State Flags – Massachusetts

March 30, 2015March 26, 2015 ~ Online Stores ~ Leave a comment

The sixth state to enter the union was Massachusetts. While Massachusetts has been a state since February 6, 1788, its state flag was not adopted until 1971. Before then, the flag had a design on it that was on both sides of the flag, which was later omitted. The current design features a Native American holding a long bow against a blue shield. The white star inside the shield represents the state of Massachusetts. The state motto is written on a blue ribbon in a yellow color that reads in Latin, Ense Petit Placidam Sub Libertate Quietem which means “By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty.” And on top of the blue shield and the Native American is an arm wielding a sword.

Several U.S. Presidents were born in this state. John Adams (2nd President, from 1797 to 1801) and John Quincy Adams (6th US President, from 1825 to 1829) were both born in what was then known as Braintree but has since been renamed Quincy. Following the Adams’ is John Fitzgerald Kennedy (aka JFK), born in Brookline in 1911. He served as the 35th President from 1961 to 1963. Lastly is George Herbert Walker Bush, the father of Former President George Walker Bush (2001 to 2009), the 41st U.S. President from 1989 to 1993.

This state is also home to Plymouth Rock, a significant place in American History. This was where the Mayflower pilgrims landed in 1620. Located in Plymouth, Massachusetts, this little rock is inside Pilgrim Memorial State Park where over a million people, tourists and locals alike, come to visit each year. Entry into this park is free to the public.

Folklore: Johnny Appleseed is the state folk hero and was recognized officially by the state in 1996. His real name was John Chapman, and he planted apple trees from New England all the way to the Ohio River.

Sports: Fenway Park is where you can go and catch a baseball g ame. It is the home of the Boston Red Sox. Fans also come to this stadium to enjoy one of their famous hot dogs called the Fenway Frank.

State Flags – New Jersey

February 3, 2015February 3, 2015 ~ Online Stores ~ Leave a comment

New Jersey places third into the union and as one of the original thirteen colonies. New Jersey is dubbed “The Garden State” and officially became a state on December 18, 1787.

The flag of New Jersey has a light yellow-brown background with part of the state seal in the center. The state seal features three plows inside a blue shield in between two women. The woman on the left is the Goddess of Liberty, who is holding a staff and the cap of freedom; on the opposite side is the Goddess of Agriculture, who holds the cornucopia full of food. Above the shield and the two woman is the head armor of a knight, a horse’s head, and blue filigrees. On the bottom is a ribbon which bears “”LIBERTY AND PROSPERITY” and “1776” (Random Fact: This state flag was adopted on March 26, 1896, a little less than 109 years after admission into the union).

New Jersey was given to James the Duke of York from his the brother, King Charles II of England. James later gave it to Sir George Carteret and Lord John Berkeley. James named New Jersey in honor of Carteret who was born in and was the former governor of Jersey, which is a British island in the English Channel.

The Battle of Trenton was a small but important battle in the American Revolution, taking place in Trenton, NJ. In 1776, the day after Christmas and General George Washington’s Crossing of the Delaware, he led his Continental Army against Hessian soldiers. Very soon all the Hessians were captured with very little damage to our Army. This battle’s significance was its much-needed boost to the Continental Army’s morale. Reenactors come to Trenton each year to relive this victory.

Today New Jersey boasts several bald eagle nests with action cams to protect this endangered species. Volunteers observe and collect helpful data, clocking in lots of hours noting courtship, mating, feeding, and other rituals.

Another fact: New Jersey is the 47th largest state in the United States with only 8,722 square miles.

Want more fun facts about New Jersey? Check out this website.

State Flags – Pennsylvania

January 20, 2015January 19, 2015 ~ Online Stores ~ Leave a comment

The next state in this series is Pennsylvania, the very state out of which US Flag Store is based. Number two in the union, Pennsylvania became a state just days after Delaware did, on December 12, 1787.

Pennsylvania’s flag was officially adopted in 1907. The flag has a dark blue background with two harnessed draft horses holding the state’s coat of arms that hold the state seal. Inside it are a ship, a plow, 3 sheaves of wheat, with a bald eagle sitting on top of it. Below is a stalk of corn, an olive branch, and a draped red ribbon bearing the words, “Virtue, Liberty, and Independence.” The coat of arms was of the Penn family after which Pennsylvania was named. This symbol first appeared on the currency that was issued by the state in 1777 until two years later when it was taken and added to the state flag.

Pennsylvania is currently the sixth most populous state in the US with a 2013 population estimate of 12,773,801. While Harrisburg is the capital, Philadelphia is the most populous city in Pennsylvania with an estimate of 1,553,165 compared to Harrisburg with just 49,188.

This state is rich in American history. The Liberty Bell is located at The Liberty Bell Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. One of the symbols of the United States, this bell has the eponymous crack. How did it get this crack? In 1752, when the bell first arrived in Philadelphia and was cracked during a test strike. Fun Fact: The Liberty Bell is composed of exactly 70% copper, 25% tin, and bits of lead, zinc, arsenic, gold, and silver, weighing at 2,080 pounds.

independence-hall-philadelphia-ext-night-587 — Visit Philadelphia Photo (G Widman)

Another historic site is Independence Hall, which is visited by millions each year and open every day of the year. Independence Hall is the birthplace of the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and America itself. Both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed in the Assembly Hall. Fun Fact: George Washington actually ran his two terms as President from Philadelphia.

Did you know? The blue in the Pennsylvania state flag is the same shade of blue that is used in the US Flag!

~CD

State Flags – Delaware

January 14, 2015January 13, 2015 ~ Online Stores ~ Leave a comment

Welcome to the first post in my series of Fifty State Flags. I am very excited to be given the opportunity to present this to all of you. Please bear with me for I am a little rusty on my US History but once I get fired up, I am going to rock this!

The very first state in the United States, Delaware, is a small but important state in our history. The license plates even boast “The First State.” Delaware is one of the original thirteen colonies but the first to take the leap and become a state.

While Delaware became a state on December 7, 1787, the flag wasn’t adopted until July 24, 1913. According to the state website delaware.gov, the flag is blue with a buff-colored diamond and the Delaware coat of arms is placed in the middle. The 1787 date is underneath the diamond to commemorate Delaware becoming the first state to ratify the federal constitution.

The state was named after Virginia’s first governor Thomas West, also known as Lord De La Warr. Delaware is a good state to experience the four true seasons, which includes my dream seasons – the changing of the leaves in the fall and snowy winters (I’m from California and we get nothing but sun, sun, one day of rain, and more sun all year long). While Dover is the state capital, Wilmington is the most populous city in Delaware with 36,047 vs. 70,851 (2010 US Census).

I am glad to say that I traveled to Delaware myself in the summer of 2011. It is a beautiful state but unfortunately I did not see much since I was on the way to New York with my fiance and his family.

Fun Facts: Delaware ranks first in the nation for avg. internet connection speed and third among the states for knowledge jobs (IT). The estimated 2014 population is 935,000 and there were 508,000 acres of Delaware farmland in 2012. 65% of Fortune 500 companies are incorporated in DE, and tourism currently generates $441m in tax revenue. (delaware.gov)

~CD

Flag Holidays

January 12, 2015 ~ Online Stores ~ Leave a comment

Some of you have asked when we should be flying our flags this year. According to USFlag.org, the following are 2015’s flag holidays*:

New Year’s Day, January 1st

Inauguration Day, January 20th, every time a new President is elected

Martin Luther King’s Birthday

Lincoln’s Birthday

Washington’s Birthday

Easter Sunday

Patriots Day, April 19 (not to be confused with Patriot Day, which is September 11th, another day in which to proudly display the stars and stripes)

National Day of Prayer, the 1st Thursday of May

Mother’s Day

Armed Forces Day, Every third Saturday in May to celebrate and thank the US Military in all five branches, Army, Navy, Air Force, US Marine Corps, and the US Coast Guard.

Memorial Day (half-staff until noon)

Flag Day, June 14th

Independence Day, July 4th.

Labor Day, (First Monday of September)

Patriot Day, September 11th. This day is observed to honor the victims of the September 11, 2001 tragedy. You may see flags raised at half staff on this day.

Constitution Day, September 17th

Columbus Day, October 12th

Navy Day, October 27th

Veterans Day, November 11th (Easy for me to remember because my nephew was born on this day and my older brother himself is a veteran)

Thanksgiving Day (last Thursday of every November)

Christmas Day

Election Days

And of course, on your state birthday! Click here to find your state’s birthday. Usually the flag is to be risen at sunrise and taken down at sunset, on days when weather permits.

Note: In addition to all of this, the flag can also be flown as directed by the President of the United States.

*These dates are to the best of my knowledge.

~CD

New Unofficial 51-Star American Flag Now Available from Online Stores, Inc.

August 21, 2014August 21, 2014 ~ Online Stores ~ Leave a comment

New Stanton, PA – 22 August 2014 – At the request of customers from Puerto Rico, Online Stores has produced the first commercially available 51-star American flag, symbolizing the possible conversion of Puerto Rico from a US Territory into US state. Social media followers of the US Flag Store, the flag division of Online Stores, offered their thanks and support when the flag was announced. American made of weather-resistant nylon in the popular 3’x5’ size, the flag retails for $23.95 and is available for purchase online at the OnlineStores.com using this direct link. http://www.onlinestores.com/51-star-american-flag-3ftx5ft-sewn-nylon.html. The flag is of course not an official US flag yet as it has not been adopted by Congress.

Jorge, a customer of Online Stores, Inc. said, “As a proud American citizen and a native of Puerto Rico, I would like to see my island as the 51^st State of the Union. After 519 years first as a US colony and then as a US territory, the people of Puerto Rico demand equality so we can enjoy the full rights, obligations, and responsibility of the continental US. I will be flying your 51-star flag.” Says Cheo, “I currently live in Texas. This flag will be the symbol for the more than 3 million supporters for PR statehood. I will personally fly and display this flag at home as well as pro-statehood meetings.”

Earlier this year, Puerto Rico took a step towards being the 51^st state with the introduction of the Puerto Rico Status Resolution Act into the Senate. This bill requires a binding referendum to be held in Puerto Rico asking whether the territory wants to be admitted as a state. The majority have already voted to become a state. (huffingtonpost.com)

Puerto Rico is a self-governing commonwealth in association with the United States, that recognizes the United States President as authority. The US controls their currency, military, law, postal system, and Social Security. (welcome.topuertorico.org).

Online Stores, Inc. is a privately held American e-commerce business and a top 500 retailer, based in New Stanton, PA. The company operates several web sites including Onlinestores.com, EnglishTeaStore.com, ConstructionGear.com, Toysplash.com, United-States-Flag.com and DiscountsafetyGear.com. Online Stores serves over 500,000 customers every year.

Puerto Rico to Become a State?

November 13, 2012November 13, 2012 ~ Online Stores ~ Leave a comment

On November 6^th, Puerto Ricans had their opportunity to share their opinion of whether or not to become an U.S. state. But the results are a little confusing.

Puerto Rico was obtained by the United States in 1898 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. In 1900, Puerto Rico was granted a civilian government under the Foraker Act. Though, for many decades leading up to present day, it has been debated whether or not to grant Puerto Rico statehood.

So last Tuesday, Puerto Ricans voiced their opinions concerning the recent relationship with the U.S. in a poll. The poll asked two questions: if they favored the current relationship with the U.S., and if the voters would prefer statehood, to become an independent country or be a freely associated state.

The majority of the people who didn’t leave the question blank, voted for becoming a state, the first time that that has happened in a long time. But because so many left the question blank, it technically isn’t considered a “win” for statehood. From here, the results will be forwarded on to Congress and the White House, who will determine whether or not to initiate the process to create a new state.

So with so much buzz surrounding the possibility of statehood for Puerto Rico, that means that having 51 states would require a flag change.

If there is to be a star added to the current U.S. flag, where would it go? How would the new flag look? How would you design the 51-star flag?

Flag of Colorado

July 25, 2012 ~ emilyrex ~ 1 Comment

In memory of the victims of last week’s violent shooting in Aurora, Colorado, stand united with our friends and neighbors in Colorado by flying the Colorado state flag.

The flag of the state of Colorado was adopted on June 5, 1911. The flag is rectangular with three horizontal stripes. The top and bottom stripes are blue and the middle stripe is white. Just to the left of the flag’s center point is a block letter red “C” that is filled with a gold circle.

Andrew Carlisle Johnson designed Colorado’s state flag during the year of the flag’s adoption. Previously, the flag of Colorado featured the state seal on a blue background. When the flag was originally adopted, the block letter C with the gold circle was smaller, and the entire graphic fit inside the white stripe. In 1964, the specifications for the flag were changed and the diameter of the gold disc is as large as the white center stripe.

The details of the Colorado state flag hold significance for the residents of this state. The blue stripes symbolize the big, clear blue skies of Colorado. The white stripe represents snow on the mountaintops of Colorado, some of which lasts all year round. The gold disc symbolizes the Colorado sunshine and the red C represents the color of some of Colorado’s soil.

Flag of Hawaii

July 11, 2012July 11, 2012 ~ emilyrex ~ Leave a comment

The flag of Hawaii was adopted on December 29, 1945. The flag is somewhat of a combination of the British flag and the flag of the United States of America. The flag is rectangular and has eight horizontal stripes that alternate in red, white, and blue colors. The Union Flag of the United Kingdom appears in the upper left corner of the flag. The flag of Hawaii is unique in that it is the only state flag in the United States to feature the Union Flag in its design.

Although the flag’s design is simple, the horizontal stripes are symbolic to the state of Hawaii. Each of the eight stripes symbolize one of Hawaii’s major islands: Hawai’I, O’ahu, Kaua’I, Kaho’olawe, Lana’i, Maui, Moloka’I, and Ni’ihau. The order of the stripes is white, red, blue, white, red, blue, white red, and these colors were standardized in 1843. The Union Flag acknowledges the British Empire’s influence on the state.

Although the flag was not adopted until 1945, the flag’s origins date back to the early 1800s when Hawaii was ruled by King Kamehameha I. According to one story, the King flew a British flag—the Red Ensign with the Union emblem in the upper left corner and a red background—that was the British explorer George Vancouver gave him as a symbol of friendship with King George III. When Kamehameha’s advisor told him that the Union flag could bring Hawaii into foreign conflicts, he stopped displaying the flag, and in 1816, commissioned his own flag. The 1816 flag of Hawaii, most likely designed by one of the Hawaiian Navy commanders, evolved into the current Hawaiian flag. The flag’s design is based on the British East India Company’s flag, which features the Union flag in the upper left corner with red and white horizontal stripes.

State Flag of Alaska

July 6, 2012 ~ emilyrex ~ Leave a comment

The flag of Alaska was adopted on July 9, 1927, more than three decades before Alaska became an official state of the U.S. The flag is simple but elegant. The flag is rectangular and feature a dark blue night sky background. Towards the bottom left corner of the flag, the Big Dipper constellation is pictured with gold stars. The North Star, also in gold, is depicted in the upper right corner.

In January 1927, the Alaska Department of the American Legion decided to create an initiative for a state flag, but, instead of allowing adults to design the flag, the Legion asked Alaskan children in grades seven through twelve to submit designs for the flag. Designs were first judged locally, and then 142 designs were submitted to Juneau for the final competition.

Although most of the children’s designs featured polar bears, Alaska’s seal, the midnight sun, the northern lights, or gold pans, the judges decided that the design created by Benny Benson, a thirteen-year-old child who lived at the Jesse Lee Home for Children in Seward Alaska’s design should represent the Alaskan territory. The design of Alaska’s current state flag has remained unchanged since Benson’s designed was adopted. Benson received $1000 for the flag as well as an engraved watch.

Benson also described the symbolism of the flag himself. According to Benson, the blue background represents not only the Alaskan sky, but also the forget-me-not, a flower native to Alaska that is now the state’s official flower. The North Star symbolizes Alaska’s future as well as the fact that Alaska is the northernmost state in the Union. Finally, the Big Dipper symbolizes the strength of Alaska and its people.