Reflecting on Our Nation's Birth

As we all look to July 4th, we must look within our hearts to see what this celebration means to each of us. Thinking of July 4^th; I immediately think of our nation’s flag and the birth of our nation. That birth was 234 years ago; and is a relatively short time; we were the new world. In 1776 on July 4th the Declaration of Independence was being finished and awaited signatures. So much to do, so many things to happen. Since then, for all these years our nations flag has evolved and so many major events have transpired under the glory or the red, white and blue.   

The flag adopted by the
1777 Continental Congress

Our iconic first flag made by Betsy Ross represented the Thirteen Colonies with alternate thirteen stripes in red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field representing a new constellation. Our Continental Congress adopted this flag in 1777, which represented the states of Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island.

By 1795; Vermont and Kentucky had joined making the flag unique as there were fifteen stripes in red and white, then the field of blue contained fifteen stars in staggering rows of three stars in five rows. In a beautiful flag back to the original thirteen stripes, the 1818 flag grew to 20 stars when Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, Indiana, and Mississippi join the Union. The 1819 flag added the state of Illinois. Starting in 1819, the updated flag becomes legal on the Fourth of July following the date of admission of a state or states. This adoption or making a flag legal on the 4^th of July is a continued practice today.

 
Alabama and Maine were added in the 1820 flag. Missouri, my home state was added to the 1822 flag. There were many changes of the flag through the years, always staying with the original thirteen stripes in alternating red and white to give a nod to our original thirteen colonies. The field of blue in the upper left of the flag continues to have stars added for each state added to the union. Listed are 1836; Arkansas: 1837; Michigan: 1845; Florida: 1846; Texas: 1847; Iowa: 1848; Wisconsin: 1851; California: 1858; Minnesota: 1859; Oregon: ending up with Kansas in 1861.

The Civil War began in April 1861. The 1861 flag is significant as this is the flag used by the Union troops in the War Between the States.  President Abraham Lincoln did not allow the stars representing succession states to be removed. The 1861 flag had the thirteen stripes in alternating red and white. The blue field had 34 stars in five rows. The 1^st, 2^nd, 4^th and 5^th rows had seven stars each. The 3^rd row had just six stars horizontally. The flag took on 35 stars in 1863 when West Virginia was added to the Union. Our flag stayed this way through the end of the Civil War. When you contemplate how many young men died under this flag and the confederate flag, it makes you realize how passionate this war and their causes were to make these people take up arms; to live and die on their own lands.

After 1865; Nevada: 1867; Nebraska: 1877; Colorado: 1890; North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Washington, Idaho: 1891; Wyoming: 1896; Utah: 1908; Oklahoma: 1912; New Mexico and Arizona the flag now had a full compliment of 48 stars.  This 1912 flag of thirteen stripes and 48 stars on an eight across and six down configuration was important in our history. So this flag was used for significant times such as World War I, World War II and the Korean War. Again millions of our finest American men and women in armed forces lost their lives in these conflicts under the flag with 48 stars. The flag stayed like that until 1959.

The 48 star flag

After the 1959 flag added Alaska and the 1960 flag added Hawaii; the flag ended with 13 stripes in red and white and a field of blue with 9 rows of stars. The 50 stars of six each in the odd rows and five stars in the even rows horizontally completed the 1960 flag. Our current flag was used in the Vietnam War, Cuban Bay of Pigs Invasion, Persian Gulf War, Invasion of Afghanistan and the Invasion of Iraq.

These wars are part of my memories and have included people that I know and love. I have been lucky to not have losses in my close circle but can remember growing up and worrying how the Vietnam War would affect those I loved. These later invasions are ongoing even on this day. So as my memories of flags co-mingle with the conflicts where these flags are flown and cherished; I immediately feel that the flag is so much more than just an identification of our country. I begin to think again of those in uniform today on our nation’s birthday. They do not get to celebrate as many of us are with family, fireworks and festive food. I will continue to pray for those that fight for our liberties that we enjoy. As each of us look to the skies at our flags flying high in this great land, lest we not forget those that have went before us and those that are there now; fighting for our freedom. Because freedom just isn’t free anymore, the cost; as we bleed red, white and blue for our country!       

Grandma Spicy
Note: Years referenced are for flag adoption, not the year of their statehood.