Galen Farrington

Did Betsy Ross Design the Flag of the United States?

When I attended high school during the mid-1960’s, I was not one to appreciate the efforts of historians and history teachers as I sat in an overcrowded New York City classroom memorizing the dates of American History class. I believe it was then that I learned that Betsy Ross was the most significant figure in developing the flag that today we know as the “Stars and Stripes.” The actual flag story is genuinely lengthy and fascinating. I will attempt to relay some of the highlights that I did not learn as a teen.

On June 14, 1777 the American Congress “… resolved that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes alternating red and white, that the union be thirteen stars white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.” Pretty simple. Too simple.

Although Flag Day is not a federal holiday, on June 14, 1877 the flag of the United States (the new descriptor of the new country when Congress substituted the term “United States of America” for the “United Colonies” on September 09,1776) was flown for the first time over every government building to celebrate the flag’s centennial adoption. And who designed this flag? Why red, white, and blue?

The legend of Betsy Ross designing and sewing the first American flag didn’t surface for some 90 years when a relative spoke publicly of her historical importance as a noted seamstress in Boston. Indeed, she had sewn the Navy flags that ships flew on the open seas which had been standardized at General George Washington’s request so that combatants would be able to distinguish between friend or foe. Please, no “friendly fire” (a military term originating in World War I when an ordinance fell short of its objective and landed on friendly forces).

The colors were chosen to inspire our young rebel Army. The color red symbolizes hardiness and valor. The color white represents purity and innocence. And the color blue is to communicate vigilance, perseverance, and justice.

The Ross family archives feature a repeated story through the generations revealing the decisive encounter of Betsy Ross meeting with a secrete Continental Congress Committee comprised of General George Washington, Robert Morris, and Colonel George Ross. Widow Ross (married three times, all husbands died) knew all three men. General Washington not only attended the same church, her pew was adjacent to his. Robert Morris was considered the wealthiest man in the new country. And Colonel Ross was a relative through marriage. She was presented with a rudimentary design that legend states she only changed the six-pointed star to a five-pointed one because it would be easier to produce. The stars were not in a circle as depicted in my high school history book.

Flag makers were granted the freedom to put the stars in the field of blue (the “canton”) in any design and most were in rows. It wasn’t until 1893 that artist Charles Weisgerber published his painting, “Birth of Our Nation’s Flag,” that we are presented with a circular star orientation. How many years later?!

Apparently history has revealed in Congressional Records (1780) that the designer of the American flag as we know it was Congressman Francis Hopkinson who petitioned for financial compensation for the design but was denied due to his wealth. But the Congress did allow he was the original designer.

Finally, in 1912 President William Taft signed Executive Order 1556 which provided standardized specifications for the flag. Today we know that Executive Order as the Federal Flag Code as established by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1942. Ultimately, when a territory was granted statehood, the official recognition would occur on the following July 4th and the flag would be redesigned to accommodate the new state(s).

In 1916 President Woodrow Wilson unofficially declared June 14 as Flag Day and proclaimed the “Star Spangled Banner” as America’s National Anthem. In an interesting side bar, Francis Scott Key wrote the anthem while viewing our only 15-striped flag during the Battle of Baltimore (War of 1812) as it flew over Fort McHenry. President Harry Truman officially declared June 14 as Flag Day in 1949.

The Federal Flag Code (Public Law 94-344) is the comprehensive civilian guideline for flag presentation but there are some conditions that should never be overlooked by the American citizen flying the flag. First, the flag is generally flown from sunrise to sunset unless it has a dedicated light for night display. Second, the flag should never touch anything beneath it. Third, the flag is never dipped for anyone or any thing. Fourth, no part of the flag may be worn as a costume or athletic uniform. Fifth, a worn flag may be repaired. Sixth, a flag worn beyond its dignity as the symbol of the United States of America must be destroyed with respect. In Ruidoso a person may contact the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Ruidoso Police, or the US Post Office for proper disposal.

For those mathematicians among us, please refer to Title 4 of the United States Code, Chapter 1, and Federal Specification DDD-F-416F “…which outlines the design, construction, and display guidelines for the flag.” And you’ll never take “Old Glory” (itself an interesting story) for granted again.

The Flag is an American sacred symbol. General George Washington had the young country’s first flag mottoed with an “Appeal to Heaven” – a nation under God. (Ever wonder why every star in the canton points upward?!).

On this Flag Day please remember that it is our most respected service personnel who, according to the Federal Flag Code, are permitted to wear the flag patch on their uniforms: military personnel, law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and members of patriotic organizations. For us mortals, lapel pins are appropriate.

Please fly your American flag proudly this Flag Day.

Galen Farrington is a Ruidoso resident.