This is a think piece about how “Old Glory” has become the new symbol of the radical right and why all citizens need to shout out “this is everyone’s flag, not yours!”
Ironically, the flag was born, or created, as a symbol for the American revolution against the British. Its creator, (or as you’ll soon learn its maybe creator) not a fighting revolutionary herself sewed it at the behest of possibly George Washington or a member of the Continental Congress. Then Francis Scott Key, watching the bombing of Ft. McHenry turned it into an anthem. Today some groups are using it as a replacement for the confederate battle flag. Quite a history for some cloth stitched by hand.
Let’s take a deeper dive with Terry Ruggles of the Drexel University flag project.
So who designed the flag? In 1776 you couldn’t go into a store and buy a flag off the rack. Back then, flags were made in one of two ways. Since most flags had a naval use, you could go to a ships chandlery – a store that outfitted ships – and the chandler would contract with a sail maker or in many cases an upholsterer to make the flag. An upholster in colonial times had more functions that what we typically think of today. Besides working on furniture, they also made flags and other military equipment. This is where the legend of Betsy Ross comes in to play. We know that Betsy Ross was an upholsterer who made flags for the Pennsylvania Navy. So we know what she did. What we don’t know is did she really design the first flag? There is a great deal of controversy about this. In 1870, Betty Ross’ Grandson was addressing an Historic society in Philadelphia and said that his grandmother told him that she met with George Washington and others and she designed the flag. But did she design it or did Francis Hopkinson design it? Francis Hopkinson was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence from the state of New Jersey. The only evidence of who made the flag is a bill that was submitted to congress by Francis Hopkinson that said for designing the flag, you owe me two casks of ale. What we don’t have is a picture of that flag, a written description of the flag, or even a sketch of the flag. So, the mystery remains.
Regardless of these facts, the legend lives on and the first flag of the Revolutionary Period is referred to as “The Betsy Ross” flag…the pattern of stars on the blue field is known by three names, The Betsy Ross Pattern, The Philadelphia Pattern, or The Single Wreath Pattern. The blue field on the flag also goes by three names – the field, the union, or the canton. Because congress did not set the specifics of where the field would be or how the star pattern should look like, or how many points the star would have, during this period, and up until 1912, the stars could be arranged in any manner that a flag maker would choose.
Thanks to Wikipedia’s photo collections When Congress put together the notion of the flag, they blended the already established design of alternating stripes of red on white signifying the united colonies and a blue field with 13 stars (just like the Washington’s headquarters flag). Many people believe this may have been the flag that Francis Hopkins designed, but once again this is only speculation. This pattern is known as the Cowpens pattern. Another well-known flag during this time was the Easton Flag. But remember, Congress did not specify where all of the elements should be placed. After the Revolutionary War ended, our country writes a new constitution. We elect George Washington president and in 1792 we bring in two new states – Vermont and Kentucky. This begs the question, what do we do with the flag? Because the original flag act called for 13 stripes and 13 stars to represent the 13 colonies, what do we do to signify the adding of two new states to the Union? At this time, Congress passes the 2nd flag act and it states that from now on we would add one stripe and one star for each new state. This new 15 star and 15 stripe flag is known as The Star Spangled Banner. It is this flag that flew over Fort McHenry and inspired Francis Scott Key to write our national anthem. After the War of 1812, we were adding more states again and as we incorporated more stars and stripes into the design, our flag was starting to look a little funny.
So in 1818, Congress passed the 3rd of the three major flag acts. It stated that the design was to go back to the original configuration of 13 alternating stripes of red on white, representing the 13 original colonies, but that we would add one star for each new state. However, once again, it did not specify what pattern the stars should be arranged in or the amount of points that were to be on the star. So we had many variations of flag design during this time.
Your eyes glazing over yet? My point is simple. There is nothing simple about the American Flag. It was like a living organism being tinkered with in a political test tube. It took years before it became what we sing the Star Spangled Banner to, which is the name given to the last permutation of it. In a sense the creation of of the final flag was a politicized game of capture the flag. Most importantly, the flag is woven into the American history that belongs to all of us.
How many of us know this? Few for sure. Is it necessary to know all this? I think not, but the cliff note version is as important as the Star Bangled Banner because without the facts that led to the flag we miss the depth of the history and the glory of the creation. I’d wager few people, alot flying the flag from their pick ups with often insulting political punditry to go with it, know any of it, nor care. Their use of the flag and its meaning to them brings the flag down to third grade simplicity.
The flag belongs to all of us: red, white, black, yellow, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and the rest, even atheists. It belongs to those who serve and those who don’t, though I think we need to bring back compulsory national service military or civilian. It belongs to the LBGT-Q community, those who dance in drag shows, and and even those citizens who have a mad on about the direction of the country.
My proposal? Everyone should fly the flag be it from your house, your car window, or your bicycle because what it means is “one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.”
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Bill is still supporting the writers strike but feels some messages need to be heard in spite of the strike.
Be of the lookout for the holiday coming of the final book in Bill’s memoir trilogy, “That Why They Call It Work.” The first two, “The War of the Itchy Balls” and “George Washington Didn’t Sleep Here are available at Amazon.com or Bill’s author page Williamgralnickauthor.com
Remember BIll’s favorite borrow phrase: “Read–It’s good for all of us.”
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