A seventeen-year-old high school student named Robert Heft designed the 50-star American flag. In 1958 Heft was a student at Lancaster High School creating a project for a history class. He set out to design a 50-star flag for his history class anticipating the addition of Alaska and Hawaii into the Union. He designed the flag utilizing his mother’s sewing machine and a hot iron to add a new blue canton and 100 hand-cut stars (50 on each side) to the field of an old 48-star flag. Heft toiled for twelve hours to complete his history project.
Little did he know his teacher would offer him the ultimate challenge that would make history. The next day Heft submitted his flag for history class and his teacher, Stanly Pratt asked where he got his crystal ball. Pratt was referencing the use of fifty stars instead of forty-eight. Of course, Heft explained he believed Hawaii and Alaska would be added to the Union. In response, Pratt made Heft an offer if Congress accepted the flag then his grade would be raised.
Because Heft accepted the challenge, he made history alongside President Eisenhower on July 4, 1960 when his flag became the first 50-star flag raised in Washington. For more information, check out the article, “The 50-Star American Flag.”
Most historians question the possibility of Betsy Ross being the designer of the first American flag. The story is a historical myth made public after the close of the Civil War. Betsy Ross’ story did not surface until thirty-four years after her death when her son, William J. Canby presented a paper he wrote to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. He claims stories were verbally passed down throughout the years by Betsy and other family members about her designing the first American flag.
There are several reasons historians question Betsy Ross’ involvement with the first American flag. No records indicate that Continental Congress had a committee to design the national flag in the spring of 1776. Even though Betsy Ross kept detailed store records, no invoice or document has been found linking to this transaction. The first meeting, discussion or debate by Congress to discuss a national flag did not occur until Flag Day on June 14, 1777.
Many historians speculate there were at least seventeen flag makers and upholsters working in Philadelphia during the time the flag was created. Some historians theorize Margaret Manny may have designed the first Continental Colors Flag, but lack evidence to link her with the first national flag. Other flag makers working in Philadelphia during that time include Rebecca Young, Anne King, Cornelia Bridges, and William Barrett. Any flag maker in Philadelphia could have designed the first American flag.
While everyone enjoys the story of Betsy Ross been the designer of the first American flag, historians are still searching. Do you want to learn more about Betsy Ross and the first American flag? Visit the United States Flag Store and read about it. Please, share your opinions on this controversial subject.
Did you know the USMC flag changed several times since the 1800s? As is with many national flags from all over the world, the Marine Corps changed theirs too. The United States Marine Corp changed their flag five times since 1776 before it became the version seen today.
The first version of the Corp flag was an unofficial one known as the Grand Union Flag. A theory is that this flag had a composition consisting of continental colors. Continental colors are a design of thirteen alternating red and white stripes with a British Union Jack in the canton. Although, the flag was not officially recognized, it is considered the first American flag inspiring the design of the thirteen star Betsy Ross flag.
Several years later during the 1830s and 1840s, the United States Marine Corps flag carried a white flag with gold fringe. Its designed displayed an eagle and anchor bearing the phrase, “To the shores of Tripoli.” After the Mexican-American War, the phrase became, “From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli.”
Show your United States Marine Corp pride. Hoo ra!
The Tribune Review newspaper published an article on its front page Saturday August 25, 2007 entitled “US Flag? Made in China.” As a supplier of flags to Wal-Mart, I would like to comment on your article.
1) Wal-Mart makes a diligent effort to ensure that all the US Flags it sells are manufactured in the US. Therefore, I suspect your headline is incorrect. The item in question is a low cost flag kit that has a US made flag and a few imported parts for the pole. Wal-Mart also sells a range of other high quality flag products all made in the US by Annin, the largest flag company in the world. I am sure Wal-Mart could make more money and sell more flags at lower prices if they sold imported US flags. I am also sure that their PR department would have told you this, if you had given them a decent chance to respond.
2) It is easy to bash the Chinese for making these recalled products, but I think the press needs to look in more detail at what is going on. In many cases, the issue is bad design, which is the responsibility of the US Company designing and selling the products, and not the factory on China.
3) Although a high percentage of the American flags we sell are US made, some are made in China. We are proud to be able to offer a choice, so that patriotic Americans on a tight budget can still buy and fly quality flags. Typical customers who buy these products include veterans, current members of the armed forces, retired Americans living on social security & schools often in poorer areas. Who are we to force these people to pay more money for products that they can barely afford?
4) Several states have recently passed laws requiring that all US flags sold in that state be made in the US, which is contrary to international trade laws and sends a bad signal to other countries. The US is a major producer and exporter of flags of other countries, including the flag of China. US based flag companies including Valley Forge, Annin and Eder and others produce thousands of flags of other countries in several different sizes. Why is it OK for the US to make flags for every other country in the world, but not to allow other countries to make our flag? These other countries are not complaining that we are making their flags, although in some cases there are government permits required to make their flags, which we are ignoring. If we were to require that all flags are made in the countries they represent, companies like us will have to source our international flags from 200 different suppliers overseas!
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