Old Glory Turns 238-Happy Flag Day!

The Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, the Red, White and Blue, the Star Spangled Banner, the Banner—all these names have been used to describe the US flag. Whatever you call it, the American flag is a symbol of patriotism and the constant quest for freedom and liberty.

Today is Flag Day, and it marks the 238th anniversary of the adoption of the US flag by the 2nd Continental Congress. Originally inscribed with 13 strips and 13 stars, representative of the original colonies, the flag has grown as the nation has grown with the last star added in 1960 after Hawaii became the 50th state. Though the number of stars have changed the original design and its meaning have not. George Washington is credited with saying “We take the stars from heaven, the red from our mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her, and the white stripes shall go down to posterity representing liberty.”

Today the flag is still a symbol of freedom, the pursuit of liberty and power over tyranny and is flown proudly over thousands of public and private structures, as well as residences, around the world. Regardless of your political beliefs when looking at the flag a feeling of inspiration is evoked—inspiration from the courage that it took to forge a new and independent path, and the fortitude it has taken to endure that path.