and inspiration for millions of Americans. So it has a tangible presence in American culture. They raise their right hand over their heart and turn their eyes towards the flag. People stand and sing the national anthem before baseball games. The flag is present on people’s doorsteps at every public occasion, in every school. The American national anthem is also a song about the flag. The thirteen stripes always remained the same, but with each new state, a new white star was added. In 1777 the Continental Congress replaced the Union Jack with the Stars of the thirteen colonies, and they regularized the red and white stripes for each of the colonies that were in rebellion against the English crown. And that was the origins of the first American flag. It’s an incredibly emotional symbol of the nation.ĭuring the Revolutionary War, that broke out in 1775, ships that wanted to show that they were no longer loyal to their king stitched white stripes across the red background of the Royal ensign. There’s the bald eagle, the Statue of Liberty, but the American flag has been the one that has endured.
There have been other symbols that have come and gone over the years. When Americans think about their history, they think about iconic moments in which the flag is at the center. 6.5 American Flag Tattoo on The Chest and Rib.3 What Do The Colors of American Flag Symbolize?.